If UCLA was going to beat Kentucky, like it did on Saturday afternoon 97-92 in Rupp Arena, it was assumed that it would mean Lonzo Ball would win his battle of titanic point guards over fellow lottery talent De’Aaron Fox.

However, that ended up not being the case. Fox got the better of the point guard matchup by dropping a 20-point, nine-assist, two-turnover game versus Ball’s 14-point, seven-assist, six turnover showing. But UCLA still came out on top, which meant the Bruins needed to get their production from somewhere else.

The Bruins got just that from freshman T.J. Leaf.

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For a McDonald’s All-American who was averaging 17.3 points and nine rebounds coming into this game, Leaf had gone relatively unnoticed by the national college basketball audience coming into Saturday’s game due to the preponderance of coverage surrounding his freshman teammate Ball. That will change after Saturday, as Leaf went against Kentucky’s massive, talented front line and was the best player on the floor. Think that’s exaggerating? Just ask John Calipari.

“I mean, what Leaf did, he basically dominated the game,” Calipari said after the game. “We had no one, unless I was going to go big lineup, which we haven’t done a whole lot, which shows me maybe we have to be prepared for that. But he killed us.”

Leaf scored 17 points and added 13 rebounds and five assists, showing off a wide array of skills offensively that will appeal to NBA scouts.

Leaf is largely known for his ability to stretch the floor, and he did hit one 3-pointer against Kentucky to demonstrate that talent. But to be a perimeter-playing power forward in the NBA, shooting is just where the skill set has to start. As seen above, Leaf has the ability to get past larger defenders off the dribble. Plus, he’s an excellent mover without the ball and knows how to run off of screens as well as find open position for dump-offs.

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Inside, Leaf is also pretty solid post player, with the ability to hit shots in the mid-post (a la the Dirk Nowitzki-style jumper seen above) as well as use his polished footwork to get to the rim. Currently, Leaf ranks in the 98th percentile in efficiency on post-ups, scoring at a nearly 1.4 point-per-possession clip. That’s wholly unsustainable, but it’s at least proven to be a weapon he can trust.

Equally as important as the scoring ability, Leaf has also shown to be an adept passer thus far.

All of the situations seen above are pretty directly applicable to the roles he’d see in the NBA. Being able to attack closeouts on the move and make passes to teammates is the most essential, which is something Leaf shows the body control and IQ to do. His interior passing also gives him an added dimension for if he sees a post double.

These are all things that people knew about Leaf, though. Where Leaf has been unfairly discounted as a prospect is in his athleticism and toughness levels. Maybe it’s people subscribing to the stereotype of him being a 6-10 shooter, but even Leaf himself has stated that he feels his toughness has been undervalued.

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T.J. Leaf told me he knows people think he is soft. Showing some toughness today. — Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) December 3, 2016

Leaf has shown a nose for the basketball all season long, as well as a willingness to really mix it up inside.

Even with that toughness, Leaf is far from a perfect prospect. He’s not the type of elite shooter that you’d like to see from someone with his skill set, and his jumper can flatten out a bit at times. The shot can certainly be developed given his age and touch, but it’s just not quite there yet. It would also be an overstatement to call Leaf an adequate defender at this stage, as he can occasionally get lost off the ball. He’s also much more of a fluid athlete than a laterally quick one, and that could pose problems at the next level if he’s placed on an island in space against some of the league’s quicker guards.

But 6-foot-10 players who have potential to space the floor as well as provide a diverse skill set are in high demand in the NBA, weaknesses be damned. It’s why in just last draft alone, flawed players like Henry Ellenson, Skal Labissiere, Juan Hernangomez went in the first round.

Leaf has raised his NBA draft stock to that late first round area in the early part of this season. It’s unclear as to what Leaf’s intentions are at this stage in regard to whether or not he would consider going one-and-done, but if he continues playing like this throughout the rest of the season, that option would be on the table. Showing improved defensive awareness as his freshman season progresses would be a major selling point for NBA scouts, as would the continued ability to knock down jumpers against high-level opponents.

As the modern NBA big man continues to shift with the times, T.J. Leaf is a player to watch for in the future.