Professional 3-point lines, beware: Caleb Grill is coming.
Grill, Missouri basketball’s sharpshooting wing, signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Chicago Bulls shortly after the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday night, according to a social media post from Mizzou basketball. The deal likely will see Grill spend time with Chicago’s G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls.
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The Wichita, Kansas, native is the second Tiger in this class to head to the NBA after Tamar Bates, who earlier signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets after also going undrafted.
Grill is the fifth Tiger to earn an NBA future since Gates became MU’s coach before the 2022-23 season, following Bates, first-round pick and No. 30-overall selection Kobe Brown (Clippers) and D’Moi Hodge (two-way contract, Lakers) in 2023 and Sean East II (Exhibit 10, Lakers) in 2024.
Before transferring to MU in 2023, Grill spent time at both Iowa State and UNLV. After missing most of his debut campaign with Missouri due to a broken wrist, he emerged as one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in the country and was named the SEC Sixth Man of the Year last season.
Here’s what Grill brings to the Bulls:
Pros of Chicago Bulls signing Caleb Grill to UDFA deal
Grill’s major strength is his ability from 3-point range. At one point in the 2024-25 season, before an uncharacteristically cool period to close the campaign, Grill had a legitimate case as the best 3-point shooter in college basketball.
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His 3-point range is deep. His release is about as quick as they come. He can get off screens quickly and get his feet set. In the nine games between Jan. 14 and Feb. 15 last season, CBB Analytics charted Grill with a top-5% mark in all of Division-I on 3-point attempts from both the corner and above the break.
Grill can shoot, which makes him a potentially intriguing specialist off the bench in the future in the NBA.
Cons of Bulls signing Caleb Grill
Grill is 25, making him one of the oldest players who went through the draft process this year. He has also battled significant injuries throughout his college career, including a broken wrist and neck injury during his time at MU alone.
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There is also the potential that Grill, while a shooting specialist, could be somewhat of a one-dimensional pick. The question for his future will be whether his upside extends beyond his 3-point range, which it did in college.
He will be playing an off-ball role and is 6 foot 2¼. Even with a rangy 6-7.5 wingspan, that size likely works against him defensively.
Caleb Grill’s college stats
Feb 19, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Caleb Grill (31) celebrates after scoring against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Last season, his lone full year with MU after an injury-shortened debut campaign, Grill averaged 13.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The wing had a 39.6% mark from 3-point range while shooting 47.2% from the field and 86.4% from the free throw line.
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More: How Missouri basketball’s Caleb Grill made latest case as nation’s best shooter in MSU win
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In 29 total appearances in his most recent campaign, Grill had 33 assists, 27 turnovers, and 49 steals.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Chicago Bulls sign Missouri basketball’s Caleb Grill to UDFA deal