
The importance of this pivot in mindset cannot be understated. Instead of settling for contested jumpers, McGowens started attacking the rim, which improved his shot quality and regularly sent him to the free-throw line. However, McGowens did something we rarely see from freshmen: he improved his shot selection in the middle of the year. He settled for bad jumpers, didn’t take shots he was best at, and would struggle to create space. This season, McGowens had some of the most erratic shot selection in the country.

Not all shot selections are the same for all players, but those who fail to correct their bad habits quickly become unplayable.

It’s an incredibly important aspect of a player’s game, but it also gets misused or misinterpreted on a regular basis. Shot selection is one of the most common cliches used in prospect evaluation. The big swing for him will be his shot selection. However, he could also struggle to ever find a role. It shouldn’t be shocking if McGowens ends up as a 20 point-per-game scorer. The 2022 NBA Draft has a solid bounty of wings in the first round, and McGowens could still be one of the better ones to emerge. His combination of size, athleticism, and skills will impress front offices in workouts, but the question of how he implements those skills into a live game still remains.

His context may not have been an ideal one, but it was still evident that McGowens had NBA wing skills. Bryce McGowens was simultaneously one of the most fascinating and most frustrating prospects to watch this season.
