ANAHEIM, Calif. — The basketball scouting industrial complex is so far-reaching that it has unearthed NBA all-stars everywhere from the minor leagues of Greece to a Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa.
No system is perfect, though, and occasionally overlooked prospects manage to burst onto the scene in the run-up to the draft. Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver, one of the fastest-rising 2019 lottery prospects, fits that bill to a tee.
The 20-year-old guard hails from Lubbock, a northwest Texas city whose most accomplished NBA product is Craig Ehlo, the famed Michael Jordan foil. Texas Tech, the hometown university, has produced just two first-round picks in the last 50 years. Meanwhile, Culver’s personal story is similarly nondescript: the pastor’s son was a three-star high school prospect and was utilized as a complementary player during his freshman season.
While not a blue blood program, Texas Tech has been an ideal proving ground. Coach Chris Beard has filled out an experienced roster by aggressively pursuing transfers, a strategy that has delivered the country’s top-ranked defense and an Elite Eight date with Gonzaga on Saturday.
Culver has flourished as the younger brother in the locker room. His senior teammates have delighted in schooling him in shooting competitions, and Beard joked that he “made Culver go to bed when we got back” from an evening practice in between tournament games.
The ribbing comes from a place of affection and respect. Culver has emerged as the Red Raiders’ leading scorer during his breakout sophomore season, leading the team in points (18.9), rebounds (6.4) and assists (3.8) per game to earn Big 12 player of the year honors.
Few, if any, projected lottery picks have aided their stock during March Madness as much as Culver, who has joined Duke’s R.J. Barrett in the top tier of wing prospects. After posting 29 points in the opening round against Northern Kentucky, he rebounded from an off shooting night against Buffalo to torch Michigan for 22 points in the Sweet 16.
Come June, Culver’s NBA-ready frame and knack for creative finishes could make him a top-five pick. “He has a pro body and he’s spent a lot of time in the weight room,” Beard said. “He can beat you with the pass, shot or rebound. And he studies the game, both his opponents and what’s going on in the NBA. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s seen Gonzaga play 10 or 15 times this year.”
The Wolverines got an up-close view of Culver’s potential on Thursday. He powered through defenders for tough finishes, knocked down faceup jumpers, flipped in reverse layups, and found seams for controlled drives. Although not known as the most explosive athlete, Culver sealed the blowout with a crowd-pleasing two-handed dunk.
“Watching some of the greatest players has improved my game a lot,” Culver said. “I added my midrange, post-up game, jabs and stuff this year. That’s from watching a lot of Jayson Tatum, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan. There’s a lot to improve on.”
Of course, NBA scouts have a list of nitpicks. Given that his game is predicated more on craft than raw athleticism, they worry about his propensity for committing turnovers. Culver is also a less-advanced ballhandler and a less-effective shot-creator than Barrett, who was a blue-chip prospect in high school.
Yet there is a school of thought that suggests Culver’s narrower offensive game could be a feature rather than a flaw. Because Culver isn’t accustomed to dominating the ball, he might be headed for a smoother transition to the NBA. “He will fit better [than Barrett] next to a young point guard because he won’t be playing tug-of-war for control of the offense,” one scout said.
That logic could appeal to projected top-five lottery teams who already have lead guards, like the , and . Culver’s fans in the scouting community picture him functioning as a supporting scorer and quality defender, a la forward Khris Middleton.
