After a one-and-done season with Baylor, point guard Keyonte George declared for the 2023 NBA Draft. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists as a true freshman.
With the No. 16 overall pick, the Utah Jazz selected the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and George made the most of his opportunity.
On Monday, he was named All-Rookie Second Team. George received three first-place votes and 71 second-place votes.
Â
In his rookie season, he averaged 13 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, highlighted with a career-high 30 points in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 12, 2023.
Out of high school, he was listed as a five-star recruit, No. 3 overall in the Class of 2022, becoming the highest ranked recruit in program history.
George’s ability to take over the game and score the basketball at a high rate was apparent during his early days with Baylor. He scored 506 points during his lone season, placing him second in program history for points in a season.
The 6-foot-4 guard scored 20 or more points in 12 games setting a new program record. He also drained 77 three points during his time with the Bears, the most ever by a Baylor freshman.
It did not take long for George to adjust his game to the NBA pace, as he started in 44 of 75 games as a rookie. While it is obvious he can score the ball efficiently, he is an underrated play maker as he was 53rd in assists during his first season in the league.
