Evaluating Davion Mitchell, Jared Butler, and Greg Brown
February 2nd, 2021
By Alan Lu
Today, I decided to take the time to watch Baylor’s sterling backcourt duo, Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell play in another basketball game, this time an in-conference, Big 12 match against Texas. This featured two of the top teams in the country, and Texas also has a couple of first-round draft prospects in 6-9 freshman forward, Greg Brown, and sophomore center, Kai Jones. It was a very competitive game. Baylor led for most of the way, and Texas took a brief lead, only for Baylor to go on a large run to reclaim the lead, this time for good. Baylor ended up pulling away to get a decisive road win, and Butler and Mitchell combined to score 48 out of their team’s 83 points in this game. Here are my thoughts on how Mitchell, Butler, Greg Brown, and others fared, as well as how they may currently stack up as prospects for the NBA.
(Photo: Eric Gay/Associated Press, via The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Baylor’s 6-2 junior guard, Davion Mitchell had a strong showing in his team’s win over Texas. He had a very good all-around game, and he especially excelled at making plays consistently on offense to help his team get the victory.
Mitchell was outstanding at making threes to provide floor spacing for his team on offense. He showed a knack for making pull-up jumpers, especially from behind the three-point line. He also used a crossover move to score on a smooth, step back three early on. He also did a very good job of making spot-up threes off the catch. He did make a pull-up jumper from the mid-range, but it seemed that he struggled to make mid-range shots consistently.
He also excelled at scoring on strong drives to the basket. Mitchell would often score when he would look to take it to the rack, and he can finish plays using either hand. He also managed to score on a reverse layup off the dribble later on.
Also, Mitchell showed off solid playmaking skills in this game. He is an unselfish player that can play either backcourt position, and he has solid court vision. He tended to throw good passes off the dribble, and he also threw very good lob passes to find teammates on the break. He did commit one turnover, as he threw an inaccurate pass that sailed out of bounds once. Though he didn’t get many rebounds in this game, Mitchell was able to get a defensive rebound against Texas. However, he also was called for fouling an opponent when going after a defensive board another time.
Plus, Mitchell also played solid defense in this game. He did a good job of poking balls away from opposing ball handlers to help his team get steals, and he also would contest threes to force misses. Also, he was able to successfully draw a charge to get another stop for his team. However, sometimes he would not quite be in position when defending opposing ball handlers, which would lead him to commit fouls. He also was called for a blocking foul when defending a bigger player off the dribble.
In general, Davion Mitchell played very well, and he scored 27 points, made 5 three-pointers, and he also dished out 4 assists to help his team get the victory over Texas. He is an athletic, skilled playmaker whose scoring skills and versatility could help him at the next level, and he could be a solid pick for an NBA team in the mid to late first round range of the upcoming draft. At the next level, he could end up being a solid role player similar to former NBA point guard, Jarrett Jack in the association.
(Photo: Ben Queen/USA Today Sports, via Sports Illustrated)
Baylor’s junior guard, Jared Butler also played well in his team’s win over Texas. He made solid plays on both ends of the floor, and aside from some brief foul trouble that he had in the first half, he turned in a good game, as he excelled as a shooter, scorer, playmaker, and defender today.
Butler shot the ball well, especially from downtown. He did a good job of making threes to space the floor, as he can make them off the catch or dribble, and he also ran off of a ball screen to make a quick three midway through this match. He also was able to pull up to score on a mid-range shot another time. Plus, he also excelled at scoring off the dribble. Butler would tend to go to his right to score, but he is a quick guard that can use dribble moves to get past his man, and he would score on crafty layups around the basket.
Also, Butler displayed satisfactory playmaking skills in this game. He tended to throw solid interior passes, and he can throw accurate lobs to find teammates on the move. He also passed well off the dribble to get his teammates the basketball. Sometimes though, he would commit ball-handling turnovers. He was called for clearing out with his arm on a drive to commit an offensive foul and a turnover, and he also can sometimes commit ball-handling turnovers due to carelessness.
Though he didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, Butler was able to get a defensive rebound against Texas. He also played good defense. He did a great job of poking balls away from opposing ball handlers to get steals, and he also intercepted a pass to get another. He also managed to deflect a pass another time. Plus, he also contested a deep three to force a miss. Sometimes though, he would commit touch fouls due to over-aggressiveness, and there was another time where he gave up a three-point shooter too much space, which led his team to allow a score that time.
Overall, Jared Butler had a solid showing in his team’s win over Texas. He excelled at making shots in a variety of ways, and he also defended well when he was on the court. He is a solid prospect who is having a terrific junior season, and he would likely be a solid pick for an NBA team in the mid to late first round range of the 2021 draft.
(Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press, via USA Today Sports)
Texas’ 6-9 freshman forward, Greg Brown had a relatively decent showing in his team’s loss to Baylor. Even though his box score stat line was not at all impressive, and he did score just 5 points in this game and he missed all of his free throws, Brown made a three-point shot in his lone three-point attempt from beyond the arc, scored on an impressive dunk that he threw down midway through this game, and he also managed to get his second assist of his collegiate career. So all things considered, while his overall performance wasn’t amazing by any means, this performance may help to serve why he’s currently viewed as a potential lottery pick for the 2021 draft. Moreover, Brown is a big-time athlete that has excellent physical tools, and he could be a really good player if he can put them all together.
Brown excelled at scoring on hustle plays. He was able to throw down a thunderous dunk off of a baseline cut to the hoop, and he threw it down with such authority that the jam deserves a re-watch, over and over again.
(Source: Twitter/@SportsCenter)
He also showed a decent ability to knock down jumpers. Brown didn’t get the ball very often, but he was able to use a ball fake to make an open three-point shot. Plus, he also used a crossover move, and drew three free throws on a step back three. However, he also struggled to knock down mid-range jumpers, and he also threw up an air-ball when taking a long two from just inside the arc.
He also displayed an adequate ability to score off the dribble and in the post. He showed that he can draw fouls upon his defenders when he is in the paint, and he was able to get defenders to commit non-shooting fouls. However, Brown had his shot blocked once after using a pump fake move to try to score on a drive to the hoop.
Also, Brown displayed fairly average at best playmaking skills in this game. Brown threw a solid interior pass to set up a score for a teammate to notch his second assist of the season. However, he also committed a couple of ball-handling turnovers, as he can sometimes struggle to handle the ball under pressure. He was called for a charging foul on an aggressive drive that led him to commit an offensive foul and a turnover. He also had a ball ripped away from him that led to another turnover.
Though he didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, Brown was able to chase down a ball to help his team get a defensive rebound. Defensively, he looked to be about average at best. For the positives, he would actively contest jump shots, especially from the mid-range to force misses. However, sometimes he would be too undisciplined defensively. He would tend to bite on pump fakes when guarding opponents, which would lead him to be out of position and to allow scores to them. He also was called for committing a blocking foul on a drive due to being inside the restricted area. He also sagged a bit too far off of a three-point shooter to allow a score to his man another time.
Overall, Greg Brown didn’t exactly dominate in this game, but he was able to make some very impressive plays at times in his team’s loss to Baylor. He is one of the most athletic prospects that could be in the 2021 draft. He will need to improve his outside shot and playmaking skills, but I think this game was a step in the right direction. While his draft stock may be a bit high, Brown could be a solid pick for an NBA team in the late first round, especially if he ends up slipping to the 20s on draft day. If he ends up going to a team that has a sound infrastructure and development plan in place, he could end up being a solid role player similar to Oklahoma City Thunder’s forward Isaiah Roby in the NBA.
(Photo: University of Texas Athletics at texassports.com, via Horns Illustrated)
Texas’ 6-4 redshirt junior guard, Andrew Jones had a tremendous showing in his team’s loss to Baylor. He scored 25 points, made 4 threes, and he also had 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in this game. Jones did a great job of shooting the basketball to help provide floor spacing for his team. He excelled at making pull-up jumpers from both the mid-range and beyond the arc, and he also was able to score on a tough, fadeaway jumper from the mid-range in this game. He also excelled at making spot-up threes. Plus, he also did a good job of scoring off the dribble. He was able to score on a crafty layup after using dribble moves to get to the hoop, and he also would often draw fouls to get to the free throw line often.
Plus, he also showed a penchant for scoring in transition. Jones is a speedy combo guard that can quickly get to the rim, and he was able to utilize a nifty Euro-step move to score on the break. He also was able to throw down a high-flying jam after running the floor to get the ball on the break another time.
He also displayed adequate playmaking skills. Jones was able to find open shooters to set up scores for them. Sometimes though, he would be inaccurate with his passes, which would occasionally lead him to commit turnovers. Also, Jones did a good job of rebounding the basketball. He was active at crashing the glass, and he was able to get multiple boards on both ends of the floor.
He also played satisfactory defense in this game. Jones was able to pick off a pass to get a steal. He also would apply heavy ball pressure when guarding opposing ball handlers, and he also would contest threes to force misses. Sometimes though, he would get beat off the dribble, and he would also give shooters too much space, which would lead his team to allow scores.
In summary, Andrew Jones had a sterling showing in his team’s loss to Baylor. Among players on his own team, Andrew Jones clearly had the best game amongst them today. This was also one of his best performances of the season, and he especially excelled as a shooter and scorer on offense. He will need to improve his playmaking skills and be a more focused defender in games, but his athleticism and scoring skills could make him an intriguing option for NBA teams to consider in the second round range of the upcoming draft.
Texas’ 6-11 sophomore center, Kai Jones is another prospect that has been getting mentions as a possible first-round prospect for the 2021 draft. But aside from making a good play every once in a while in this match, his performance was quite forgettable in his team’s loss to Baylor.
It was frustrating that Kai Jones didn’t take many shots, and he also missed on his lone three-point attempt from beyond the arc. He wasn’t very assertive on offense, and he didn’t look to get himself involved much on this side of the ball too often. He didn’t seem to trust himself enough to take more outside shots, and he didn’t look to create his own shot or score much. On offense, he tended to miss on jumpers, as he missed on a pull-up three from way out, and he also missed on a long two-point shot from the corner.
On the bright side, Jones is a solid finisher around the basket. He can throw down powerful dunks to score at the rim, and he also can score on backdoor cuts. He also drew a non-shooting foul on a drive in transition, and he almost scored that time, except that he was not given continuation, so the layup he would’ve scored was waved off. On the down side, there was another play where he had his shot blocked on a cut to the hoop.
He also was a bit turnover prone on offense. Jones was quite passive on offense, and he didn’t shoot the ball very much, but his turnover issue was magnified by that he didn’t have many touches on offense. He went up for a shot in the post once, but he ended up having the ball ripped away to lose the ball to the opposition. He also didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, but he was able to get boards on both ends of the floor.
Plus, Kai Jones played satisfactory defense in this game. He did a very good job of blocking shots, and he excelled at swatting them to teammates. He was able to block a shot off of a drive, and he also swatted a three-point shot another time due to possessing solid length, athleticism, and timing. Jones also poked a ball away from an opposing ball handler to get a steal. Jones hasn’t blocked many shots on the season nor did he block many shots at the Maui Invitational, but it’s refreshing that he’s shown the potential to excel as a shot blocker and as an interior defender in games. On the downside, he would sometimes struggle to defend his man. There was one play where he didn’t cut off penetration, and he allowed an opponent to score on a drive to the hoop. On another play, he over-helped off of his man, and he allowed a cutter to score that time.
Overall, Kai jones is an athletic, skilled big man that may possess considerable potential as a prospect for the NBA. His strong athletic gifts, combined with having good size for the center position, along with showing the potential to develop as an outside shooter and shot blocker makes him an intriguing prospect for the next level. His performance early this season at the Maui Invitational was mesmerizing, and it seemed to put him on the fast track to first round draft prospect status on draft boards.
On the downside, he’s been too inconsistent at times, and he faded into the background too much in this game, as he scored just 4 points and had 3 rebounds off the bench, but he did block 2 shots and get a steal in his team’s loss to Texas. Right now, Kai Jones currently projects to be a second round prospect for the upcoming draft, and at the next level, he could end up being a rotational big man similar to former Denver Nuggets’ forward, Darrell Arthur in the association.
Texas’ 6-9 senior center, Jericho Sims put forth a solid performance in his team’s loss to Baylor. He played well on both ends of the floor, and he certainly outplayed Kai Jones, as he was a much more effective scorer, rebounder, and interior player among the two of them in this game.
Sims excelled at scoring on rolls to the rim, as well as in the post. He would score on strong rolls to the rim, and he would frequently draw free throws when he would look to score in the post. He also did a good job of scoring off the dribble, and he was able to drive the baseline to score on a powerful dunk.
As a playmaker, he looked to be about average at best. Sims is an unselfish player that will make the extra pass to keep the ball moving, and he can pass out of the post. Sims also showed that he can capably handle the basketball. However, he also committed a couple of ball-handling turnovers in this game. Sims was called for a charging foul on a drive once, as a score was waved off. He also struggled to handle the ball under pressure another time, and he ended up getting the ball ripped away from him another time. Sims did a good job of rebounding the basketball. He was able to chase down balls to get numerous boards on both ends of the court.
He also played fairly good defense in this game. Sims excelled at blocking shots to help his team protect the paint, and he also ripped a ball away from an opposing ball handler to get a steal. Plus, he also did a good job of contesting threes to force misses. However, every once in a while, he would occasionally struggle to defend opponents out on the perimeter, and there was one play where he got beat off the dribble to allow a score.
Overall, Jericho Sims played well in his team’s loss to Baylor. He is an athletic, energetic big man that has played well in his role this season, and if things break his way, he could end up as a back end of the roster, defensive specialist in the NBA.
Texas’ 6-3 junior guard, Courtney Ramey had a fairly good showing in his team’s loss to Baylor. He shot the ball well from beyond the arc, and he especially excelled at making pull-up threes from downtown. He also did a decent job of scoring on aggressive drives to the hoop, but he also tended to miss on pull-up jumpers from the mid-range.
He also showed off satisfactory playmaking skills. Ramey tended to throw good passes off the dribble, and he was able to string together plenty of assists in this game. He did commit a couple of turnovers due to carelessness. Also, Ramey was able to get rebounds on both sides of the ball. He also defended fairly well, as he was able to intercept a pass to get a steal, and he also blocked a shot another time.
Overall, Courtney Ramey played well, and he played a solid all-around game in his team’s losing effort to Baylor. He has played well this season but has not gained a whole lot of draft stock, but he could be an intriguing option for NBA teams to consider in the second round range of the upcoming draft.
Baylor’s senior guard, MaCio Teague had a decent showing in his team’s win over Texas. He excelled at making mid-range jumpers and at scoring around the basket, as he can score off the dribble as well as in transition. He didn’t take many threes though, and he missed on a corner three in this game. He was fairly turnover prone, though. Teague can find open shooters to notch assists. On the downside, he also threw a couple of inaccurate passes that went astray, and he also was called for a charging foul off of a drive.
Also, Teague was able to get his fair share of rebounds to help his team get boards on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he looked to be about average. He was able to poke a ball away to nearly get a steal, but he also struggled to defend opponents off the dribble, which would lead him to commit fouls and allow scores.
Overall, MaCio Teague didn’t have his best game, but he was still effective as a scorer, even though he didn’t shoot the ball that much today. He’ll need to trust his outside shot more, and be a more consistent playmaker and defender in games, but his jump shot could enable him to make an NBA team’s roster next season or sometime down the road.
Texas’ 6-2 senior point guard, Matt Coleman III had his ups and downs in his team’s loss to Baylor. He shot the ball well, and he played fairly solid defense in this game. While he did make some good passes at times on offense, he also was very turnover prone, and too much so in this contest.
Coleman did a very good job of making jumpers, as he excelled at making spot-up threes from way out, and he also showed that he can make pull-up jumpers from both the mid-range and from beyond the arc. He also was able to score on a speedy drive to the hoop once, but sometimes he would miss on tough, contested shots from inside the arc.
He displayed fairly average playmaking skills. Coleman is an unselfish player that can throw solid interior passes, as he can find teammates on the move to set up scoring chances for them. However, he also committed too many careless ball-handling turnovers. He had the ball poked away several times to lose it to the opposition, and he also was called for stepping out of bounds on a drive another time. He also was called for committing a charging foul on a drive on a separate possession.
Coleman did a good job of rebounding the basketball in this game. He also played fairly good defense, and he excelled at forcing turnovers. He was able to intercept a pass to get a steal, and he also poked a ball away to get another. He also managed to successfully draw a charge when defending a drive. However, he would sometimes struggle to fight through screens or to make timely rotations when defending shooters, which would cause him to allow them to score on three-point shots.
Overall, Matt Coleman was quite turnover prone in this game, but he did other things well aside from that. However, he didn’t take good care of the basketball, and it seemed to hurt Texas at times against Baylor. Still, Coleman has shown that he can be a good player at the collegiate level when he’s dialed in. Though he’s a bit undersized for his position and only possesses above average physical tools, his ability to make shots and effectively run a team could enable him to be a backup point guard in the NBA either next season or sometime down the road.
Other Notes:
(Source: Twitter/@ShamsCharania)
Congratulations to Toronto Raptors’ guard, Fred VanVleet for scoring 54 points in his team’s win over the Orlando Magic today. He also made 11 of his 14 three-point shots, and he is having a very good season this year in the NBA. According to Shams Charania, Fred VanVleet’s 54 points is the most points scored by an undrafted rookie in any NBA regular season game. That’s a very good feat to have accomplished, in addition to helping his team get the win. VanVleet is also averaging almost 19 points per game along with 6 ½ assists per game, and he is also a contender to make the All-Star team this season among Eastern Conference players.
