George of the Jazz:

Rookie Guard’s Surprise

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

01/17/2024

When teams go into the NBA Draft, they are usually looking to acquire a player that can impact their team right away, or at the least become a part of their future core. For a team like the Utah Jazz whose first pick of the 2023 NBA Draft came in the middle of the first round, they were looking for high upside with potential to contribute to the big club this season. As it has turned out thus far, the player they took with their pick has fit both criteria and then some. Guard Keyonte George has been a pleasant surprise for a Utah team hovering around the Play-In line of the standings this season. George has provided standout moments and valuable production for a Jazz team competing for a Play-In spot while building their core for the future.

George who was taken with the 16th overall pick has been the breakout rookie Utah did not know they needed but is glad to have. His production at the NBA level should not be surprising based on the talent and consistent play he displayed during his high school and collegiate years.

As a high school player, George was a star on the court as he shined both for Lewisville High School and IMG Academy. He spent his first three high school years with Lewisville increasing his scoring average and steals per game each season. He went from posting 21 points per game as a freshman to 24.8 by his junior season. He received multiple accolades for his play during his time at Lewisville as well. Winning 6-6A Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman and 6-6A MVP his junior season. He then went on to play his final high school season at IMG Academy transferring there for his senior season. He averaged 17.8 points per game and shot an impressive 41% from three-point range for the season. This production validated him as a 5-star recruit ranking 6th among recruits by ESPN and 9th by 247 Sports. All this hype made him a very sought-after recruit with many top collegiate programs like Texas, Kansas, and Kentucky extending offers. But he chose Baylor as the school he would continue his basketball journey with. This choice also put him in the history books as the highest-ranked recruit in the program's history.

George played just one season at Baylor University but once again was a star amongst his peers. George was the Bears 2nd leading scorer averaging 15.3 ppg and helped lead them to a 23-win season and the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and 2nd Team All-Big 12. He also etched his name further into the program's history scoring the second most points (506 points) by a freshman in a school history and set a program record for 20-point games in a single season (20 games).

Keyonte George also got invaluable experience on the international circuit playing in the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup. During this tournament he averaged 8.2 points per game and helped Team USA win the gold medal, all this culminating in him being named MVP. With all this experience overall from his high school years and his one collegiate season his move to the NBA was not surprising nor should his early success be either.

In 33 games thus far in his rookie season George is averaging 11.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. The 6'4" guard has been primarily a bench player and has already had some great moments this season. His best performance has been a 30-point, 3 rebound, 7 assist stat line he put up versus Oklahoma City. This is one of his three 21+ point games. The fact he has also scored in double figures in 17 games shows he is becoming a steady force off Utah's bench. All this has culminated in George seeing his minutes per game now sit around 23:30, as his play has demanded consistent playing time. Plus, with his three 19-point games during the team's current six-game win streak, he has become a true X-factor.

Keyonte George less than halfway through his rookie season has already carved out a valuable role on the Utah Jazz. As a 20-year-old middle of the draft selection, he may not have been expected on a team with several guards within their rotation to contribute immediately. However, his play has forced the coaching staff to have to play him and allow him to learn on the fly. Whether the Jazz make the playoffs or Play-In tournament or not the development of a young player like George is a huge win for the club both present and future.