Not every prospect is guaranteed to succeed in the NBA, but it is hard to ignore the immense ceiling of Arizona's Carter Bryant.
The 19-year-old from Riverside, California, caught the attention of many nationwide this season, rising in the depth chart as the season went along. Bryant showed off his skills in the NCAA tournament, assisting his Wildcats to the Sweet Sixteen. By the end of it, Bryant had propelled himself into serious NBA draft lottery discussions.
In his lone season at Arizona, Bryant posted 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, one block, and 0.9 steals per game. While his stats don't jump off the charts, what he does on the defensive side of the ball makes up for it.
An All-Defensive team nomination is in Bryant's future
The staple of Bryant's game comes on the defensive side of the ball. Bryant wreaks havoc on opposing teams with an ideal NBA frame of 6'6" and a near seven-foot wingspan. With his tools, there is a good chance you will see him on an All-Defensive team in the future.
If there is one thing you can count on him to do, it is to hustle on every possession. You can find him diving for balls, jumping into passing lanes, and sprinting in transition at any given moment. With fierce determination, Bryant will never give up on the play, recovering the lost ball-handler instantly.
The lengthy forward is also a savvy playmaker on defense. Finishing the year with nearly a block and a steal per game, he knows how to create turnovers. He has precise timing on blocks and the patience to let the play develop before striking. Playing next to Victor Wembanyama would be an absolute block party.
Heading to a team lacking perimeter defense in the backcourt, Bryant can fill multiple roles. He is excellent at help-defense and is a true team-oriented defender. He can quickly get over screens, allowing the lesser defenders on the Spurs, such as De'Aaron Fox, to avoid being attacked.
Bryant can jump out of the gym
As an athlete, Bryant is as freakish as you will see. Even with his large frame, Bryant has serious hops and can make numerous plays with them. On the defensive end, he used it to make highlight blocks and put an end to plays that seemed lost. On the other side, Bryant has a mixtape's worth of thunderous dunks.
With his elite athletic tools, the Arizona star is a tremendous play-finisher. Whether he is cutting on the baseline for an easy dunk or running in transition and getting to the hoop before everyone else, Bryant will seal the deal.
With a cast of superb playmakers on the Spurs, Carter will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his dunks. The Spurs guard tandem will welcome Bryant to the offense with open arms. As Fox and Stephon Castle race in transition, they will have an extra weapon in their arsenal of scoring options.
When Bryant isn't hammering it down off the break, he searches for the right basketball play. Bryant is a high IQ player and a willing passer. He knows what it takes to win and is unafraid to give the ball up when necessary.
The tools are there but can he reach his upside?
The athletic tools bring the glitz and glamor, but what excites NBA scouts the most is his upside as a three-point shooter. In the 2024-25 season, Bryant shot 37.1% from beyond the arc, attempting 2.8 shots a game. While the volume was not groundbreaking, his efficiency was.
Bryant has a clean stroke and is confident in his shot. He is ready to shoot immediately off the catch and can find open spots while off the ball.
However, questions arise about whether his three-ball is legit. Can he maintain the efficient numbers for a full NBA season? After all, he was very limited in his playing time throughout the Wildcats' season.
This question will be up to the Spurs to decide. If Bryant is unable to sustain his jumper in the NBA, he will quickly fall out of the rotation. He already struggled to stay consistent in college, making him a huge gamble for the Spurs. But if he can maintain a solid beyond-the-arc shot, his elite defense traits could make him an invaluable piece for the win-now Spurs.