RJ Barrett drew all the attention and the headlines, and justifiably so. The Knicks’ first-round pick out of Duke was at one time considered the best prospect in the draft and set the ACC freshman scoring record (860 points).
But Barrett wasn’t the only one-and-done prospect the Knicks selected. Second-round pick Ignas Brazdeikis was the best freshman in the Big Ten this season, and he has the work ethic and self belief to match that honor.
In Brazdeikis’ one year at Michigan, he made his presence known and became a star and beloved player in a short amount of time. On the year, Iggy averaged 14.8 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 39% from three.
The 6-foot-7 Canadian impressed scouts at the NBA Combine with his speed and versatility. “I think I was able to show a little bit of my maturity out there,” Brazdeikis said at the combine. “I definitely showed how I can score the ball, but I think I rebounded the ball well, I defended pretty hard. So I think I just showed that I can be out there and play among the best.”
NEW YORK SPORTS THIS WEEK 