Thoughts on Jalen Suggs, Joel Ayayi, and Corey Kispert in the Gonzaga-BYU Game

March 10^th, 2021

By Alan Lu

Yesterday, I decided to take the time to watch Gonzaga play against BYU in the West Coast Conference Championship.  It was an opportunity to watch projected-top 5 pick Jalen Suggs play in a high stakes basketball game, and it was also an opportunity to watch BYU play for the first time this season.  BYU got off to a really good start early on, and they actually led by double-digits at the half, which was extremely surprising.

From there on out, Gonzaga hit their stride in the second half, and they played really well down the stretch to get a double-digit win over BYU.  Jalen Suggs had a tremendous all-around game, and others such as Joel Ayayi, Corey Kispert, Andrew Nembhard, and Drew Timme also played well to help them get the victory.  Here are my thoughts on how Suggs and the others fared, as well as how they may currently rate as prospects for the NBA.

Jalen Suggs had a terrific showing in his team’s win over BYU.  He had a very good, all-around game, and he scored 23 points, made 4 threes, and he also had 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block in this game. Suggs did a great job of knocking down jumpers, especially from downtown.  He showed a knack for making threes both off the catch and dribble.  He made four three-pointers, as he also made a step-back three, and he also dribbled around to make a deep three from way out late in this match.  He also was able to pull up to make a smooth, mid-range shot, and he was able to really show his sharpshooting prowess against BYU.

He also showed a satisfactory ability to score off the dribble.  Suggs was able to score on a couple of speedy, right-handed drives to the hoop.  He is a fast player that can really accelerate to consistently get to the rim, and he also changes speeds well.  He also would often draw fouls upon his defenders to frequently get to the free-throw line.  Sometimes though, he would overtly try to force the issue, as he would occasionally take tough, rushed shots that would lead to misses, and he also had several of his shots blocked.

He also displayed very good playmaking skills in this game.  He excelled at throwing passes to set up a wealth of scores for his teammates, and he passes the ball well off the dribble as well as in the post to notch assists.  He also threw a very long outlet pass to set up a score for a teammate on the break, and he tended to throw crisp, accurate interior passes to get his teammates the basketball.  He did commit one turnover, as he had a ball knocked away off of his leg when driving to the hoop once. Also, Suggs did a good job of rebounding the basketball, and sometimes he would quickly push the ball up the court after helping his team get defensive boards.

Plus, he also played solid defense in this game.  Suggs is a very athletic, rangy defender that can cover a lot of ground.  He was able to run in to steal a ball in the post due to possessing great speed and quickness.  He also blocked a mid-range shot ferociously out of bounds.  He also was able to deflect a pass out of bounds, and he also sped up an opponent on a drive to help force a miss.  He also would contest threes as well as a shot in the post to force misses.  Sometimes though, he would gamble too much defensively, which can lead him to be out of position, and can occasionally lead him to end up in foul trouble.  A couple of times, he over-helped in the paint and was late to rotate back, which would lead his team to give up three-point baskets.  He also fouled a three-point shooter due to being too aggressive on the close out.  Another time, he rotated to double aggressively in the post, but ended up committing a reach-in foul that time.

In general, Jalen Suggs played very well, as he had a superb, all-around game in his team’s win over BYU.  He really took over in the second half, and he especially made his presence felt on both sides of the ball.  He is a very athletic combo guard that has a knack for making plays on both ends of the floor.  Suggs is a very talented prospect that projects to be a likely top-3 pick, and he could end up being a very good player in the NBA.

Gonzaga’s 6-5 junior guard, Joel Ayayi put forth a very good performance in his team’s win over BYU.  He had a solid all-around game, and he scored 18 points on 5 of 9 shots, made 3 threes, and he also had 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block to help his team get the victory.

Ayayi shot the ball very well, especially from beyond the arc.  He showed a knack for making threes, as he was able to make them off the catch and dribble, and he has a lot of range on his shot.  He also has a quick release that enables him to easily get his shot off.  He also did take a long two-point shot in this game, but he ended up missing that time.

He also excelled at scoring on hustle plays.  Ayayi ran the floor to score in transition.  He also would draw free throws after chasing down balls to get offensive rebounds.  On the downside, he did miss a put back attempt after grabbing an offensive board once.  Also, he showed a satisfactory ability to score off the dribble, and he was able to take the ball hard to the hoop to sore on a baseline drive.

He also displayed fairly average playmaking skills.  Ayayi is an unselfish player that will look to find the open man, and he was able to throw a solid entry pass to notch an assist.  He also managed to drive and kick a ball out to a shooter to set up a scoring chance for his teammate another time.  However, sometimes he would throw hasty passes, as he had a couple of them get intercepted by his defenders.

Plus, Ayayi did a tremendous job of rebounding the basketball.  He is a very good rebounder, and he would often leap up and chase down balls to get numerous boards on both ends of the floor.  He was able to chase down a ball to get an offensive rebound and then quickly got fouled, as he made a nice hustle play that time.  He also would sometimes push the ball quickly up the floor after getting defensive boards.

Also, Ayayi played satisfactory defense in this game.  He would deflect passes and poke balls away to nearly get steals.  He also managed to rotate to contest a shot inside as well as a three-point shot to force some misses.  However, he would tend to bite on pump fakes, which would lead him to be out of position and it would cause him to allow opponents to score on jumpers.  He also rotated to double an opponent aggressively in the post, but ended up committing a reach-in foul that time.

In summary, Joel Ayayi is an athletic, high-motor combo guard that plays much taller than his listed height, and he played very well in his team’s win over BYU.  He quietly turned in a strong all-around performance, and he excelled at making plays on both ends of the floor.  He has had a good junior season, and he could be a solid pick for an NBA team in the late first to the second round range of the 2021 draft.

Gonzaga’s 6-7 senior forward, Corey Kispert played fairly well in his team’s win over BYU.  He had a slow start to this game, as he did not shoot nor play well in the first half.  After that though, he really started to hit his stride early in the second half, and Kispert ended up having a solid showing, as he scored 17 points, made 4 threes, and had 5 rebounds and 2 assists in this game.

Kispert shot the ball very well, especially in the second half.  He showed a knack for making quick, spot-up threes after running off of ball screens to get the ball.  He also made an open corner three.  Plus, he also dribbled off of a screen to make a pull-up three another time.  He also ran off the ball to take a shot from just inside the arc, but he ended up missing on a long two from the corner.

He also generally excelled at scoring on hustle plays.  Kispert was able to score on a strong layup off of a quick drive in transition, and he also drew an extra free throw afterwards.  He also ran the floor hard and got fouled to draw free throws another time.  On the downside, he ended up missing once on a backdoor cut after running off of a ball screen to get open on that play once.

He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills.  Kispert passed the ball well, and he also is a fairly solid ball handler.  He is an unselfish player that has solid court sense.  He was able to patiently drive and kick a ball out to a shooter to set up a score, and he also threw an accurate entry pass to notch another assist.  On the downside, he had a ball ripped away from him on a drive that led him to commit his lone turnover. Also, he did an adequate job of rebounding the basketball.  Kispert was able to leap up to get a handful of defensive boards in this game.

On the downside, he seemed to struggle defensively.  For the positives, Kispert was active on the defensive end of the court.  However, he would sometimes tend to take bad gambles, as he bit on a pump fake, and he also whiffed on a steal attempt when rotating to double an opponent in the post, which would lead his team to give up baskets inside the arc.  He also got outmuscled on a baseline drive to allow a score, and he also got beat off the dribble, which led him to foul his man another time.  On a separate play, he sagged too far off of a shooter, which led him to allow an opponent to score on a three-point shot from well beyond the arc.

Overall, Corey Kispert played well to help his team get the win, and he especially excelled in the second half to do so. He is an agile, skilled sharpshooter that shoots the ball very well, and he was able to pour on the points in the second half. He’ll need to improve his defense, but he is a very good shooter and scorer that moves well off the ball, and he has a very high basketball IQ. He would likely be a solid pick in the mid-first round range, and he could end up going in the latter half of the lottery, as he could project to be a solid player in the NBA.

For BYU’s 7-3 senior Matt Haarms, it was a tale of two halves.  He played very well in the first half, but he struggled in the second half, as his team ended up losing by double-digits to Gonzaga. In this game, Haarms scored 13 points, made a three-point shot, but he had just 4 rebounds and 1 block, though he made an impressive shot block, in his team’s loss in this game.

Haarms showed a satisfactory ability to score in the post.  He would tend to score on strong, left-handed turnaround jump hooks, and he has very good size, as well as solid footwork and shooting touch to regularly score down low.  He also would draw fouls upon his defenders when double-teamed.  However, sometimes he would miss on turnaround jump hooks, especially when he would try to use his right hand, and he also missed on a close-range jump hook late in this match.

He also generally excelled at scoring on hustle plays.  Haarms was able to throw down a dunk off of a roll to the rim, and he also scored on a left-handed hook off of another roll.   However, after rolling to get the ball in the post, he ended up missing on a layup another time. He also showed an adequate ability to knock down jumpers in this game.  Haarms was able to make an open, spot-up three off of a pick and pop play.  On the downside, he also missed on a rushed, mid-range floater.

In this game, he didn’t seem to make any noteworthy passes on offense.  He did commit one turnover though, as he had a ball stolen away from him in the high post when he was doubled midway through this contest. Though he didn’t grab many rebounds in this game, Haarms was able to get his fair share of defensive boards when he was on the floor.

Defensively, he looked to be about average.  Haarms was able to rotate to block Suggs ‘ shot on a drive in transition out of bounds due to possessing very good length and timing, as well as above average athletic gifts.  He also would rotate to contest shots in the paint to force some misses.  However, sometimes he would tend to commit fouls in the post.  Another time, he flopped backwards when defending in the post, and ended up allowing a dunk.  Another time, he rotated but bit on a pass fake to allow an opponent to score on a drive.

Overall, Matt Haarms had his ups and downs in his team’s loss to Gonzaga.  He showed off some intriguing skills on both ends of the floor, but he struggled significantly in the second half down the stretch.  Still, he’s a very tall center that was able to showcase versatile scoring skills, as well as enough mobility to be an effective interior player when he is on the court.  He will need to continue to improve his outside shot and rebounding.  Currently, he projects to be a borderline second round candidate, and if he has a very good 2021 NCAA Tournament, he could end up moving up draft boards if he plays well in the Big Dance.

Gonzaga’s junior point guard, Andrew Nembhard also played well in his team’s win over BYU.  He primarily excelled as a shooter and scorer, but he also had a solid all-around game to help his team get the victory. Nembhard did a very good job of scoring off the dribble as well as in the post.  He has a tremendous pump fake move that he would use to score on crafty drives to the hoop.  He also used a spin move and a pump fake to score in the post on a separate possession.

He also flashed the ability to knock down jumpers in this game.  Nembhard was able to make an open, spot-up three off the catch to show his ability to knock down long-range jump shots.  However, he also tended to miss on pull-up jumpers from the mid-range.

He also showcased satisfactory playmaking skills.  Nembhard is an unselfish player that will look to find the open man, and he was able to notch a pair of assists.  He was able to throw an accurate pass to a roll man to set up a score.  He also drove and kicked a ball out to a shooter to get another assist.  Even better, he also did not turn the ball over once on offense. Though he did not get many rebounds in this contest, Nembhard was able to haul in a pair of defensive boards.  However, he also was called for an foul when going for a defensive rebound another time.

Also, Nembhard played fairly good defense.  Nembhard was able to intercept a pass to get a steal, and he also managed to deflect passes to nearly get other steals.  He also contested a mid-range shot to force a miss.  However, there was one play where he over-helped in the paint and was late to rotate back, which led his team to allow an opponent to score on a corner three.  On another play, he ended up getting beat off the dribble to allow the basket to his man.

Overall, Andrew Nembhard had a strong showing in his team’s win over BYU.  He is a smart, skilled playmaker that played really well on offense, and he excelled at making solid plays to help his team on both ends of the floor.  He has played well in his role this year, and he could be a solid pick for an NBA team in the second round of the upcoming draft.

BYU’s 6-2 senior point guard, Alex Barcello had his ups and downs in his team’s loss to Gonzaga.  For Barcello, it was also a tale of two halves for him, as he played very well in the first half, and he struggled significantly in the next half, and his team ended up losing in this game.

Barcello showed a satisfactory ability to score on aggressive drives to the basket.  He was able to finish plays using either hand, and he would tend to score on crafty floaters.  He also managed to score on a tough, reverse layup, and he is a subtly quick player that also has good strength to consistently score around the basket.  However, though he was able to pull up to make a mid-range jumper, he had trouble consistently knocking down shots from the mid-range. Barcello was able to make a couple of deep, spot-up threes from way out.  On the other hand, he was quite streaky with his jump shot, and he struggled more to make them in the second half.

He also displayed adequate playmaking skills in this game.  Barcello is an unselfish player that will make the extra pass to keep the ball moving.  He generally did a good job of getting the ball out to open shooters, and he was able to make a drive and kick pass to notch an assist.  However, sometimes he can be careless with the basketball, which can lead to turnovers.  He over-dribbled into traffic and rushed his move, as he lost the ball out of bounds.  Another time, he threw a lazy pass that ended up getting intercepted.

Also, Barcello did a very good job of rebounding the basketball.  Defensively though, he struggled in this game.  For the positives, he was active defensively.  On the downside, he tended to commit fouls on drives in transition.  Another time, he was late to rotate on a switch, and he ended up allowing an opponent to score on a corner three.

Overall, Alex Barcello is a skilled offensive player that can shoot and score the basketball.  He will need to improve his defense, but he could be an intriguing option to consider in the second round, as he could project to be a solid backup point guard in the NBA.

Gonzaga’s sophomore center, Drew Timme had a solid showing in his team’s win over BYU.  He primarily excelled as an inside scorer, and he also passed the ball well, as he scored 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting, and he also had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in this game.

Timme did a good job of scoring in the post.  He would tend to score on drop step moves, and he was able to barrel his way to the hoop to score on a powerful dunk once.  He also made a quick rip move to score on a reverse layup due to possessing solid balance and footwork.  He also excelled at drawing fouls upon his defenders to get to the free throw line.  He did not miss often, and he excelled as a scorer in the paint.

Plus, he also excelled at scoring on hustle plays.  Timme was able to use a pump fake to score on a roll to the rim.  He also managed to run the floor to throw down a dunk in transition.  He also drove to the hoop and used a eurostep move to draw free throws another time.  On the downside, Timme did not do a good job of making his free throws when he was at the foul line.

He also displayed solid playmaking skills.  Timme is a good passer that sees the floor well.  He threw a nifty, behind-the-back interior pass to get an assist, and he also would find open shooters to collect other assists.  However, sometimes he would be a bit careless with the ball, which would lead to turnovers.  He was called for stepping out bounds when posting up once, as he would have scored on a turnaround layup, but that was waved off.  He also threw a hasty pass from the post that ended up getting intercepted another time. Also, Timme was able to get his fair share of rebounds, as he was able to get boards on both ends of the floor.

He also played above average defense in this match.  Timme was able to poke a ball away to get a steal, and he also caught a loose ball to get another.  He was able to contest a shot in the post as well as a three-point shot to force a miss.  However, sometimes he would be late on his rotations, as he would struggle to guard quicker players in space.  On another play, he got backed down when defending in the post to allow a score another time.

Overall, Drew Timme played well, and he is a skilled big man that can score the basketball.  He is a good player at the collegiate level.  He’ll still need to extend his shooting range and improve his face-up game, and he’ll need to improve his on-ball defense moving forward.  Still, his ability to score and produce has helped him significantly this year, and he currently projects to be a second round prospect on draft day.

BYU’s 6-5 sophomore guard, Trevin Knell played really well in his team’s loss to Gonzaga.  He is an agile, skilled sharpshooter that did a terrific job of shooting and scoring the basketball.  He did a tremendous job of knocking down spot-up threes off the catch, and he also was able to run off the ball to make one early on.  He also managed to draw three throws, as he has a good pump fake move that also allowed him to score on a subtly quick, left-handed drive to the hoop. 

Knell also used a pump fake to make a mid-range shot another time, but he struggled more to make mid-range shots in this game. Also, Knell showed a satisfactory ability to get rebounds, and he was able to get boards on both  ends of the floor.  However, he also was called for committing a loose ball foul when going for a defensive board once.

Overall, Knell shot the ball really well, and he had the best game of any BYU player in this particular match against Gonzaga.  He is a skilled shooter that could be a player to keep an eye on.  He could end up being a very good college basketball player in a year or two, as he could end up projecting to be a potential second round pick in 2022.

BYU’s 6-6 junior swingman, Gideon George also played fairly well in his team’s loss to Gonzaga.  He showed off versatile scoring skills, and he is a high-motor player that would actively look to make plays on both ends of the floor.

George generally excelled at scoring on strong drives as well as on put backs.  He also was able to make an open corner three.  However, he struggled to make threes consistently.  He also missed on a tough, fadeaway jumper in the post, as well as on a tough, off-balanced shot on a cut another time.

Also, he did a fairly good job of rebounding the basketball, and George was very active at crashing the offensive glass to help his team get offensive rebounds.  Defensively, he looked to be about average.  He was active defensively, and he very nearly almost made an impressive chase down block on an opponent in transition, but instead was called for a goal-tend.  On another play though, he sagged too far off of a shooter to allow a three-point basket from pretty far out.

Overall, Gideon George had a decent showing in this game, and he showed off versatile scoring skills, as well as solid athletic gifts and motor in his team’s loss to Gonzaga.  He will need to improve his outside shot and passing ability.  If he can continue to progress as an overall player and hone his game, he could be a player to watch on BYU’s team next season.

BYU’s 5-11 senior point guard, Brandon Averette had his ups and downs in his team’s loss to Gonzaga.  He excelled at scoring on quick, crafty drives to the hoop, as he showed that he can score on floaters, but he struggled to consistently knock down jumpers from further out.  He was able to pull up to make a three on the break, but he was unable to make outside shots consistently, though.

He also displayed satisfactory playmaking skills.  Averette is an unselfish player that can quickly get the ball to open shooters, and he would get them the ball to notch assists.  He did commit one turnover though, as he had a ball poked away while handling it once.

Overall, Brandon Averette put forth an uneven performance in this game, as he had a good first half, but he struggled in the second half in his team’s loss to Gonzaga.  He will need to make more shots consistently in games, and he will need to show that he can guard taller players.  Right now, he may be a long shot to be drafted, but in a favorable scenario, he could end up finding his way into the G-League and/or overseas when his collegiate career ends.