Arizona took care of business last night against Baylor, securing a 74-67 win. The Wildcats controlled the game, even as Baylor fought to claw their way back. VJ Edgecombe put up an impressive 24-point performance, but my focus was on Carter Bryant.

From the moment Bryant stepped onto the court, he made his presence felt—rebounding, passing, and defending Edgecombe. What stood out most was his defensive matchup against VJ, where Bryant showcased his ability to make things difficult for an elite talent. While Edgecombe still got his buckets, Bryant made him work for it on several possessions. 

Offensively, Bryant flashed his athleticism with a baseline cut for an alley-oop slam, demonstrated his catch-and-shoot ability by knocking down a three, and showed off his playmaking with a bullet pass from the wing for an easy bucket.

Bryant had a quiet second half. At halftime, he had 5 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds, finishing the game with 7 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds. However, his final two points came on clutch free throws with under a minute left. Defensively, he remained engaged, picking up Edgecombe down the stretch and making a beautiful full-court pass for a layup. There’s a lot to like about Bryant, but he’s still a raw prospect in need of development.

During the game, I tweeted that Carter Bryant reminds me of Jayson Tatum—minus the offensive bag, and I want to elaborate. Right now, Bryant’s scoring arsenal is limited to his three-point shooting and athleticism. To take his game to the next level, he needs to develop his ball-handling. Once he gets comfortable putting the ball on the floor, he can expand his offensive repertoire. That said, he’s an intriguing prospect, and with the right development, he has the potential to be a star.