OKC Thunder: 3 draft prospects to monitor in NCAA title game

OKC Thunder potential prospect No. 3:  Baylor  – Guard, Jared Butler

I’m super high on Davion Mitchell who was just named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year to go along with his Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. As Intentions expected he delivered in the Final 4 match versus Houston posting a double-double of 12 points, 11 assists, 2 rebounds, and a steal in 36 minutes.

His imprint was all over the game as he scored or assisted on 27 of Baylor’s 45 first-half points. For more on Mitchell check out Intentions Final 4 prospects to watch from Saturday.

The other Baylor guard is the focus of our attention today – Jared Butler.

While Mitchell is the prize asset from Baylor, Jared Butler is a quality prospect. The combo guard led the Bears in scoring in the Final 4 match. He netted 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 33 minutes

His skill set fits the NBA game which should find him being a late first-round selection and contributing to his team in his rookie season.

While he’s a combo guard it’s his dime dishing that makes him a quality add to partner with an existing NBA point guard. He is adept at running the pick and roll (a quality not all combo guards possess).

Butler is a legitimate scoring threat who averaged 16.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game this season. However, his perimeter shot and efficiency could be why he moves up boards. He shot 41.5 percent on 6.1 attempts through 29 games this season. In the tournament, he’s been hit and miss, but in the Final 4 match versus Houston, he shot 4 of 5 from deep.

https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/1378545877099311108

Others to watch out for:

More from Thunderous Intentions

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• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Jalen Suggs is by far the best player of the two teams and is projected to go third or fourth on most draft boards. He stepped up in the Final 4 game in a big way. It wasn’t his 16 points, five rebounds, and six assists although they were important.

Rather, it was his leadership and repeated heads-up plays that stood out. With the score tied at 77 and 2:00 minutes remaining, Cody Riley was at the rim ready to drop a two-handed flush but Suggs caught him from behind and blocked the shot.  Or course the only shot anyone was talking about after the game was the last one. With 3.3 seconds remaining in overtime Suggs had the presence of mind to dart up the court, pull up just past half court, and bank in a 3-pointer for the win.

This is why so many pundits compare Suggs to Jason Kidd.

Also notable is Corey Kispert who again, Intentions covered in our primer on Saturday.  Kispert delivered 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and a bunch of hustle plays including knocking a ball out of the hands in the paint that looked destined for a layup & diving on the court to get a jump ball. He’ll be a nice supplementary piece for any NBA team.

Ultimately, with the top two teams ending up facing each other in this title match the hype is real and there are bound to be players who step into the bright lights. The question is — will their performances impress a certain bespeckled GM residing in Oklahoma City?