Tag: Greg Brown III

NBA Combine reviews for Texas Longhorns prospects after day two

Stocks could be rising after a phenomenal day two from a pair of Longhorns.

Day one of the five-on-five scrimmages went really well for Jericho Sims, but it left Greg Brown III looking overwhelmed, and quite frankly, not good enough to be a first round pick.

However, Brown got a chance to redeem his lackluster performance on the second day of the NBA Combine and he did just that.

Brown came out of the gate with the energy and enthusiasm that he was lacking in the scrimmage on day one, which is also why scouts question his motor.

After coming off the bench to play a little over 14 minutes during the first game and only scoring two points while having the worst +/- rating, Brown was given a chance to start on day two.

Brown scored 12 points, grabbed four rebounds and recorded one steal. A performance that also saw him having the highest +/- rating on his team. If he wants to stay in the good graces of scouts and general managers, he will need to get a grasp on how important it is to impact the game in a positive way regardless if you are scoring or not.

Jericho Sims continues to impress at the combine, as he had another great game. Draft Expresses’ Jonathan Givony had nothing but high regards for Sims, who prior to the combine was not in seen in a single mock draft.

Sims got the start day one, but was given the opportunity to come off the bench this game, as that would likely be his role anyway. Even coming out of a reserve role, Sims was the highest scoring player on the team with 18 points and fell one rebound short of outrebounding the starting forward who had 7.

Based off the two games, it is safe to say Brown is likely still considered to be a “tweener,” whether scouts view him as a first or second is objective. Sims on the other hand likely earned himself a summer league invite at worst and may even be able to hear his name called in the second round.

NBA Combine reviews for Texas Longhorns prospects after day one

While Jericho Sims’ draft stock may be rising, Greg Brown’s is seemingly trending downwards.

Two Longhorns participated in the full court scrimmage portions of the NBA Combine, hoping to showcase their abilities to scouts and general managers. Of the three former Texas players at the combine, Kai Jones did not participate in the scrimmages on day one, only Greg Brown III and Jericho Sims did.

The scrimmages are a huge aspect of the combine, as it gives players the opportunity to show improvement on skills that were in question.

To say that Sims and Brown had different reviews after the scrimmage would be understatement. Prior to the scrimmage, Greg Brown III was viewed as a late first round prospect in several mock drafts and undrafted in others. Brown underwhelmed in a huge fashion, and quite frankly decimated his stock as of now.

The forward posted awful numbers in the scrimmage and was more detrimental than helpful to the team.

In a little over 14 minutes of action, Brown shot 1-of-3 for two points, one assist, and two rebounds, while registering the second-highest +/- rating in the game with the least minutes out of both teams. He also turned the ball over three times and committed five fouls. Brown’s performance showed a lack of ability to create for himself, and there were times where the hustle was not there. Overall, Brown’s performance did not leave a lasting impression by any means.

Jericho Sims on the other hand not only got the start for the game, but had a fantastic showing in terms of his effort on both sides of the ball. He received grave reviews from analysts on multiple aspects of his game.

Sims was all over the floor as he had a nice stat line with 11 points, four rebounds, two assist, and two steals. It may not seem like a lot, but as a prospect who is very much a fringe player that might ultimately go back to school, this was a huge day for him.

Sims’ draft stock may have risen a tad, whereas Brown’s is trending downwards.

Updated NBA draft projections for Texas Longhorns prospects after lottery

Where are Texas’ top 2021 NBA draft prospects projected to land post-lottery?

The NBA held the draft lottery a few days ago, and excluding the remaining four teams left in their respective conference finals, we know the 2021 NBA draft order.

Four prospects from the University of Texas hope one of those teams will call their name called during draft night. Whether that is a reality for all four remains to be seen.

Texas’ top two prospects are power forward Kai Jones and forward Greg Brown III. Jericho Sims is an interesting prospect who is flirting with returning back to school, while Matt Coleman will likely go undrafted.

Here is where the four Longhorn prospects are projected to land during or post-draft.

NBA Mock Draft 5.0: All 60 picks updated after the 2021 lottery

Learn who we think will get selected with each of the 60 picks in the 2021 NBA draft.

The 2021 NBA draft order is set and the Detroit Pistons have won the lottery, taking home the No. 1 overall pick on Tuesday evening.

Of course, these projections are subject to change even over the next few days, as the NBA’s combine is currently underway in Chicago. Prospects are often able to separate themselves and improve their draft stock if they stand out during five-on-five scrimmages that will take place later this week.

Note that there are several players who are currently “testing the waters” (e.g. Texas Tech’s Terrence Shannon Jr., UCLA’s Johnny Juzang, St. John’s Julian Champagnie and Oral Roberts’ Max Abmas, etc.) that were omitted from this mock. Such players will have until midnight on July 8 to decide if they wish to return to the NCAA and improve their draft stock or remain in this class.

Unfortunately, collegiate national champion Jared Butler was omitted from our mock after news broke earlier today that he is “not permitted to play or practice” in the NBA, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, unless his heart condition is deemed as cleared.

We will continue to release more mock drafts as we gather more intel, but until then, here is how we project the draft to shake out on July 29.

2021 NBA Draft Big Board 4.0: Top 100 prospects pre-combine and lottery

Now that the early entry list is officially out and combine invitations have been sent out, the 2021 NBA draft class is starting to finalize.

Now that the early entry deadline has passed and combine invitations have been sent out, the 2021 NBA draft class is starting to finalize.

Last year, the NCAA tournament and the combine were both canceled due to the pandemic. That made evaluations much tougher for scouts and front offices around the league. This year, the pre-draft process feels somewhat normal again for top basketball prospects who are set to join the pros.

As a new class of players prepares to turn professional, here is how we would currently rank this class based on what we have seen from them so far, with some of my picks that are higher than other experts have them ranked.

Texas Longhorns Basketball: Greg Brown III named to Naismith Trophy watchlist

The Naismith Trophy announced their preseason watchlist, with Greg Brown making the cut. In total, 50 players appeared on the list.

When Greg Brown III signed his letter of intent with the Longhorns, he ranked as the sixth highest-rated recruit to ever attend Texas according to the 247Sports composite. Not only does he have the chance to shine as one of the top players in the Big 12 but as one of the best in the country.

The Naismith Trophy announced their preseason watchlist on Thursday, with Brown making the cut. In total, 50 players appeared on the list. Five other Big 12 players also made the list, including star freshman point guard Cade Cunningham from Oklahoma State.

Here is the rest of the conference players on the watchlist:

  • Jared Butler, Baylor
  • Marcus Garrett, Kansas
  • MaCio Teague, Baylor
  • Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia

In the press release, the Naismith Trophy explains how the selection process for the award will work throughout the season.

A list of the midseason 30 team will be released in early February, followed by the 10 national semifinalists and four finalists on March 4, 2021, and March 16, 2021, respectively. Players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. The 2021 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy will be awarded during the Final Four at the Naismith Awards Brunch on April 4, 2021.

For Brown, he is expected to be a star right away for head coach Shaka Smart. When he takes the court, Brown is expected to instantly be the most athletic player out there. Size, speed, and strength will fit in perfectly with Smart’s system.

Anything less than an NCAA Tournament appearance and a first-round win will be considered a disappointment for the Longhorns. After being so close to making the tournament last season, Brown will elevate Texas to those new goals.

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