FORWARD Carter Bryant looms as a first round selection, and is pushing lottery territory at the 2025 NBA Draft in June, having impressed with the Arizona Wildcats in the NCAA this season.

A rangy forward who can impact on both ends of the floor, Bryant excelled when cutting to the basket, showing impressive finishing at the basket. With strong athleticism and great knowledge and feel for when to cut to the hoop, he adds value to any team he plays for, and can slot into just about any lineup in the NBA, not demanding too much of the ball.

He has all the tools to become a versatile defender, given his size and athletic traits, and is a solid spot up shooter. However, if he is to become a truly influential player on the offensive end, he must develop as a shot creator and work on his ability to find the bottom of the net on the move.

For the Wildcats this season, Bryant averaged 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, and although the numbers do not jump off the page, his potential from his performances is immense.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will run through some of the clearest comparisons to already established NBA talents, with Bryant drawing similarities to a trio of players who have played crucial roles throughout the years.

Marcus Morris – Cleveland Cavaliers

Morris is one of the more experienced journeymen of the NBA from the past decade, finding a valuable place in the competition as a two-way forward with some of the best sides in the league. After playing with the Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA, Morris was drafted with the 14th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, and spent time with the Rockets, Suns, Celtics, Knicks, Clippers, Pistons, 76ers and finally the Cavaliers, adding value to all of these teams with his spot up shooting, impressive driving ability and reliable defending. Although he never made the jump into stardom, he was a vital cog for some successful sides over the past decade, and was constantly popping up on both ends of the floor with eye-catching plays. Bryant probably has a higher ceiling than Morris, but both players add value as two-way, off-ball contributors.

Jeff Green – Houston Rockets

Speaking of journeymen, there are few players that have embodied this role more than Green, who is still proving valuable for a contending Houston Rockets side. After the Boston Celtics selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Green has played for 11 teams in 15 seasons at the top level, winning an NBA Championship in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets, which was excellent reward for effort. The forward is one of the smartest players in the NBA, and like Bryant, can contribute on the offensive end without demanding too much of the ball, all the while holding his own on the defensive end, so the blueprint is certainly there for the young gun.

Trevor Ariza – Los Angeles Lakers

Another well-travelled forward, Ariza forged a rock solid NBA career with his two-way efforts and proved quite a steal given how he entered the league. He was selected by the New York Knicks with the 43rd pick of the 2004 NBA Draft, but truly came into his own with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009, winning an NBA Championship and emerging as a key role player for a winning side. A couple of stints in Houston with the Rockets saw the forward play his best basketball as an athletic finisher who could defend and also add value as a spot up shooter. Ariza ended up playing 18 seasons in the NBA, showing how much value there is in the role that he and Bryant play, which should be encouraging for the latter ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.