Age

20.4

Height

6'10"

Weight

212

Workload

MIN%

71.9

USG%

21.2

TS%

54.7

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

15.5

REB

8.8

AST

1.3

STL

1.5

BLK

1.3

TOV

3.1

Efficiency

RIM FG%

66.7

MID FG%

8.3

3PT FG%

38.5

FT%

65.2

Jump to full report

Report by: Will Morris

Trevon Brazile

Forward Arkansas Razorbacks

A rangy Forward with upside as a defensive playmaker and off-ball shooter.

Age

20.4

Height

6'10"

Weight

212

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

15.5

REB

8.8

AST

1.3

STL

1.5

BLK

1.3

Positions Defended

Offensive Role

 

Defensive Role

   

Meet Trevon Brazile

A year after averaging just 6.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for a Missouri team that finished 3rd to last in the SEC, Trevon Brazile has emerged as one of the best players on an Arkansas squad currently ranked top ten in the nation. Through seven games, he is on pace to nearly double his scoring average from last year with 11.9 points per game. How exactly has Brazile made such a massive leap in production, and how high can he rise as an NBA prospect? 

Offense

Brazile spent most of his time on clean-up crew last season, damaging defenses on put-backs, cuts, and dump-offs. More than half of his makes rim makes were dunks, with over 70% of those field goals coming off assists. While certainly not an offensive engine, Brazile’s has taken on a larger role in Arkansas’ offense. Utilized more frequently as a roll-man, closeout attacker, and pick-and-pop shooter, his usage rate has increased from 16.3% to 21.2%.

Seeing Brazile find success as a roll man this year is unsurprising. Despite his incredible bounce and wide catch-radius, Missouri rarely used him as a roller. Brazile should be able to threaten defenses as vertical spacer at the pro level, and his current average of 1.95 dunks/40 is a solid mark for a college 4-man. However, I’d be hesitant to label him an elite PnR finisher at just 212 lbs. I would also like to see him set stronger screens going forward. His quick slips to the basket can be effective, but Brazile rarely seems to generate any contact on his screens.

It’s dangerous to make sweeping claims about shooting improvements based on a seven-game sample, but Brazile’s early season numbers are promising. He has knocked down 10 of his 26 3-point attempts, good for 38.5%. Most encouraging is the volume spike. After taking just 3.7 3PA/100 last year, Brazile is currently putting up 6.9 attempts per 100. The diet consists primarily of pick-and-pops, spot-ups, and the occasional semi-movement jumper. Though his dip is still somewhat elongated, he looks far more confident letting it fly than he did at Missouri. Record-scratching moments like the first clip below are now few and far between.

Coming into the season, I was curious to track Brazile’s development as a slasher. He certainly isn’t a pro-level closeout attacker yet, but he has shown some encouraging improvements. 50% of his rim makes have come unassisted this season versus just 29.5% last year. Even though he misses the initial attempts in the first clip below, it is great to see him getting somewhat low and generating contact. Brazile’s snappy second jump allows him to put-back many of his misses at the rim. Still, his loose handle, lack of shake, and strength deficiencies limits him as a driver and finisher. Developing a reliable push shot could be an avenue to greater efficiency inside the arc, a maneuver that isn’t currently a consistent tool in his bag (1/12 on non-rim 2-pointers).

The final clip in the above compilation, in which he misses both the push shot and an open Anthony Black in the corner, highlights another area of improvement for Brazile: passing. He has only recorded seven assists so far this season, and while his role doesn’t necessarily put him in situations to show off any particularly advanced passing reads, I’d like to see him make quicker decisions when attacking off the catch.

Defense

Though he may lack the bulk to be a full-time big, Brazile is a phenomenal rim-protector with exceptional length and instincts. He gets off the ground quickly and loads up with ease for second and third jumps. Check him out denying the massive Kofi Cockburn not once, not twice, but three times.

Brazile posted a remarkable 10.0% block rate last season, with just 2.4 fouls per 40. Of the 19 high major Freshmen who recorded a block rate higher than 4.0% in 2021-22, all except two averaged less than four personal fouls per 40 minutes: Alex Fudge (4.8 BLK%, 3.2 Fouls/40) and Trevon Brazile (10.0 BLK%, 2.4 Fouls/40). This speaks to Brazile’s awareness, coordination, and hand placement. The list of high-major Freshmen with block rates greater than 8.0% and under 3 fouls/40 since 2008 is short and sweet:

NameYearBPMBLK%Fouls/40
Anthony Davis201216.713.7%2.4
Evan Mobley202112.68.7%2.1
Robert Williams III20178.310.6%2.8
John Henson20107.29.4%2.7
Steven Adams20137.111.2%2.8
Trevon Brazile20224.810.0%2.4
Jordan Mickey20144.09.2%2.7
Akok Akok20203.29.8%2.3
via Barttorvik

The play below is an absurd display of athleticism. He rotates from the weak side, gets his head literally to the level of the rim off a standing leap, locates the ball, and contorts his body to pin the shot.

In the limited Arkansas sample, his block rate is way down (4.0%), and the foul rate is way up (4.1 personal fouls/40). Seeing the fouls increase isn’t necessarily horrible, though ~4 is a bit high for my liking. There were times when Brazile seemed to shy away from contact last season, leading to lower foul numbers. This year, he looks more aggressive around the rim, providing much more resistance in the post. I’ve also loved his tenacity on the glass, with a 22.9% defensive rebounding rate thus far.

Moments of rawness persist on film, whether it be falling asleep away from the ball or getting his footwork tangled on-ball. But when fully locked in, Brazile does an excellent job using his length and movement skills to shrink offensive advantages. He covers ground exceptionally well and causes havoc in the passing lanes. He has the foot speed to stick with smaller ball handlers, and even when shaken, his massive reach allows him to recover to contest jumpers.

Conclusion

Brazile offers an exciting ceiling as a two-way Forward with his defensive playmaking ability and budding offensive skill set. I question how he contributes offensively if his shooting improvements aren’t legit, and think he has plenty of room to grow from a play-to-play perspective defensively. But if Brazile continues to shoot with the confidence he has to start the season, it’s hard to imagine him sliding outside the top 20 on draft day.

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