Memphis Grizzlies’ Prospects Off to Hot Start with Memphis Hustle

Several of the Memphis Grizzlies’ prospects are off to a hot start with the G-League’s Memphis Hustle.

The Memphis Grizzlies‘ G-League affiliate — the Memphis Hustle — had their home-opener on Friday evening and it was a good one to say the least.

As Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace stood behind one of the basketball goals, and Tayshaun Prince (Assistant to the GM) sat centercourt, the usual suspects showed Grizz Nation why they likely will not be in the G-League for very long.

Brandon Goodwin cooled off some from the Hustle’s first two games, where he averaged nearly 30 points per game. Guys by the likes of Jevon Carter, Yuta Watanabe, and even Markel Crawford to a lesser degree displayed the goods that carried the Hustle to a win versus the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Carter — the Memphis Grizzlies’ second round Draft selection — served Rio Grande Valley with a 25-piece extra hot with a side of six rebounds, three steals, and three assists while also posting a +14 net rating for the evening. Jevon looked like a man on a mission to get on the first thing smoking back down to Beale Street.

Watanabe also served the Vipers with a 25-piece special, but he gave them a slightly different deal that came with a side of eight rebounds, two steals, and two assists along with a game-high +15 net rating to flush it all down in the victory.

These players truly stood out above the fray for both teams. They were easily the best talents on a floor shared by former first round veterans such as Bruno Caboclo.

Yuta Watanabe at 6’9″ and 210 pounds looked like Tracy McGrady against Rio Grande Valley in displaying his smooth but deceptively explosive ability along with a surprisingly smooth shooting touch and the ability to put the ball on the floor.

Watanabe was also very active around the rim, flying over guys to secure his eight boards. Yuta showed that he definitely is not here only because of his marketability potential for the Memphis Grizzlies’ benefit; the guy can play.

With an improved handle and some go-to scoring moves along with a little more weight to bolster his defense, the Memphis Grizzlies may have found a really good role player.

Jevon Carter was just as he was scouted during his West Virginia days — smooth as butter with the handle, but yet so intense that he even chewed guys out for making boneheaded plays.

Jevon remained poised as the floor general of the evening, displaying uncanny ability to finish at the rim. That was after he tapped his defender with his signature behind-the-back crossover that he also uses for a deadly stepback jumper.

When he was not using his burly six-foot frame to sneak up under guys for rebounds, Jevon Carter was defending guys on the perimeter from getting any good looks while members of the Memphis Grizzlies’ Front Office watched in red blazers to match the home team colors. All is well that ends well, and that is what the Hustle’s top prospects did.