JARRETT CULVER - GUARD, TEXAS TECH
The otherguy: The cream always rises to the top, and Jarrett Culver continues to do just that. He has continued to score at an impressive clip, and yet again put on a big scoring performance against a blue blood.
Culver took the fight to Kansas, as he did against Duke, with an almost identical performance. The reason for Culver’s bump over the younger Romeo Langford has nothing to do with that, but more to do with the Knicks’ current timeline.
The other guy: Langford has gone through bit of a cold spell his last three games, shooting 41.7 percent from the floor, but has ironically been more accurate from deep. The key to his NBA potential lies in the development of his outside shot. His game inside the arc is already mesmerizing; he has Kyrie-esque finishing skills. But until that shot comes along, it is hard to peg exactly what Romeo can be next season.
At the time of this writing, it seems like meaningful basketball will begin next season. Operating under that belief, the case a more developed Culver becomes stronger than the enticing potential of Langford.
Culver can be trusted to come in as a utility man off the bench. He can create his own offense, play off the ball as a slasher, and rebound the basketball. Langford may possess the higher ceiling, but an accelerated timeline removes the room for hope.
