Minott to Minnesota: Former Saint Andrew’s star selected in second round of 2022 NBA Draft

Former Saint Andrew’s star Josh Minott was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday with the 45th overall pick, in the second round, of the 2022 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-8, 205-pound wing from Boca Raton, Florida, becomes the fourth Memphis basketball player drafted in the last three years. In 2020, James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa were selected second and 20th overall, respectively. Earlier in Thursday’s draft, center Jalen Duren was taken with the 13th pick in the first round by the Charlotte Hornets, who then traded him to the Detroit Pistons.

Minott scored 6.6 points per game and averaged 3.8 rebounds as a freshman last season, helping Penny Hardaway’s team reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. In doing so, he also collected American Athletic Conference all-freshman honors.

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Here’s what Timberwolves fans can expect from Minott.

The positives

Minott oozes potential.

Thanks to his combination of length, athleticism and versatility, the 19-year-old’s Memphis teammates bestowed upon him a lofty nickname: “Baby Giannis.” Although it’s wildly premature, the point stands: Minott’s ceiling is incredibly high.

In addition to his highlight-reel dunks and intensity, what potentially makes Minott a legitimate threat at the next level is his high IQ and nose for the ball. He almost always seemed to be in the right place at the right time to make an impact offensively, and his size on the defensive end caused problems for opposing teams.

The concerns

Despite his age, Minott might not be quite as advanced developmentally as others like him. He played for a small high school in Florida and did not spend any time on the EYBL, Under Armour or Adidas grassroots circuits.

Because of that, Minott struggled to grasp the Tigers’ concepts, especially defensively. On the offensive end, Minott did not show much of a perimeter game, hitting just two 3-pointers in 14 attempts. Because of those things, along with Memphis’ deep, star-studded roster, he was relegated to a secondary role for much of the season.

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Final thoughts

Sometimes a prospect just has it.

While it may not be easy to explain, scouts and NBA personnel have been fixated on Minott for a while. Expecting him to make an impact right away would be a fool’s errand. But, as Memphis assistant Larry Brown recently told the New York Post: “(In) a couple of years, you might have a diamond.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Josh Minott, former Saint Andrew’s star, picked in 2022 NBA Draft