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Andy Katz on Damion James

Posted by Trips Right on May 21st, 2009 under Basketball

I somehow missed this article earlier in the week, but apparently Katz in talking with some NBA folks, thinks Damion James will stay in the draft. See the second paragraph after the combine list.

I’ve heard that it’s always been first round or bust for Damion, but some out there feel that an early guaranteed second round pick would be enough to entice the athletic forward into making the jump to the League. One thing working against Texas here is the new combine format that virtually does away with scrimmaging, and instead focuses on individual workouts. Individually, Damion should test off the charts. On the other hand, if Damion’s being evaluated in game situations, he’s going to have a difficult time convincing scouts he can be an effective small forward unless the conditions are optimum.

For instance, considering Damion has such a tough time getting his own shot against defenders with similar athleticism, he’s going to find the going pretty tough scrimmaging against other 3’s in the combine like Dajuan Summers, Tyler Smith, and Gerald Henderson. And with Damion’s struggles making good decisions with the basketball, he’ll find playmaking in this setting even more difficult.

What he needs is to be paired with a playmaking backcourt that can get him shots by creating help and recover situations away from the ball. We know Damion can catch and shoot, or take one power dribble and get to the goal. With a guard tandem that makes defenses help and then run at Damion in recover situations, it makes his draft stock much more attractive. Damion can handle a two way go. Catch and shoot, or catch, shot fake, and power dribble to a dunk past a recovering defender.

Since there won’t be an opportunity to show in game settings, Damion has to hope that his individual skills auditions for personnel people eclipses the questions about his lack of creating and playmaking on tape in the college game. If James comes back to Texas, the latter will be taken care of when he’s taking power forwards off the dribble because Hamilton, Bradley, and the 3 headed point guard monster of Balbay, Lucas, and Ward are doing the creating for him.

Remember when Connor Atchley was a surefire first rounder? That’s what happens when a perimeter oriented 4 is surrounded by playmakers. Remember when Mason was a point guard? Ditto. Sure it’s fool’s gold with respect to Damion being a playmaker in the League, but gold nonetheless.

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5 Responses

  1. Scipio Tex said:

    May 21st, 2009 at 11:34 am

    Good analysis.

    There’s a context that James could play in this year that could land him a higher pick, but if he’s anxious to get into the league he may just take the 2nd round.

    His latitude in making a decision will be determined by one simple piece of information: is he currently going to class? If he is, he can always change his mind. If he isn’t – he’s forcing his hand.

  2. kevwun said:

    May 21st, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    Someone posted the other day that they were in a class with him this spring and he showed up every day.

  3. Petey said:

    May 21st, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    I’d love to see James go to a quick paced team like Golden st. or Dallas.

    I also think it would be cool to see James in OKC playing with KD.

  4. BOC said:

    May 21st, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    That was my comment….

    James (and the other four basketball players in the class) showed up almost every day. Most students came about half the time.

    However, there is a very large man in the lobby of this college making sure these guys show up, and some sort of supervisor shows up to class really randomly to make sure they attend. So that needs to be considered.

    But yes Damion still appears to be attending class and staying within whatever guidelines Barnes’ team has set up for their student athletes.

  5. huge said:

    May 22nd, 2009 at 7:45 am

    if a player like najera can play in the league for 10 years, i’d think james can survive, assuming he will do the work

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