UCLA Sophomore Tyler Honeycutt hustles on the basketball court. He stands 6’8” and has played both shooting guard and small forward for the Bruins of Westwood. Honeycutt had season highs of 33 points (against a loaded Kansas Jayhawks squad on the road), 15 rebounds and 8 blocks, showcasing the talent and determination to impact the game in various ways from his perimeter position. His skill set and motor allow him to compete and play on both ends of the court, which is a prerequisite at the NBA level.

Honeycutt has the ability to match up with the opposing point guard, 2-guard and small forward thanks to his long arms and quick feet, which make him formidable defensively. His lateral and vertical timing are also superb, and he averaged 2.1 blocks per game for the perennial PAC-10 power.

Honeycutt always seemed to be involved in the flow and action of the contest, whether it was crashing the glass or shutting down passing lanes and penetration attempts. The 20-year-old Los Angeles native was one of the best rebounding guards in the country this past season. He pulled down 7.2 boards per game with a significant number of offensive rebounds.

On the offensive end, he displayed advanced court vision. And he knows how to position himself properly and precisely when moving without the ball. Honeycutt has a high basketball IQ, which translates into smart on-court decision-making. Even though he averaged 35 minutes per game for Coach Ben Howland and often guarded the other team’s top scorer, Honeycutt averaged only 1.5 personal fouls per game and didn’t foul out of any game.

Honeycutt’s slim frame (he weighs in at approx. 190 lbs.) is something that will become more of a liability at the professional level. He needs to gain weight and strength in order to maximize his superb defensive traits against bigger, stronger NBA competitors.