Keyonte George heads to Jazz with 16th pick of NBA draft
With the No. 16 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz selected Baylor guard Keyonte George.
A freshman prospect, George is a willing shot-taker along the perimeter. Despite below-average shooting percentages, the 19-year-old looked both aggressive and comfortable in his only season with the Bears, navigating screens and different types of defenses with relative ease and fluidity.
Despite the promise George showed on offense, he is still a raw player who needs to significantly improve his playmaking and individual defense.
Bio
Position: Guard
School: Baylor
College experience: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 185 lbs
Wingspan: N/A
Max vertical: N/A
2022-23 stats with Baylor
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 37.6 | 33.8 | 79.3 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 15.3 |
Strengths
- Individual creator who's extremely willing to shoot a variety of shots from essentially anywhere on the court. Step-backs and pull-ups from deep and mid-range are his shots of choice.
- Promising shooter coming off of motion action and screens in catch-and-shoot situations.
- Shows a lot of control navigating a pick-and-roll as the ball-handler. Effortlessly gets around opposing players to release his shots extremely quickly, manipulating his speed to do so. Uses his handle to get to the paint and drive to the rim.
Weaknesses
- Despite the variety of offensive moves in his arsenal, George did not shoot well from the field or from deep. Needs to show improved decision-making and shot selection.
- Averaged more turnovers (2.9) than assists (2.8) in college. Throws inaccurate passes in transition. Needs to read defenses better to reduce turnovers.
- Perimeter defense is a work in progress. When on an island, all sizes of guards had success driving on him. Needs to close out better on switches and when the ball moves.
NBA comparison: Eric Gordon. Not always an efficient shooter overall, Gordon's skills as a marksman from deep always kept him on the court. The Clippers veteran grew into a stout and impactful defender as his career continued, using his frame to hold up against bigger wings - a path George can also follow.