NBA Draft 2019 Prospect Watch: Matisse Thybulle

Strengths

The overwhelming calling card to Thybulle’s skill-set is his remarkable standing on the defensive end.

Physically gifted in terms of his athleticism and 7’1″ wingspan, as well as possessing a high IQ on this end, Thybullle is an absolute ball hawk, one that’s able to wreck the rhythm of opposing offenses. That especially shines off the ball as Thybulle was a consequential component behind Washington’s zone defense that helped them to a 27-win season, taking the Pac-12 Conference and a berth in this year’s NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight seasons.

The same rings true in his ability to suss out shot attempts and leap or recover to reject looks from opposing players in ways that very few players are able to do on a regular basis, which is certainly helped by the Huskies’ defensive gameplan.

As a result, Thybulle amassed quite the statistical profile defensively as he led the NCAA in total steals (126) and averaged 2.3 blocks per game as well this season. Mind you, this all came on 36 regular season appearances during his senior year. And while he had plenty of free rein to impose his presence defensively by the end of his time in Seattle, Thybulle managed to steer clear of foul trouble as his averaged 2.8 fouls per game over his four-year collegiate career.

Whether you can see it through the gaudy production or how it’s acted as the backbone to his rise as a prospect over his amateur career, it’s quite clear Thybulle embraces his role as a defensive menace and he’ll certainly look to hold that up on the NBA level.