It's not uncommon for a high school basketball player to be touted as a sure-fire NBA prospect before they even play a minute of college hoops. Former Gonzaga men's basketball stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Suggs received that type of buzz at 18 years old prior to becoming lottery picks in back-to-back drafts. Some of it has to do with hype, but for the most part, it's clear when a high schooler is ready to make the leap to the pro level.
But that doesn't mean it always works out. Some players crumble under immense pressure, while others are wrongfully evaluated as high schoolers. Sometimes their style of play doesn't translate well or they don't receive the opportunities to succeed at the collegiate level. Whatever the case, labeling a young athlete as a pro early in their development has its ramifications.
Hoops Herald on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared thoughts on the subject and used Drew Timme's high school career as an example:
The 6-foot-10 Texan dominated at J.J. Pearce High School, though it's unlikely he received a lot of NBA buzz heading into his first year at Gonzaga.
Timme shot up recruiting boards after he averaged 27.7 points, 17.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a junior. He was named the District 8-6A MVP and earned second-team All-State by USA Today, an impressive feat considering the talent pool in Texas that included RJ Hampton and Tyrese Maxey. Following his efforts at Peach Jam in July 2018, Timme fielded offers from almost 30 notable programs across the country.
As talented as Timme was, most of the NBA hype in the 2019 recruiting class went to James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, all of whom would go on to be picked first, second and third overall in the NBA draft the following spring. Timme was projected as a second-round pick by 247Sports as a senior, though that wasn't the focus and narrative when he arrived in Spokane.
Timme was a role player as a freshman behind the likes of Killian Tillie and Filip Petrusev. Even as a top 50 incoming recruit, Timme had to wait until his second season to really have an impact for the Zags. Fast forward through a decorated career that saw him become Gonzaga's all-time leading scorer and consensus All-American, Timme was still graded as a fringe second-round pick by the end of his senior year.
The Milwaukee Bucks gave Timme an opportunity after he went undrafted, though the team cut him ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season. It's unknown if he'll suit up for a team this season, but Timme's ability to score down low and his bright basketball IQ should prolong his professional career, whether it be in the NBA or overseas.
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