NBA Can't Overlook Wizards Rookie

The Washington Wizards have a rookie flying under the radar.

Jeremy Brener | Oct 15, 2024

Oct 14, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) shoots a three-point jump shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

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Washington Wizards

When people think of the Washington Wizards young core, many think of No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr, potential point guard of the future Bub Carrington or last year's No. 7 overall pick Bilal Coulibaly. However, there is one player that people shouldn't forget about.

The Wizards made a trade on draft night to move back into the first round, selecting Miami guard Kyshawn George with the No. 24 overall pick back in June.

With a rebuilding team, the Wizards could give a lot of playing time to a player like George, who isn't acting like a rookie during training camp.

“Just his poise, the way he's playing. His confidence in taking open shots, he's really long and athletic, so he's good on the defensive end as well,” Poole said via ClutchPoints reporter Joshua Valdez. “All of our young guys have been coming along really well. I'm excited.”

George, who doesn't turn 21 until December, was one of the best 3-point shooters of the most recent draft class. The Swiss guard shot just over 40 percent in his lone collegiate season, proving he could be a strong shooter on the next level.

Shooting from distance in the NBA is vastly different than college, but George should be given an opportunity at reps in Washington moreso than any other potential team he could have landed on.

The Wizards' goal for the season is to determine which players are worth keeping around for the long haul. George is a candidate for that, and the best part about his prospect is that he has time on his side. Coach Brian Keefe shouldn't expect much out of George in his rookie year, but he can set a foundation that could blossom into a long and fruitful NBA career.

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Published Oct 15, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.