4 takeaways from NBA Draft prospect Trae Young’s game against Mo Bamba

Texas basketball upset Oklahoma at home in a 79-74 win over the Sooners in a marquee matchup between future NBA lottery picks Trae Young and Mo Bamba. The stars weren’t at their best, and that was clear from Young’s 1-of-6 shooting from range in the opening half, and Bamba’s block-less opening 20 minutes. But each had moments to remind us of why they’re worthy of a first-round pick.

Young finished with 19 points on 22 shots (yikes) and 14 assists, and Bamba had 13 points and nine rebounds.

If you haven’t watched either before, Oklahoma point guard Trae Young is the standout player of the year in college basketball. At 30 points and 9.5 assists per game, he’s the most dynamic offensive player in the nation — and one of the best to ever do it at the collegiate level. His shooting range is limitless, and he’s often compared to Steph Curry in that regard.

Teams will look to draft him as an all-around point guard with the keys to run his own offense.

Mo Bamba is Texas’ seven-foot center whose 7’9 reach creates the illusion that his hands reach to the floor as he trots down court. He’s had three or more blocks in all but three games he’s played this season, and is a defensive menace.

Teams will draft him for what he can be in a few years as a defensive anchor who’s made strides as a potential three-point shooter.

Here’s how each fared on Saturday.

Given his height, Bamba should be the best rebounder on the floor almost all of the time — and he is as the No. 15 player in the country in defensive rebounding percentage. Against Oklahoma, he looked lost.

Sooners center Jamuni McNeace had his way against Bamba for two offensive rebounds, and made 8 of 10 shots (mostly in the post), too.

Bamba is a rail-thin 225 pounds relatively speaking to his freakish frame, and this game showed just how far he has to go before he reaches his potential. Stronger opponents can still shove him around the paint.

As a team, Oklahoma hauled down nine offensive boards.

Young had a bad shooting night, finishing 2-of-14 from three-point range, but was still the Sooners MVP. He had nine first-half assists (third time he’s done that this season), and finished with 14. That’s remarkable.

With his jumper missing, he found other ways to score, too. With a series of hesitation moves, and bursts of speed towards the rim, Young was a ball-handling magician. These are the types of moves he’ll need to perfect to get shots up against NBA competition.

Young is special on the dribble because he can shoot off rhythm, off either foot, at any time. His unpredictability got Bamba.

Bamba was a non-factor for long stretches in this game, and that’s not all that uncommon for him. He’s recently had a pair of 20-point games, but only averages 13 per game. He still can’t create his own offense consistently, and a lot of that has to do with how skinny he is. But wow, he had moments.

Bamba’s wingspan enabled him to grab any ball thrown in his vicinity. This pass should have been a turnover. Bamba turned it into a three-point play.

Bamba’s touch is so impressive — and it’s improving with every game. He’s made 24-of-28 from the free-throw line (86 percent) over the last four games.

The Longhorn had another real standout play that shaped Texas’ comeback win, too. Off a defensive rebound, Bamba turned and faced the opposite rim and threw a Lonzo Ball-like crosscourt assist.

That’s just great instinct.

As often as we crown Young as the best player in college basketball — which, in fairness, he might be — he doesn’t come without flaw. He’s always been a turnover machine given how often he handles the ball, but this time, it cost his team the chance to comeback and win the game.

He’s typically good in crunch time, but that turnover signaled the end of the game.

Still, Bamba and Young remain in contention to go as high as No. 1 in June’s NBA Draft, and it’d be a miracle if either slipped past 10. These guys are the future of the NBA.