Okay, so I’ve been diving deep into the world of college hoops lately, and one name keeps popping up: Johnell Davis. This kid’s been lighting it up for FAU, and I wanted to see if all the hype translated to potential NBA success. So, I started my own little scouting project.
Step 1: The Eye Test
First things first, I needed to watch some games. Not just highlights, but full games. I tracked down as many FAU games as I could find recordings of. I started with their recent tournament games, then went back and watched some regular season matchups. I wanted to see him against different levels of competition.
I grabbed my notebook and jotted down notes as I watched. What was I looking for? Everything. How’s his shooting form? Does he create his own shot? Can he drive to the basket? How’s his defense? Is he a ball hog or does he make the right pass? You know, the whole nine yards.
Step 2: Digging into the Stats
After getting a good feel for his game, I moved on to the numbers. I pulled up his stats from various websites.
- Points per game? Check.
- Shooting percentages? Check.
- Assists, rebounds, steals? Check, check, check.
I wanted more than just the basic box score stats, though. I looked for advanced metrics, things like usage rate, assist rate, and true shooting percentage. These give you a better idea of a player’s efficiency and how much of the offensive load he carries.
Step 3: Comparing and Contrasting
Now for the fun part. I started comparing Davis’s stats and my observations to current NBA players. Does he remind me of anyone? Does his statistical profile match up with successful players at the next level? This is where it gets a little subjective, but it’s important to try and project how his skills might translate.
I created some charts, simple excel, nothing * his stats next to similar NBA players.
Step 4: The Verdict (So Far)
This is an ongoing project, obviously. It’s not like I can just watch a few games and declare him the next LeBron. But, based on what I’ve seen so far, I’m impressed. He’s got a lot of the tools that NBA teams look for. He’s a scorer, he can shoot, and he’s got a good feel for the game. I need to keep watching, keep analyzing, and see how he develops. It’s going to be interesting to see where he lands in the draft and how his career unfolds.
I will keep updated my notes and share with you guys.
