Is Myck Kabongo NBA Bound?

by Sailor Ripley on Mar 2, 2026 1:23 PM CST

Jonathan Tjarks turns his attention to Myck Kabongo in the latest installment of his college-to-NBA scouting takes.

NBA Draft Toolbox: Le'Bryan Nash, Myck Kabongo Among Big 12 Prospects Building Cases

Neither Kabongo nor Nash was particularly impressive to start the season, but they've both rebounded in Big 12 play as their teams' jury-rigged rotations began to coalesce. Now they are faced with an incredibly difficult decision: cash in on their recruiting pedigree and potential to be late first-round picks or stay another year in school for a chance to be a lottery pick in 2013.

Neither Kabongo nor Nash was particularly impressive to start the season, but they've both rebounded in Big 12 play as their teams' jury-rigged rotations began to coalesce. Now they are faced with an incredibly difficult decision: cash in on their recruiting pedigree and potential to be late first-round picks or stay another year in school for a chance to be a lottery pick in 2013.

Kabongo, an extremely athletic 6'1, 170-pound point guard with a 6'7 wingspan, is averaging 10.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists as a freshman. As a prospect, he's the most well-rounded PG in the country, a lightning-quick true point with long arms and an improving outside shot.

However, he still commits far too many turnovers (3.1 a game) and needs to improve his offensive efficiency from the floor (42 percent this season). Realistically, he's at least one year away from being a reliable NBA contributor.

Most college basketball analysts would say it's a no-brainer for him to come back to school, but that's easy to say when you aren't the one looking at a guaranteed $3-4 million and a potential lifetime of financial security. There's no predicting the future: after an inconsistent freshman year at Memphis, Dajuan Wagner was selected No. 6 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. Two years later, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, effectively ending his basketball career.

Even if a player avoids the injury bug, there's no guarantee NBA scouts won't fall out of love with his game the longer he stays in school. An underclassman with holes in his game is a a half-full cup with untapped potential; an upperclassman with holes in his game is a half-empty cup who may not be able to make the transition to the next level.

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Read More: nba, nba draft, 2012 nba draft, Myck Kabongo (G - Texas), Texas Longhorns

Comments

Posted thoughts about Kabongo on tjarks' article...

…but I’ll repost.

One thing that Kabongo can take solace in is that Barnes has a track record with the frosh-to-soph improvement in his point guards. Both TJ Ford and DJ Augustin went from borderline 1st/2nd-rd picks to lottery picks with a second year under Barnes. Kabongo is not Cory Joseph or Avery Bradley, guys that didn’t have a natural point guard feel and wouldn’t have developed it with a second year in college.

I think that’s the key differentiator when freshmen studs are deciding whether to stay or leave: can you improve weaknesses in your game that will make you a more attractive prospect to the association? For example, a guy like Illinois’ Meyers Leonard may have gotten drafted based on his size alone, but his second year in school has parlayed him into a guaranteed first round pick and possibly a spot in the lottery. I firmly believe that Kabongo has a chance to be a lottery pick next year (DraftExpress has him in the Top 5!), and the potential higher contract level is worth the opportunity cost of not declaring this year.

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by jc25 on Mar 2, 2026 1:49 PM CST reply actions

Cory Joseph

I think one of the main reasons I thought he should leave last year was our roster. He likely would not have beaten Myck for primary point guard minutes, and possibly would not have beaten JCB for primary 2-guard minutes. With no primary role on the team, the “soph jump” would have been really difficult for him to make.

Avery was a little different. I thought that type of improvement was possible with him, but he chose to go. Can’t blame him, but not sure if it was the right call in the long run.

You are spot on with Kabongo though. If he is getting good advice, he comes back. Unless of course he plays himself into a potential lottery pick in the Big 12 and (possibly) NCAA tourneys. But he is guaranteed start PG minutes on a team that will be really deep and talented next year (except at the 5 spot). He has a chance to really shine next season.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Mar 2, 2026 2:42 PM CST up reply actions

You are wrong about Cory Joseph

He would have been the best returning defender and probably would have been Big 12 All Defensive team. There would have been no problem moving other’s minutes around to accommodate.

"The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences." - St. Augustine

by Funkytown on Mar 2, 2026 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

Great point about Joseph's defense

I also don’t think the junk defenses, like Haith used for the last possession when Missouri played in Austin, would be as effective with Brown and Joseph on the floor together.

by Cirque Du Salado on Mar 2, 2026 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

My point wasn't that he wouldn't have been good

But that he may not have improved his draft status. Because of our roster, this point was even more appropriate for Joseph.

Kabongo is not Cory Joseph or Avery Bradley, guys that didn’t have a natural point guard feel and wouldn’t have developed it with a second year in college.

Good point on the defense, and I think you are right there, I just think due to our roster, he would not have made the leap as a soph that he needed in the draft (likely drafted as a point guard) to convince him that coming back was worth it financially…. which I believe was the point of the post.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Mar 5, 2026 4:12 PM CST up reply actions

Completely agree there

Doron Lamb is a really good example. He’s vastly improved his offensive efficiency (his primary strength), but he’s unathletic, not a great defender, and not a point guard. While I still think there’s some hope that he gets drafted in the late first round due to the “Kentucky Effect,” he’s being graded out as a mid-second rounder, which is probably where he would have gone last year.

I have no qualms about Joseph leaving for a guaranteed contract, and I think he made the right decision. He probably would have played first team All-Big 12 defense, and he probably would have improved his 3-point percentage. You know where that normally gets you with Joseph’s size and athleticism? A second round draft pick (see: Liggins, DeAndre).

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by jc25 on Mar 5, 2026 5:03 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly. nt

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Mar 6, 2026 9:22 PM CST up reply actions

Joseph would have been drafted higher than Liggins

Since he at least has PG capabilities and would have still had 2 years of purported potential. Liggins did not.

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by GoHornsGo90 on Mar 7, 2026 6:15 PM CST up reply actions

True

But I actually think Liggins will have a better NBA career. Liggins can guard 3’s that aren’t physical freaks like LeBron James; his ceiling is Bruce Bowen. Whereas I don’t see Joseph as being any better than a backup, defensive-minded point guard. I hope CoJo proves me wrong.

By the way, Liggins was a point guard in high school (one of the first Findlay Prep guys). He has ball-handling capability, but just grew too big and had other, better ball-handlers at Kentucky. I would never put him as a backup point, but he can put the ball on the floor in a way Bowen never could.

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by jc25 on Mar 7, 2026 8:33 PM CST up reply actions

Cory Joseph

He would have played the same role Julien Lewis did this year. While he wouldn’t have gotten the “soph jump” as a point guard, I definitely could have seen him being a team-leader in scoring while being the team’s ace perimeter defender.

If anything, Lewis and McClellan would have gotten less PT, and Sterling Gibbs wouldn’t have been a Longhorn.

http://aseaofblue.com | https://www.barkingcarnival.com | @JC_Hoops

by jc25 on Mar 4, 2026 10:14 PM CST up reply actions

Cory Joseph

Would have started and been our best guard. J’Covan wouldn’t have to play 36 minutes a game. Kabongo makes a lot of mistakes late. He wouldn’t have been the primary ball handler late in games, it would’ve been Cory Joseph. Kabongo, McClellan and Lewis’ minutes would have suffered, but Joseph would have been great this year. He was very good last year. He averaged 10 points on a team with Hamilton and Brown, would love to shoot. He also would’ve been out best defender. It would’ve been Brown and Joseph carrying us and taking pressure off the freshmen.

by jdwall12 on Mar 6, 2026 5:53 AM CST up reply actions

Agree with everything except for

been our best guard

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by GoHornsGo90 on Mar 7, 2026 6:16 PM CST up reply actions

You don't think?

I’m a huge JCB fan, but Cory does a lot more things. They would’ve been one of the best tandems in the country, I’ll say that.

by jdwall12 on Mar 8, 2026 5:09 AM CST up reply actions

Sorry

He (Kabongo) wouldn’t have been the primary ball handler late in games, it would’ve been Cory Joseph.

I disagree. Not that we will ever know, but I just don’t think that with Kabongo and J’Covan around, that there would have been enough ball handling minutes for CJ to improve his stock as a PG in the draft.

Even with Myck’s mistakes, Barnes woukd have wanted him to have minutes, and if he is in the game, he is not playing the 2, so he is handling the ball.

And J’Covan specializes in creating offense with the ball in his hands. Thats his best asset, which would have taken away opportunities from CJ.

been our best guard

I don’t think that is necessarily true, but even if that is true, I just don’t think it makes enough of a difference with 3 guys handling the ball, to make the improvement as a PG to raise his draft stock significantly. He was probably better served going into the draft. Just My opinion.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Mar 8, 2026 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

Unfortunately for Texas/Fortunately for Myck

As deep as this draft is, it’s thin as hell at guard. Draftexpress has Bradley Beal as the first guard, with “who the F is he” Damien Lilliiard of Weber St. at 18 as the first PG, with Kendall Marshall right behind. Tony Wroten comes in about 10 spots later.

Kabongo can stay and make the Ford/Augustin leap, or he could improve just slightly and enter a draft deeper at the guard spot next year. It’s a gamble for him.

Chad Ford likes Wroten and Lilliard a little better, but still. If Kabongo can kill the workouts, and a team needs a backup PG between 18-30 in the first round, he’d be hard pressed not to take the bird in hand. I hope he doesn’t for myriad reasons both selfishly and less selfishly, but in this particular draft, regardless of what he looks like on the court, I couldn’t really blame him if he did jump.

by A-Tex Devil on Mar 2, 2026 3:35 PM CST reply actions

BOO

Hiss…..

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by Sailor Ripley on Mar 2, 2026 3:43 PM CST up reply actions

Scott Machado from Iona is probably the most NBA-ready PG out there. Tyshawn Taylor is a first-round talent but 3.5 turnovers a game from a senior is terrible.

The good thing is after the last few waves of PG’s to enter the league, there are very few lotto teams with much of a need at the position.

by tjarks on Mar 3, 2026 8:51 AM CST up reply actions

Hoping Kabongo stays

But don’t expect him to play like Augustin or Ford did their Sophomore years. There aren’t very many point guards in the history of college basketball to have the kind of Sophomore seasons Ford and Augustin had. Both were First Team All Americans, Ford won the Naismith and the Wooden, Augustin won the Cousy. Those guys were special. Not to say Kabongo can’t do it, but let’s just not put that kind of expectation out there for him.

by jdwall12 on Mar 6, 2026 5:57 AM CST up reply actions

If you haven't seen Damien Lillard...

You should look him up. He hasn’t been going against the best competition, but that kid can play. I wouldn’t sbe stunned if he becomes a lottery pick.

by hiphopopotamus on Mar 8, 2026 8:22 AM CST up reply actions

Thx -- I caught him last night a bit....

Very, very good. Too bad Weber St. got boat raced in the second half and can’t make the NCAA as a 15 seed to play a 2 seeded UNC in the first round (assuming UNC spits the bit in the ACC tourney semis as they are wont to do). Imagine what Weber St. could do to Carolina when its star player actually has an actual human NECK!

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1003/ncaa.tourney.biggest.first.round.upsets.history/images/1999-weber-st-unc-harold-arceneaux.jpg

by A-Tex Devil on Mar 8, 2026 10:01 AM CST up reply actions

(assuming UNC spits the bit in the ACC tourney semis as they are wont to do)

No bias there.

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by Sailor Ripley on Mar 8, 2026 3:41 PM CST up reply actions

NCAA deadline is earlier this year

April 10

by BobInHouston on Mar 2, 2026 8:32 PM CST reply actions

Go Myck go...

Can you blame him for leaving? No one told Michael Dell or any of the other tech giants they should stay in school. Why not chase your dream job? His is the NBA. I say show Myck the money…if it’s really there.

by Dawnpatrol on Mar 2, 2026 10:14 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I'm guessing a ton of people (including his parents) told Michael Dell to stay in school.

by Texas Wahoo on Mar 2, 2026 11:54 PM CST up reply actions

Dell

He was Pre-Med at UT, and quit to start his own business with like 50 bucks and 2 dudes with screwdrivers fixing computers. Yeah, I am sure nobody told him to stay in school.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Mar 7, 2026 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

For his own financial sake, Kabongo should wait

because a player’s draft position anchors the expectations the franchise and the fanbase have for a player. And that’s a big deal. Waiting another year and being selected in the top half of the lottery doesn’t just give Myck a bigger rookie-scale contract - it gives him more fans wearing his jersey, less competition on the depth chart, larger margins for error, more opportunities to shine.

Getting paid one year earlier has to be enticing, for sure. But Kabongo isn’t a kid like Joseph with a low-lottery ceiling. If he can turn the corner offensively in Year Two the way Augustin did, he’d be a top five pick. And being in the top half of the lottery is a totally different financial stratosphere than the rest of the league; those kids have to really work to figure out how not to get paid. Look at a list of most overpaid players in the NBA, and tell me how many were drafted outside the top half of the lottery. Not many.

by Dagga Roosta on Mar 3, 2026 12:55 AM CST reply actions

If Kabongo has any brains he won’t leave. Look at what Avery Bradley, and Cory Joseph are doing in the league. Nothing. Unless you’re some sort of incredible talent like Derek Rose or John Wall, a PG shouldn’t leave. He can’t even master the college game and he is somehow expected to be able to handle an even fast pace NBA game. Makes no sense. Myck needs at least one more year to truly establish himself and learn to be a better decision maker before he even dreams of being in the NBA and being able to run the point like what is expected

by kotalikmyballs on Mar 3, 2026 4:13 AM CST reply actions

"Look at what Avery Bradley, and Cory Joseph are doing in the league. Nothing."

Receiving large paychecks.

by BEHorn on Mar 3, 2026 10:19 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Bingo.

WVU slept dey couch.

by pleaseplaykindle on Mar 3, 2026 6:30 PM CST up reply actions

He definitely needs the extra year. The real question is his family situation which I know nothing about. I saw somewhere that they emigrated from Congo when he was 5 but that might be totally wrong. Anyone know?

by tjarks on Mar 3, 2026 8:45 AM CST reply actions

This is how I see it

Unless he needs the money now, it makes more sense to stay. Joseph took advantage of a weak class to land in the first round last year. Quite a different situation.

The difference between being an early first rounder and a late first rounder is literally millions of dollars. It will take Cory Joseph about two and a half years to earn what Jimmer makes this year.

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by Reggieball on Mar 3, 2026 11:09 PM CST up reply actions

I really hope

Kabongo comes back. Despite his inconsistencies, he’s my favorite Longhorn player to watch since KD. I sure hope we get to see what his class can do with a year of experience together. How do they compare to Barnes’ final 4 team (Kabongo/Lewis/McClellan/Bond/Holmes vs. Ford/Ivey/Mouton/Boddicker/Thomas)? Lewis,McClellan, Bond and Holmes could all be 4 year players, and who knows, what if Myck decides college in Austin is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and he has the rest of his life to be a millionaire? :)

by Harry Garcia on Mar 3, 2026 4:44 PM CST reply actions

They are VERY similiar

In style of play. Ford and Kabongo are fast guys who love to pass, Lewis and Ivey are defensive minded guys who can also score, McClellan and Mouton are smooth wings who can do a lot offensively, Boddicker and Holmes are 4s who can bang inside but step outside and hit jumpshots, and Thomas and Bond are great rebounders. That’s a great comparison man, I’d never seen that til now. No doubt this group has a chance to do some special things are Texas. We haven’t had a group like this in a long time. A group that’s very good, but not guys that NBA scouts drool over. Except for Kabongo,(who I think is leaving this year) they should be together for at least another 2 years.

by jdwall12 on Mar 6, 2026 6:04 AM CST up reply actions

An excellent comparison

Fill Ridley in as a better offensive version of Brad Buckman and we’re cooking with gas. Then add similarly limited role players like Lammert, Gibbs, and Ibeh (guys like Erskin, Syd Harris, etc.)

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by GoHornsGo90 on Mar 7, 2026 6:21 PM CST up reply actions