Texas Tech basketball: Scouting 5-star 2020 signee Nimari Burnett

Burnett could be the perfect back-court defender to supplement what Beard already has on the roster

Both of the games I watched were somewhat contentious and both were played with more intensity than we might expect from high-profile high school games on the prep circuit where showcasing one’s skills are more important than championships.  Burnett was especially impressive in regard to his defense in those contests and he has the look of the next great Red Raider on-ball defender.

I had already read about the 6-foot-3 guard’s nearly 7-foot wingspan but seeing how it allowed him to play defense was eye-opening.  When standing upright, he can essentially scratch his knees without bending over and when playing in a defensive stance, he’s nearly impossible to get past.

A good but not elite athlete, he doesn’t look as quick-twitch as some might believe is required to be a lock-down perimeter defender.  But because of his crazy reach, he can play a bit further off the ball handler than most, and that gives him extra cushion when trying to keep his man in front of him.

He’s also able to get his hands on a ton of passes and he seems to be all over the court like a vine.  What’s more, he has a keen awareness of where to position himself defensively and that reminded me of Kevin McCullar Jr.

The thought of playing Burnett and McCullar Jr. together as a tandem of long-armed perimeter defenders should give Beard the same anticipation that a kid has on Christmas Eve.  It will be nice for Tech to have the option of keeping either Burnett or McCullar on the floor for most of the game to guard the opposition’s top guard or wing, especially given that both Davide Moretti and Kyler Edwards are not known as elite defenders.

Burnett is also rather stocky for being 6-foot-3.  He looks to have above-average upper-body strength and that’s going to serve him well in 2020-21.

If there is a weakness in his defensive game, it would be that he is only 6-foot-3.  That’s not all that damning on an individual basis but if Tech plays him between Moretti and Edwards, it will mean that no guard on the court will be over 6-4.

It is always worth asking whether an elite prospect at Burnett’s level is willing to buy in and play defense but that isn’t a question with Tech’s newest prized recruit.   He’s dedicated to that aspect of the game and thanks to his crazy reach, he has the look of a potential all-conference defender.