Tre Butler

So there I was, Thursday, March 1st at Quicken Loans Arena having the pleasure of watching LeBron James face off against my very own Philadelphia 76ers. While enjoying my time at the game, the similarities in the roles that King James and Ben Simmons each fill became clear. These two guys run the show like a true point guard and when they’re on the floor you can see how much smoother their respective teams operate. Professionals like these have inspired a rise in the frequency of “point forwards” we see in today’s game. Big guys want to be known as more than just rim-rattlers and shot-blockers. The younger generation sees the attention Simmons has received from an all-time great in James and they surely want that same love and respect.

See the source image

Now you’re probably wondering what any of this has to do with college hoops, as the whole point of Student Union Sports is to discuss college athletics. Well as I mentioned before, the point forward position has been put on the forefront of the basketball world in the NBA. So I thought it would be interesting to take a dive into collegiate ballers who I think could possibly play this versatile position in the future. With some careful consideration and research, I’ve come up with two potential point forward candidates. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Kenrich Williams, TCU

Outside of TCU or maybe even Big 12 fans, most people probably wouldn’t know who Kenrich Williams is. This, to me, is one of the reasons I find him so interesting. Standing at an impressive 6’7″, Williams possesses both a wide frame and range of skills. Listed as a guard by ESPN, the senior has posted a season stat line averaging 12.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and nearly 2 steals per game. Although none of these numbers scream “National Player of the Year”, you can see how Williams produces for his team in multiple categories. He is currently projected as a possible second-rounder in this year’s draft by NBA Scouting Live and could see his stock on the rise with an effective showing in the tournament on nationally televised games. We witnessed flashes of excellence from Williams in moments like:

Miles Bridges, Michigan State

Now here’s a guy most people will know whether it be from his play on the court or his name swirling around recent FBI investigations. Either way, it is a safe to say Bridges has reserved a little bit more of the spotlight than Kenrich Williams. For one, he’s playing on a potential national championship contending squad. And two, Miles is a human highlight reel who could have probably been a lottery pick this past year. Roll the Purdue clip…

As you can see, Bridges has the ability to get his own chances going offensively. However, when I watch him I see a player who Tom Izzo loves to run his sets through. Although Bridges may not necessarily bring the ball up the floor like a point guard, I feel that with his handle and creativity on offense he will grow into a versatile pro who can do a little of everything. He currently leads his team in scoring and steals per games. Statistically, his per game averages are lower than his freshman campaign. Regardless of the numbers, scouts are still left drooling over his upside and many believe he will be a lock in the lottery.