Prospect Notebook: Scouting Notes From TCU vs Texas

Scouting the top prospects from Texas' win over TCU in Fort Worth.

Author:
Nick Crain
Publish date:
Feb 4, 2024 11:00 AM EST

In this story:

In a Saturday afternoon showdown, Schollmaier Arena was filled with fans ready to watch a conference matchup between their TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Longhorns. This was a special contest in Fort Worth, given current Oklahoma City Thunder and former TCU forward Kenrich Williams had his jersey retired at halftime.

Draft Digest was in attendance to scout this game, with several players on draft radars who needed an in-person evaluation. The game itself was an exciting one, as these two teams are extremely talented and both projected to make the NCAA Tournament. Both rosters also have several players with NBA upside, which was on full display on Saturday afternoon.

In the end, Texas came out on top by a final score of 77-66, though it was a much more competitive contest than that result would suggest.

Let's take a look at some of the top NBA prospects in this game.

TCU Horned Frogs

Emanuel Miller

Forward | 6’7 | 215 lbs

Game Stats: 15 Points | 3/4 3PT | 5 Rebounds | 2 Assists

The older brother of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Leonard Miller, Emanuel Miller will be following in his footsteps this summer. While the TCU forward likely could have made his way to the NBA last season, he opted to come back and has taken over as the alpha of this team.

This has proven to be a great decision, as Miller has showcased creation and facilitation upside that we hadn't seen prior to this season. He's also gotten to the line much more frequently than in seasons past. He has generated five free throws per game this season and converts on 80% of those attempts, which is a significant improvement from the past few years. He has also increased his 3-point volume without losing much efficiency. In this contest, he knocked down three of his four attempts from beyond the arc. There's reason for optimism as it relates to his jumper translating at the next level.

Again, Miller is the best player on the TCU roster and it's very clear when watching this team in-person. What really stood out in this contest specifically was his defensive versatility. He defended point guards that are barely 6-foot, centers who are nearly 7-footers, and everything in-between. His combination of length, strength and athleticism allows him to be a versatile defender. He absorbs contact well with his chest and knows how to adapt his defensive strategy to who he is defending on each possession.

Micah Peavy

Wing | 6’8 | 215 lbs

Game Stats: 9 Points | 4/11 FG | 3 Rebounds | 3 Assists

It certainly wasn't Micah Peavy's best game on Saturday, but it is clear that he has some of the tools needed to make an impact at the next level. At his height, the TCU prospect position is something between a jumbo guard and a traditional wing. He isn't a very good perimeter shooter, but does have more wiggle and craftiness than you'd expect from a player of his build.

This is Peavy's fourth college season and he still has much to prove if he's going to make the leap this summer. At this point, he's likely more of an NBA Summer League invite type of player than an actual draftee, but at minimum his positional size and rebounding upside are intriguing.

Ernest Udeh Jr.

Center | 6’11 | 260 lbs

Game Stats: 2 Points | 1/1 FG | 2 Blocks

After transferring from Kansas to TCU, Ernest Udeh is still finding ways to get minutes on the floor, The former top-30 recruit is now a starter in Fort Worth, but plays just under 17 minutes per game. On Saturday, he notched 14 minutes and just two points, but still impressed.

The way he moves in open space at 260 pounds is quite impressive. His feet aren't all that quick, but he's still able to move around on defense and doesn't have to camp out in the paint to be effective. Not only is he a shot deterrent, but he's also a quality shot blocker. Udeh had two on Saturday, one of which was when Tyrese Hunter tested him at the rim and got denied with authority.

While he didn't pull down a single rebound against Texas, Udeh is a really good rebounder (20% rate) and can generate second-chance points. His offensive game needs a lot of work, as he's not a real scorer and can't space the floor. The upside is clearly there though, even if he likely needs another season at the college level before making his way to the NBA.

Avery Anderson

Guard | 6’2 | 170 lbs

Game Stats: 13 Points | 6/10 FG | 4 Assists | 1 Steal

Although it seems like a lifetime ago that Avery Anderson was sharing a backcourt with Cade Cunningham at Oklahoma State, he's still playing at the college level and has been great for TCU. He made a real difference early in this game, scoring nine points in the first six minutes of the game.

From there, Anderson was a bit more quiet, but still impressive nonetheless. He's undersized for a guard looking to go to the NBA, but is an advanced shotmaker and has proven he can knock down tough buckets.

Texas Longhorns

Dylan Disu

Forward | 6’9 | 225 lbs

Game Stats: 15 Points | 2/3 3PT | 7 Rebounds | 2 Blocks | 2 Steals

There is no doubt that Dylan Disu was the best player on the floor on Saturday afternoon. Getting it done on both ends, he produced 15 points and four stocks, while showcasing his ability to space the floor. While he's somewhat limited athletically and doesn't boast elite quickness, Disu has found ways to leverage his 6-foot-9 frame to fit the modern game. He is fundamentally sound and knows what his team needs to get a win.

The mechanics of Disu's jumper are promising, as he looked good at the free throw line and knocked down two of his three attempts from deep. Given he's currently shooting better than 52% from beyond the arc this season at his size and does nearly everything on the floor, NBA teams should be very interested in his services. He's also an underrated shot blocker, producing two rejections in this game against TCU. He's notched a 5% block rate this season following a 7.4% and 9.0% rate the two seasons prior.

Dillon Mitchell

Forward | 6’8 | 205 lbs

Game Stats: 13 Points | 6/9 FG | 11 Rebounds | 2 Steals | 1 Block

The big question surrounding Dillon Mitchell is his 3-point shooting. He didn't attempt a single triple last season and has only taken seven this season — none of which have gone in. In pregame warmups, the mechanics looked solid, but his shot wasn't falling at a very reliable rate given the shots were uncontested. That will continue to be the swing skill for him, even after performing well in shooting drills at the combine last summer.

Another thing that was clear in warmups was Mitchell's unreal athleticism. That's one of the primary reasons he is such an elite rebounder as a forward, on top of the fact that he really gives effort towards boxing out. He does plenty on the floor that would suggest he can fit into a particular role in the NBA and thrive, but his upside is much higher than just a role player.

In this game, Mitchell's ability to pull down a board and push the break was impressive. He's very comfortable with the ball in his hands which will benefit him in the modern NBA and combat the lack of floor spacing.

Tyrese Hunter

Guard | 6’0 | 175 lbs

Game Stats: 6 Points | 3-9 FG | 6 Assists | 2 Steals | 2 Offensive Rebounds

After a phenomenal freshman season at Iowa State, Tyrese Hunter transferred to Texas where his production has been relatively flat ever since. As an undersized guard, he has improved his shot and plays with tremendous energy, but will need to show more for NBA teams to buy in.

On Saturday, Hunter proved once again to be the energy guy on the team. He made several big plays that tangibly swung the momentum of the game in the Longhorns' favor. If there's one abundantly clear thing, it's that he's an incredible point-of-attack defender. Hunter is lightning quick when it comes to lateral movement and knows how to defend with his chest instead of his hands to avoid fouling. With that in mind, when he needs to be disruptive he can. He produced a massive steal on Leonard Miller in the final minutes of the game that felt very significant.

Kadin Shedrick

Forward | 6’11 | 230 lbs

Game Stats: 9 Points | 4/5 FG | 2 Steals | 1 Block

Although Kadin Shedrick's numbers haven't jumped off the page this season at Texas, that was also the case at Virginia before he transferred where was still one of the most impactful players on the team. While he comes off the bench and is considered a role player, he always finds ways to do the little things that help win games.

There's still a clear need for him to improve as a 3-point shooter, but that still hasn't been an emphasis for Shedrick this season. He's also produced more turnovers than assists, which hurts his stock given he has the chance to be a connector at the next level in the right system. Regardless, at the end of the day, it's hard to measure Shedrick's impact by the box score. He notched three stocks which is impressive, but they all came in big moments which matches the type of player he is.

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