Texas Basketball: 4 lessons learned from upset win over Purdue

3. Will Baker will need time

One of the more disappointing players thus far for Texas basketball in two games is the former five-star recruit and Austin native center Will Baker. Missing every field goal attempt he’s tried and posting what is effectively a -19.0 player efficiency rating is by no means a good start to any collegiate career.

Through two games, Baker is 0-of-6 from the field and registered just four total rebounds, one assist, and one steal. He’s played in 17 total minutes on the floor in limited spots and didn’t show much of anything positive to the coaching staff yet. But he is a true freshman and is not around the best supporting cast when he’s on the floor usually.

Give Baker time and patience and he could turn into a special talent for this Longhorns basketball program. Baker is one of the most talented players to roll through the Forty Acres in recent memory and he has a modern skill set that NBA scouts look for out of big men. He was a good candidate to be that one big man that always emerges from this program as an NBA Draft lottery pick.

However, Baker is going to need to make a quick jump in production if he’s going to be regarded as a potential first round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. For now, he’s taking a backseat to the likes of forward Royce Hamm Jr. and junior starting center Jericho Sims. They’re just more productive than he is at the moment.