Matisse Thybulle emerging as NBA worthy talent

After a shocking upset of undefeated Kansas, the Washington Basketball team has turned some heads in the nation. One of the team’s heroes, Matisse Thybulle, should be popping up on scouts lists and an NBA worthy player

The National Basketball Association is more than a league of players scoring at will. Half of the game is defense, and to win big games in the NBA, teams have to defend very well. After a big win against second-ranked Kansas, the Washington Basketball team knows something about winning games on a big stage. And that means the team knows plenty about defense.

Wing Matisse Thybulle is earning his NBA defensive PhD under head coach Mike Hopkins.  As such, his name should be penciled in on the scouting list of virtually every NBA team.

On NBA radar screen

I’m not the first to notice.

And in my honest opinion, Matisse Thybulle is not the only NBA worthy prospect on the Washington Basketball team.

The Wandering Albatross

On one hand, the Wandering Albatross is the bird with the greatest wingspan. Their wings stretch all the way to 11-foot-6. On the other hand, Mattisse Thybulle is not quite that expansive.  In fact,  he boasts a 7-foot-0 wingspan.  Comparing him to NBA players, that 7-foot-0 wingspan is huge, particularly on a 6-foot-6 small forward body. That’s not just great for shot making, it’s great for shot stopping.

Imagine an NBA player hovering around seven steals per game?

Seven steals in one game warrants NBA discussion.

Trending up

Right now, Thybulle is averaging 3.5 steals per game.  On top of that production, he is incredibly mature. He chose to remain at Washington despite a coaching change. As a result, he is flourishing under the new defensive 2-3 scheme of head coach Mike Hopkins

Keep in mind that he averaged 1.1 steals per game as a freshman, and 2.1 steals per game as a sophomore. Now, as a junior in a defensive minded scheme, he is up to 3.5 steals per game.  Logically, if he remains for his senior year, that number could go way up.  And at some point, NBA representatives notice that type of defense.

Three-and-D players get noticed, and get paid, in the NBA

Why Thybulle fits NBA now

The NBA will have a crop of shooters every year. Players who score bushel baskets of points in the NCAA. Still, most of those players will struggle to score as easily in the NBA.  And some will never match their collegiate production.  In the NBA, parity exists. Schemes rarely feature the same player night after night on the offensive front.

So NCAA stars dim in the NBA.

But basketball players who can shoot but also play solid defense do not fade away so quickly.  Defense wins championships. The only reason so many players do not pursue their defensive skillsets is the commitment it requires. Defense is every moment on the basketball court. Each shot must be contested. Each dribble must be defended.  Matisse Thybulle “gets it”, thanks to Coach Hopkins.

Four year program, three year star?

Now, Coach Hopkins runs a four year program. As players familiarize themselves with roles and responsibilities, they will instruct newcomers as well.  As such, I don’t project Matisse Thybulle as an automatic to the 2018 NBA Draft.

Next: Coach Romar integral part of Washington’s upset of Kansas

But I cannot lie either. He has NBA worthy talent, today.  And if he dangles himself out there as a participant at the 2018 NBA Combine, I suspect the warm welcome by NBA scouts will encourage serious consideration to move on to the pros.  I know several NBA teams with a true need at the wing position. And there is no reason all NBA teams won’t take a look at a solid wing who can shoot from the perimeter and play good defense.   After all, Matisse Thybulle is the real deal.  Sooner or later, the NBA will discover that.  I hope its later. I fear it’s sooner.