BYU basketball news: Kanon Catchings caught fire against Arizona
“With his size and his high release, I tell him all the time you’re either going to make it or miss it,” smiled Kevin Young following BYU basketball’s major win over 19th-ranked Arizona. “The defense has nothing to do with it. When he’s aggressive [and] looking for his shot, he really changes the game for us.”
Kanon Catchings hasn’t gotten away with many mistakes in the second half of this BYU basketball season. Under first-year head coach, Kevin Young, the Cougars tightened up their rotation as they entered conference play.
Catchings felt the most significant impact of this change, as the smooth-shooting freshman saw his per-game minutes drop from over 20 per night to a spot on the bench and single-digit in-game minutes.
A drastic departure from the norm, Kanon’s understanding was simple — produce, and your playing time will grow. Fail to produce, and you may not see the court again for the entire night. The latter was the case in the recent trouncing of Kansas State and Kansas, where Kanon saw a season-low for his minutes as he only appeared in eight and two minutes of game time, respectively.
He understandably looked disheartened at the end of that 34-point victory.
But when the team needed him to come alive in a hostile McKale Center environment, Catchings reminded the world why he was a projected first-round pick at the beginning of the season.
Lifting the ball high above his head and firing corner 3-balls, the 6-foot-9 wing was a human torch. In just 15 minutes of play, Catchings ignited for 4 3-balls — most heavily contested — and kept the Cougs at arm’s reach from the surging Wildcats.
As Coach Young mentioned, Kanon’s high release point is reminiscent of another player Young once coached in Kevin Durant. With his incredible wingspan and soft touch from beyond the arc, Catchings could be a lethal scorer as he learns the defense can’t properly contest such a safeguarded jump shot.
He’s been improving across the board since being benched, as his free throw rate and 3-point shooting have improved dramatically in the past month.
Though Kanon isn’t without his shortcomings, the dynamic wing is proving that he owns pro upside if he can develop properly. What NBA team wouldn’t take a player with his frame, shooting touch, and ability off the dribble?
Perhaps a strong showing in the month of March could lift the BYU wing back into the draft conversation?
