ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, who I consider the best NBA draft analyst out there, Mike Schmitz just put out their updated Top 100 prospects for 2022 today.
Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens came in at No. 24 and was one of the players highlighted in the story.
The leading scorer on a 6-8 Cornhuskers team, McGowens has proven to be one of the NCAA's more polarizing freshmen through his first 14 games. He can look like a surefire lottery pick some nights and a potential second-rounder on others. What will McGowens need to do to prove he belongs in the lottery conversation to scouts?
The leading scorer on a 6-8 Cornhuskers team, McGowens has proven to be one of the NCAA's more polarizing freshmen through his first 14 games. He can look like a surefire lottery pick some nights and a potential second-rounder on others. What will McGowens need to do to prove he belongs in the lottery conversation to scouts?
Upping his offensive efficiency against sturdier defenses while playing with more urgency defensively are the immediate challenges for the 19-year-old. In eight games against teams with a winning record, McGowens is averaging 14.6 points, 0.9 assists and 1.1 turnovers on 40% from 2 and 17% from 3 in 35.5 minutes. In six games against teams with losing records, McGowens is averaging 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 turnovers while shooting 70% from 2 and 37% from 3 in 30.4 minutes.
Scouts saw the good and the bad during Nebraska's overtime loss to Ohio State on Sunday, arguably McGowen's toughest test of the season so far. The South Carolina native scored 18 points on 19 shots, knocking down a pair of deep 3s while showing his ability to change pace and get downhill to the rim and make a heady read out of pick-and-roll. But he also played a big role in Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham exploding for a career-best 35 points with his lackluster defense and had issues separating and finishing over 6-foot-7 forward E.J. Liddell.
Scouts saw the good and the bad during Nebraska's overtime loss to Ohio State on Sunday, arguably McGowen's toughest test of the season so far. The South Carolina native scored 18 points on 19 shots, knocking down a pair of deep 3s while showing his ability to change pace and get downhill to the rim and make a heady read out of pick-and-roll. But he also played a big role in Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham exploding for a career-best 35 points with his lackluster defense and had issues separating and finishing over 6-foot-7 forward E.J. Liddell.
When McGowens gets going, it's easy to compare him to guards like Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs and Bones Hyland of the Denver Nuggets. He shoots it from well beyond the NBA line like Hyland, mixing in step-backs and hesitations to get into his pull-up. He's also capable of playing off hang dribbles to get into the paint, striding into slow-down floaters, unraveling his 6-9 wingspan into finesse finishes with either hand.
But against more competitive teams, McGowens -- weighing in at 179 pounds -- has struggled to play through contact as a driver and finisher. When his early-clock deep 3s don't fall, he lacks other ways to consistently impact the game. Scouts will want to see McGowens defend more physically and with urgency.
Looking forward, there's no easy out in the Big Ten. How will McGowens fare against other rising stars like Max Christie, Jaden Ivey and the aforementioned Davis? If McGowens can prove he's a better shooter than his 25% 3-point clip suggests (81% on free throws), take better shots, flash some semblance of point guard potential and show he's a willing defender, he'll have no shortage of suitors, even in the lottery. If the struggles against top-tier teams continue, his naysayers will view him as a volume scorer who needs time before he can help an NBA team. -- Mike Schmitz
Nebraska’s Bryce McGowens came in at No. 24 and was one of the players highlighted in the story.
The leading scorer on a 6-8 Cornhuskers team, McGowens has proven to be one of the NCAA's more polarizing freshmen through his first 14 games. He can look like a surefire lottery pick some nights and a potential second-rounder on others. What will McGowens need to do to prove he belongs in the lottery conversation to scouts?
The leading scorer on a 6-8 Cornhuskers team, McGowens has proven to be one of the NCAA's more polarizing freshmen through his first 14 games. He can look like a surefire lottery pick some nights and a potential second-rounder on others. What will McGowens need to do to prove he belongs in the lottery conversation to scouts?
Upping his offensive efficiency against sturdier defenses while playing with more urgency defensively are the immediate challenges for the 19-year-old. In eight games against teams with a winning record, McGowens is averaging 14.6 points, 0.9 assists and 1.1 turnovers on 40% from 2 and 17% from 3 in 35.5 minutes. In six games against teams with losing records, McGowens is averaging 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 turnovers while shooting 70% from 2 and 37% from 3 in 30.4 minutes.
Scouts saw the good and the bad during Nebraska's overtime loss to Ohio State on Sunday, arguably McGowen's toughest test of the season so far. The South Carolina native scored 18 points on 19 shots, knocking down a pair of deep 3s while showing his ability to change pace and get downhill to the rim and make a heady read out of pick-and-roll. But he also played a big role in Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham exploding for a career-best 35 points with his lackluster defense and had issues separating and finishing over 6-foot-7 forward E.J. Liddell.
Scouts saw the good and the bad during Nebraska's overtime loss to Ohio State on Sunday, arguably McGowen's toughest test of the season so far. The South Carolina native scored 18 points on 19 shots, knocking down a pair of deep 3s while showing his ability to change pace and get downhill to the rim and make a heady read out of pick-and-roll. But he also played a big role in Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham exploding for a career-best 35 points with his lackluster defense and had issues separating and finishing over 6-foot-7 forward E.J. Liddell.
When McGowens gets going, it's easy to compare him to guards like Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs and Bones Hyland of the Denver Nuggets. He shoots it from well beyond the NBA line like Hyland, mixing in step-backs and hesitations to get into his pull-up. He's also capable of playing off hang dribbles to get into the paint, striding into slow-down floaters, unraveling his 6-9 wingspan into finesse finishes with either hand.
But against more competitive teams, McGowens -- weighing in at 179 pounds -- has struggled to play through contact as a driver and finisher. When his early-clock deep 3s don't fall, he lacks other ways to consistently impact the game. Scouts will want to see McGowens defend more physically and with urgency.
Looking forward, there's no easy out in the Big Ten. How will McGowens fare against other rising stars like Max Christie, Jaden Ivey and the aforementioned Davis? If McGowens can prove he's a better shooter than his 25% 3-point clip suggests (81% on free throws), take better shots, flash some semblance of point guard potential and show he's a willing defender, he'll have no shortage of suitors, even in the lottery. If the struggles against top-tier teams continue, his naysayers will view him as a volume scorer who needs time before he can help an NBA team. -- Mike Schmitz
