Chicago Bulls: 5 players to watch in the NCAA Tournament
By Ryan Heckman
Kevin Knox, Small Forward, Kentucky Wildcats
Kevin Knox is a high-flying, exciting prospect for the Bulls to evaluate. At 6’9″, he can play either the three or four but might be best suited at the latter.
One of Knox’s best attributes is his consistent ability to finish above the rim. When he chooses to attack the basket, he will always look to do it aggressively if he sees the potential. Knox is at his best when he is moving, which is a great characteristic to have heading to the pros.
When he puts the effort into it, Knox can defend multiple positions. He’s athletic enough to hold his own against a three, but also has proven to be able to defend the five.
In 2017-2018, the Wildcat averaged 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 44.3 percent shooting. The shooting percentage would likely be higher if Knox’s decision making and shot selection was on par with his athletic ability.
He’s still a bit raw, obviously, but with the right coaching and development he could blossom into a real versatile pro. If you translate his college averages into a per-40 minute number, Knox would have averaged 11 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.3 blocks.
The leaping ability is there. The wingspan is there. The scoring is there. He may need to put on some weight and improve his shot selection, but Knox is absolutely a top-10 talent.
Knox will be one to watch as Kentucky takes on 12-seed Davidson in Boise, ID on Thursday at 7:10PM Eastern. If they get through to the round of 32, Kentucky will take on the winner between Buffalo and Arizona two days later.