ESPN 100 big man Thomas Bryant (No. 22) announced his commitment to Indiana on Saturday live on ESPN during the finals of the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School Nationals.
Why he committed: Ultimately, Bryant’s decision came down to two schools – Indiana and Syracuse.The Orange always were the hometown favorite, but until Chris McCullough's unexpected decision to go pro on Thursday, they didn’t have an available scholarship, so Bryant hadn’t heard from them in several months. Conversely, Indiana not only made Bryant their top priority but also had the most defined immediate role for him, given the void in the middle of their lineup. Kentucky and Missouri also were listed in Bryant’s final four, but his mother, Linda, went on record several months ago as saying that he wouldn’t be joining his former Huntington Prep coach, Rob Fulford, at Mizzou. The opportunity was unclear at Kentucky given the amount of big men both currently in the program and also considering the Wildcats next season.
What he brings: The 6-foot-10 Bryant is a true big man with a high motor. He brings a definite sense of intensity to the floor and is a major presence inside the paint, especially on the defensive end. With his aggressive mentality, good size and 7-foot-6 wingspan, he’s a shot-blocking threat while also being a high-volume rebounder on both ends of the floor. He can be equally relentless around the rim on the offensive end, going to get second-chance scoring opportunities, finishing through contact relatively well and also running in transition effectively for a guy his size. He’s also more skilled than most people typically give him credit for. He has good command of a few basic moves with his back to the basket and he also has experience playing alongside another big man, which allows him to be productive from the high post. He’s a capable high-low passer and is also becoming a more consistent shooting threat from the top of the key. It’s also important to note that Bryant is still just 17 years old and is notably younger than most other top prospects in the class, meaning he might still have substantial long-term potential.
How he fits: Bryant will step in to fill the void at center that Indiana has had since Noah Vonleh opted to leave last spring after his freshman season, at least a year earlier than anticipated. Hanner Mosquera-Perea did his best to hold down the spot before suffering a knee injury in January, but head coach Tom Crean elected to go small with his lineups far more often this year than he ever had at Indiana. Bryant will give the Hoosiers that true big man who can be an anchor on both ends of the floor. Given the amount of perimeter firepower at Indiana, his presence will be critical, not only in providing them with a backline defender but also to keep opposing shot-blockers honest on the offensive end, given his ability to clean up the offensive glass if his man leaves him to make a play on the ball.
How the class is shaping up: Juwan Morgan and Ogugua Anunoby both signed with Indiana in the fall and while neither is an overly celebrated recruit, they both project as solid additions to a front line that needed improved depth. Bryant’s presence clearly brings the class to another level and gives Crean the immediate-impact player he desperately needed. The big question now, though, is whether the Hoosiers can use Bryant’s pledge as a boost of momentum to further their pursuit of Thon Maker. Indiana had been perceived as an increasingly likely choice for Bryant in recent weeks, but Maker’s status is much more uncertain, given that they’re not only competing with other blue-blood programs, but also the allure of a professional contract overseas. If they could land Maker, they’d have as good a freshman frontcourt tandem as any team in the country next season.
He reminds us of: It’s not a comparison you typically hear for Bryant, but he’s actually got some similarities to Emeka Okafor in his game. Okafor was probably more fluid laterally and more agile, but didn’t have quite Bryant’s length. While Bryant’s motor is perhaps “louder” than Okafor, both play the game very hard and are known first and foremost for their contributions on the defensive end with their ability to block shots and clean the glass. Okafor, too, had a little bit of a deceptive skill set. He was never overly polished with his back to the basket, but was still undeniably productive late in his college career at Connecticut and also had a better face-up shooting game than he was typically credited to have.