The NBA is just hours away from tipping off its first-ever two-night Draft, beginning on Wednesday night in Brooklyn. And the Cavaliers – sitting on the clock at No. 20 overall – need to begin answering some serious, hard-hitting questions, like: Are they willing to draft a player with bigger hair than Jarrett Allen?
Kyshawn George was born in Switzerland, played his high school ball in France and played his single college season at the U of Miami. The 20-year-old didn’t even start until halfway through that freshman campaign and now finds himself as a potential First Rounder heading into Wednesday’s Draft.
“Potential” is the key word when it comes to George, whose father played professionally in Switzerland. He’s already grown several inches since the time he committed to Miami out of high school and scouts are drooling over the upside of the point guard with forward length.
The tradeoff when Draft experts talk of “potential” and “upside” is usually a less-than-lengthy college resume – and George fits right into that category. In his single season with the U, he averaged 7.6 point, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game – making 31 appearances with 16 starts. The 6-9 guard shot 43 percent from the floor overall, 41 percent from long-range.
Despite the lack of big numbers, the Swiss swingman has NBA squads intrigued as we head into Wednesday night. Could the Cavaliers look George’s way when they’re on the clock …
George checks off all the boxes that scouts love in today’s NBA – he’s got great length for his position, and he can shoot the three-pointer.
He doesn’t have elite handle, but at 6-8 with a 6-11 wingspan, it’s good enough to get him separation and allow him to create off the dribble. He plays with a nice natural rhythm and never appears rushed. He’s got an innate feel for the game, is a crafty passer and has the length to see over the defense. He’s three-point shot when his feet are set is described as a “thing of beauty.”
He’s a better team defender than one-on-one, but he knows how rely on his size pressuring the ball. He has a good, solid build at 210 lbs.
Scouts love George’s three-point stroke, but teams will need to see if he can do more than that consistently on the next level. In his sole season at Coral Gables, 68 percent of his shot attempts were from beyond the arc, and he had just three dunks in 713 minutes of action.
He’s a solid ballhandler for his size, but he’ll need to improve greatly if he wants to be a full-time lead guard at the next level. He’ll need to improve on his decision-making, especially in the open court, struggling with turnovers as a freshman.
Aside from his struggles to get to the rim, George – who lacks elite explosiveness – simply hasn’t posted the numbers to warrant a high pick. He’s the definition of a high-risk/high-reward prospect.
The Cavaliers will be making their decision on a head coach soon, and he’ll be coming to his first Training Camp with the 20th overall pick in the fold. Who Cleveland selects might indicate how he intends to shape the squad.
Could George be the pick when the Cavs are on the clock? He’s got the size that teams love and the Wine and Gold have the backcourt that can provide the Swiss sensation time to develop.