Kobe Bryant 'very impressed' with Duke's Brandon Ingram

'Tis the season to be giving out endorsements, and Kobe Bryant has a pretty big one for Duke forward Brandon Ingram.

"I think he plays with a lot of poise," Bryant told reporters Friday night, one day after the Blue Devils fell to Oregon in the Sweet 16. "He can shoot the long ball, he can go left and finish, he can go right and finish, he can shoot right, he can shoot. Extremely long and he knows how to use it. So I was very impressed."

Ingram poured in 24 points - poetic given Bryant's jersey number - in Duke's season-ending loss. The freshman is expected to enter the 2016 NBA Draft, where he's projected as a consensus top-three pick.

Ingram has earned comparisons to Oklahoma City Thunder MVP Kevin Durant for his length, frame, and offensive polish.

Bryant watched the game in person Thursday night in Anaheim.