Rutgers 71, Temple 66
Wednesday, January 1, 2014 | 8 p.m. EST | RAC (Piscataway, NJ)
Rutgers 7-7, Temple 5-6
Recap: Rutgers freshman Junior Etou scored a go-ahead three-point-play with 40 seconds left to help the Scarlet Knights escape with a win. Four Rutgers players scored in double figures—Kadeem Jack had 18 points, Myles Mack posted 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, and JJ Moore/Wally Judge contributed 12 a piece. For Temple, sophomore guard Quenton DeCosey put on a scoring exhibition, finishing with 25 points on 9-14 shooting (including six 3-pointers), and senior Dalton Pepper contributed 19 points. However, DeCosey was held scoreless in the final 15:15 of the game. This was the first conference game for both teams.
NBA Prospects (in order of performance/potential shown):
1. Quenton DeCosey (SO, Temple): SG, 6-5, 180
2. Kadeem Jack (JR, Rutgers): SF/PF, 6-9, 230
3. Junior Etou (FR, Rutgers): F, 6-7, 225
4. Wally Judge (SR, Rutgers): PF, 6-9, 250
Next Tier
5. Myles Mack (JR, Rutgers): PG, 5-9, 175
6. Dalton Pepper (SR, Temple): SG, 6-5, 220
–
NBA Prospects
1. Quenton DeCosey — SG, 6-5, 180
Sophomore, 20 years old
Season (35 mpg): 15.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 46%
Game: 25 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
9-14 FG, 6-7 three-pointers
Outlook: DeCosey is an athletic, slashing wing player with a smooth jump shot. He made six 3-pointers vs. Rutgers, most of which were contested shots. He has NBA size and length at the shooting guard position, with potential to score from all three levels.
He doesn’t elevate on his jump shot (“flat-footed”), which is concerning, and he also struggled to create off the dribble. He can get to the rim, but struggles to finish there. Right now, he is simply a good athlete with a decent jump shot.
DeCosey kept Temple in contention, but ultimately it wasn’t enough. Taking a look at his statistics, DeCosey is a good spot-up shooter (44%, 1.2 PPP), and is solid in transition (50%). He also has potential to run off screens and initiate offense.
Nearly 70% of DeCosey’s attempts are jump shots, while only 22% of his attempts are around the basket. He needs to focus on attacking the rim more.
All things considered, DeCosey’s size, length and scoring ability make him an NBA prospect, albeit one with glaring weaknesses at this point.
Video: Points vs. Rutgers, UCF
Video: Misses
Video: Finishing Struggles
Video: Contesting Jump Shots (Good length)
DeCosey’s length is an asset on defense, where he’s holding opponents to 30% shooting on spot up attempts. He’s blocked a few shots on the perimeter this season.
2. Kadeem Jack — SF/PF, 6-9, 230
Junior, 21 years old
Season (29 mpg): 14 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Game: 18 points, 6 rebounds
8-12 FG
Outlook:
Jack has improved incrementally every season, which is an encouraging sign.
Freshman: 8.3 MPG, 1.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 26% FG
Sophomore: 18.2 MPG, 5.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 46% FG
Junior: 29.4 MPG, 14 PPG, 7 RPG, 53% FG
That being said, Jack is still more “prospect” than “polished.”
He’s a power forward trapped in a small forward’s body. Standing at a wiry 6-9, Jack can finish around the basket, but he struggles to create for himself on the perimeter. Instead, he scores on “effort” plays—slashing to the hoop, put-backs, taking the open jump shot, etc.
He has NBA athleticism, but his lack of perimeter skills relegate him to the interior, which doesn’t bode well for a 6-9, 230-pound player. He’s young for his age, so if he can extend his game, Jack has an outside chance to develop into a fringe prospect as a senior.
Video: Recent Points (versatile, scoring)
Video: Offensive Rebounds
Video: Transition (terrific athlete)
Video: Missed Jump Shots
Video: Made Jump Shots
3. Junior Etou — F, 6-7, 225
Freshman, 22 years old*
Season (21.3 mpg): 5.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1 BPG, 3 Fouls
Game: 9 points, 4 rebounds
*Etou’s age was a controversial topic throughout high school, as he was reportedly 20 years old during his senior year. He was also ineligible for the first six games of this season because he allegedly received “impermissible benefits.”
*Thunder forward Serge Ibaka is reportedly Etou’s cousin.
Outlook: It was difficult to fully evaluate Etou because most of his points came from alley-oops. It was clear he’s a good athlete who rebounds and defends on every possession, but that’s all I could glean.
Etou plays with an “in your face” attitude, refusing to back down from anybody. His skill set is raw, but he runs the floor, provides energy and rebounds. He’s only been playing basketball for a few years (started in his late teens), so he’s certainly a moldable player with room to grow. But he will be 22 years old at season’s end, so improvement needs to come quickly.
Going forward, he needs to develop some semblance of a jump shot — Per Synergy, he’s 1-13 on 18-foot jumpers this season, compared to 6-13 from mid-range and interior. Etou needs to develop his handle and jump shot to have a chance.
Video: Scoring this season
Video: Shooting struggles
4. Wally Judge — PF, 6-9, 250
Senior, 23 years old
Season (24 mpg): 8.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.8 Fouls
Game: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks
Outlook: A former McDonald’s All-American, Judge was once considered a first-round NBA Draft pick. But that was before he transferred schools, before he sat out a year, and before his development plateaued.
At age 23, he’s at Rutgers trying to salvage his career. Judge still possesses many of the same traits that put him on the NBA radar—athleticism, physicality at the power forward position, energy and a penchant to rebound—but he still struggles to bring it all together.
He disappears for long stretches, and can hardly create offense for himself. He also fouls too much, averaging 3.8 fouls in only 24 minutes per game. He’s been foul-prone throughout college. Judge is talented; but at 23 years old, and with five years of college under his belt, you have to wonder if he’s already realized his ceiling. I don’t see it happening.
Video: Poor jump shooting
Per Synergy, Judge has only attempted two jump shots all season. His attempts are almost exclusively within 10 feet of the basket.
Video: Points around the basket
Judge is shooting 60% around the basket. He can finish with either hand at—and above—the rim. In this regard, he has potential as a pick-and-roll screener.
Video: Post-Ups Made
Judge is shooting 55% on traditional back to the basket post-ups. Still, he’s only attempting six shots per game, so it is a small sample size.
–
Next Tier
5. Myles Mack — PG, 5-9, 175
Junior, 21 years old
Season (32 mpg): 16.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.4 APG
Game: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists
Outlook: I don’t see the NBA in Mack’s future. At only 5-9, he forces shots, and is a score-first point guard who, quite frankly, isn’t even a great scorer. He lacks the size and skill to play in the NBA
Mack jacked up shots in both games I watched — he shot 3-11 vs. Temple, and shot 6-13 (1-7 from 3-point range) vs. Louisville. He didn’t facilitate much for his teammates, drove into traffic carelessly, and was out of control. He’s a volume shooter who can shoot himself into, or out of, a game..
Missed Field Goals
Transition Struggles
Mack struggles to finish in transition due to his size. He often pulls-up for a 3-pointer in transition, furthermore exhibiting imprudent shot selection.
Pick-and-Roll Struggles
22% of Mack’s offense comes in the form of pick-and-rolls. He does a nice job turning the corner, but he often struggles to finish at the rim.
Jump Shooting (three-pointers)
Mack is hit or miss from 3-point range, as he’s gone 4-6, 5-7 or 5-8, but has also gone 1-7 or 1-8. Rutgers expects him to score, but Mack often jacks up shots without regard for the clock or game situation.
Defense (small, can’t contest)
Due to his diminutive size, Mack has trouble contesting jump shots and also containing penetration. Per Synergy, he’s allowing 1.2 points per possession in spot-up situations, ranking in the bottom 20th percentile nationally. His limitations are apparent on film as well.
6. Dalton Pepper — SG, 6-5, 220
Senior, 24 years old
Season (36 mpg): 16.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.4 APG
Game: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Outlook: Pepper is a good college player, but a real long shot for the NBA.
He’s a physical SG with range on his jumper. He’s most effective in catch-and-shoot situations (shooting 54%), and is a consistent scorer for this Temple group.
But he lacks NBA athleticism and struggles to create off the dribble. Furthermore, I assume Pepper would struggle against guys who match his strength and physicality. He also stays upright in his stance defensively, routinely getting beat off the dribble. At 24 years old, I don’t see it.
Video: Limited Skills
Video: Good Shooter
Video: Poor Isolation Defense
*Ages calculated at time of 2014 NBA Draft