NBA Draft prospect profile: George Washington guard Jacoi Hutchinson

Hutchinson, a DMV-native, is entering his second season at GW.

I always like keeping an eye out for college basketball players who I think are currently under the radar but will establish themselves as legitimate NBA Draft prospects. It’s especially interesting to me when those players are located right down the street from the Wizards.

Jacoi Hutchinson, a 6’3 sophomore guard for George Washington, fits that bill. He mostly played behind James Bishop IV, a very high usage guard, last season so many draft analysts may not be familiar with his game yet. However, I think they eventually will be and that’s one of the reasons I had him join me on the Bleav in DMV Hoops podcast this week.

As a freshman, Hutchinson averaged 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in a backup point guard role. He also shot 41.8% from the field, 39.6% from three on 3 attempts per game, and 79.1% from the free throw, which, historically, is a good indicator of future shooting success.

Hutchinson is a pure point guard who I expect to average probably 7 or 8 assists this season and he really shot the ball well in his freshman season. We talked a lot about how he as the point guard tries to balance when to create for himself and others and how he plans to expand his game this season. I expect him to be more aggressive now going into his second season and he said his coaches are emphasizing the need for him to get to the free-throw line even more.

Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

I don’t think that should be a problem for Hutchinson, a player I described as a “walking paint touch” based on his ability to collapse opposing defenses. Hutchinson finished up his high school career at IMG Academy but really caught my attention while playing at DeMatha. He was a defensive menace and really made life tough on opposing guards.

I asked Hutchinson which players he likes to study and he said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard, and Steve Francis. Hutchinson has known Francis since he was younger which is partly why his name came up but I also liked that all three guards he mentioned have an attacking mindset. I’m sure George Washington’s coaching staff will want to see even more of that from Hutchinson this season.

A 6’3 guard who can pass, dribble, shoot, and defend who has the right mindset and will have lots of opportunities to play a big role this season is exactly the type of player who has the potential to rise up draft boards. He’s also another high-character guy, which seems important to the Wizards front office. If you get a chance to check out a George Washington game this season, keep an eye on #4.