Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana basketball: Reviewing old scouting reports for Thomas Bryant

By Trevor Gersmehl

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: Thomas Bryant #13 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz at Capital One Arena on January 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 12: Thomas Bryant #13 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz at Capital One Arena on January 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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Former Indiana Basketball player Thomas Bryant is an NBA center with a lot of upside.

Bryant, a top-20 recruit in the class of 2015, was part of a great recruiting crop for Tom Crean. He was joined in that class by Juwan Morgan and OG Anunoby, both of whom are playing in the NBA as well.

Bryant had a decent career at Indiana statistically. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game during his two-season stint in Bloomington. He was also quite efficient, shooting 59% inside the arc, 37% from three, and 72% from the free-throw line during his time. at IU

However, Bryant never really had the type of impact you’d expect from a top-20 recruit. There was no doubt he was solid, but fans were waiting for “the leap” to happen and for Bryant to become a truly dominant player. However, after failing to reach the NCAA Tournament in his second collegiate season, Bryant jumped to the pros.

The Los Angeles Lakers chose Bryant with the 42nd overall pick, although he only appeared in a mere 15 games and 72 minutes the whole season. He was then waived to make cap space for the Lakers’ new Lebron James/Anthony Davis era, but signed with the Washington Wizards and began to make a name for himself.

During the last two seasons in D.C, Bryant has started 81 games, averaged 21.8 minutes, 11.1 points, and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 61% from the field and 36% from three. He has a legitimate chance to be a successful player in the NBA for years to come.

What did scouts think of Bryant as he was coming out of Indiana? Let’s take a look back to see if they saw this jump coming, or if they overlooked Bryant.

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