The NBA draft is 11 days away, and the Milwaukee Bucks hold the 24th pick of the first round. It is unclear what they will end up doing with the pick or even if they will keep it, but if they do use it, there are several players they may consider. One of those players is Bryce McGowen out of Nebraska, and here is a look at some of his strengths and weaknesses, along with his fit on the Bucks.
Bryce McGowens
- College: Nebraska
- Position: Wing
- Height: 6’6″
- Weight: 180 lbs
- Draft Age: 19
- Stats: 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game
- 40 percent from the field, 27 percent from three, and 83 percent from the line
Milwaukee Bucks Draft Scouting Report: Bryce McGowens – Strengths
Scoring Upside
Bryce McGowens is a player with very big upside offensively. He is very long and athletic and can get into his shot in a variety of ways. His ball handling is arguably his best skill, as he has plenty of moves in his bag, and he has shown potential at all three levels as a scorer. He is able to get to the paint and draw a lot of fouls, ending the season with a very high free throw attempt rate of 49.1%. His athleticism helps him in many ways and really makes him stand out as a potential scorer at the next level.
Spot Up Shooting
McGowens has shown the ability to knock down shots when spotting up or on the catch-and-shoot. Per Synergy, he shot 38.2 percent on spot up catch-and-shoot threes this past season, ranking in the 70th percentile. On all catch-and-shoot shots, he shot a solid 34 percent, and when left unguarded, that percentage shot up to 50 percent. He seems like someone who can be a solid shooter and the defense cannot leave alone. He also has shown great touch on his floaters (48 percent) and free throws (83 percent), which is encouraging for his potential as a shooter.
Defensive Potential
WIth his combination of length and athleticism, McGowens is the type of player who can definitely become a strong defender if he works hard at it. He has work to do on that end, but he possesses the physical tools you can’t teach. There have been flashes on that end of him using his length to force misses and effectively altering shots, so there is reason to believe he can be at least a decent defender in the NBA.