Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Buddy Hield should be the No. 1 draft pick

in Sports
Outlaw Partnersby Outlaw Partners
April 12, 2016

By Brandon Niles EBS Sports Columnist

For the past few years, NBA scouts and media have been keenly watching the progress of young phenom Ben Simmons, a tremendous athlete destined to be a basketball star. Simmons entered his freshman year at Louisiana State University this season as the consensus No. 1 draft prospect, with little debate over his superstar potential.

Some pundits have started looking at talented Duke University wing Brandon Ingram, and Croatian big man Dragan Bender as possible top picks, but Simmons is still expected to hear his name called first when the draft kicks off in June.

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad
ADVERTISEMENT

However, following March Madness, all three of these players have been knocked down on my draft board.

University of Oklahoma shooting guard Buddy Hield blew away the competition during the tournament. Not only did he post impressive numbers, including a 36-point explosion against Virginia Commonwealth University, he looked like a man among boys each time he stepped on the court. When I look for a player with No. 1-pick potential, the biggest question I ask is, “Who looks like they don’t belong on the court?” Hield is that guy.

Hield is not considered an elite prospect by most media sources. Several have him ranked in the top 10, but very few believe he’s in the conversation with Ingram or Bender, let alone the exalted Simmons. Critics argue he’s too old at 22 years old, and that he has a low ceiling. Some say he’s too small at 6-feet-4-inches tall to be a top-level pro shooting guard. Some say he’s a bad defender. I say the critics are wrong.

With most top-level players choosing to enter the draft after their freshman year, guys like Hield who stay in college four years are viewed as having less talent. However, the same criticism was said about Portland Trail Blazers’ star point guard Damian Lillard when he came out of Weber State University in 2012, and Lillard has emerged as a top-five player at his position.

Defense is often a problem for rookies, but can be improved with good coaching. Also, with the NBA emphasizing perimeter shooting and small-ball lineups, being slightly undersized isn’t really a big deal. At 6 feet 4 inches, Hield may be on the lower end of the prototypical height for a two-guard, but Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade is the same height, and he’s been one of the best in the game for over a decade.

What Hield lacks in size and youth, he more than makes up for with shooting and explosiveness. Hield drives to the basket with purpose and is dangerous from the outside. His experience in college has helped him maximize his athleticism as a rebounder, he makes good decisions with the ball, and his court awareness is elite at this stage of his career.

While Simmons was stuffing box scores, threatening triple-doubles on a losing team night after night, Hield was being a leader on the court and playing his heart out, advancing Oklahoma to a number two seed in the tournament. While I love Ingram’s skill set, and Simmons and Bender certainly have upsides, Hield is the closest thing to a sure-fire star in the upcoming draft.

The top pick should be the guy you can hang your hat on and expect to lead your team to victory by sheer will. He should be coachable, resilient, and have that proverbial “it” factor. Buddy Hield has demonstrated all of this and more. With Hield, you get a star-caliber player who can take over a game when you need him to, and can still grow into an elite two-way player at the next level. To me, there’s no argument.

ADVERTISEMENT

Brandon Niles is a longtime fan of football and scotch, and has been writing about sports for the past decade. He is a fantasy football scout for 4for4 Fantasy Football and is co-host of the 2 Guys Podcast.

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes
outlaw realty montana outlaw realty montana
ADVERTISEMENT
Outlaw Realty Big Sky Bozeman
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Jul 9
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 9
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Event Series

Community Yoga

Jul 9
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Post 99 Honey sales

Jul 9
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Pickup Ultimate Frisbee

Jul 10
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Gallatin Whitewater Fest celebrates community, competition and crowns river royalty
Featured

Gallatin Whitewater Fest celebrates community, competition and crowns river royalty

July 1, 2025
Big Sky, Bozeman kids prepare for sports camp with NFL players 
Sports

Big Sky, Bozeman kids prepare for sports camp with NFL players 

June 18, 2025
Montana State’s Leon Costello earns FCS national AD of the Year nod
Regional

Montana State’s Leon Costello earns FCS national AD of the Year nod

June 12, 2025
Former Lone Peak football star transfers to Montana State: ‘My dream come true’ 
Featured

Former Lone Peak football star transfers to Montana State: ‘My dream come true’ 

June 4, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube