Richmond 77, Fordham 74
Saturday, January 11, 2014 | 7 p.m. EST| Rose Hill Gym (Bronx, NY)
Richmond 11-6, Fordham 7-8
Recap: Richmond guard Kendall Anthony hit a 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining in overtime to give his team a 77-74 victory. Senior point guard Cedric Lindsay led the Spiders with 19 points and 4 assists. On the flip side, Fordham’s backcourt of Branden Frazier and Jon Severe combined for 48 points, but ultimately it wasn’t enough. Richmond snapped its two game losing streak, while Fordham has now lost four in a row.
NBA Prospects
1. Branden Frazier (SR, Fordham): SG, 6-3, 170
2. Jon Severe (FR, Fordham): G, 6-2, 185
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*Age calculated at time of 2014 NBA Draft
1. Branden Frazier — SG, 6-3, 170
Senior, 21 years old
Season (38 mpg): 19 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.6 APG
Game: 29 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Outlook: Frazier put on a scoring exhibition, scoring 20 of his 29 points in the second half. A wiry 6-3 shooting guard, he displayed a smooth handle along with scoring gifts (relative to the A-10 conference). He converted several difficult/contested shots, mostly out of isolation sets.
Frazier is most effective when he penetrates the lane, as he’s shooting 65% from 17-feet and in. He’s not a great finisher at the basket (.72 PPP), but he simply makes plays inside the 3-point line. He can occasionally hit the 3-pointer, but isn’t consistent (32% from three).
Overall, Frazier is one of the more under the radar scorers in the country. He’s young for a senior (21), and gets to the free throw line. Averages of 19 points/5 rebounds/4.6 assists shed light on his overall presence, albeit those numbers are inflated because he plays 38 minutes per game. On film, Frazier has decent—but not particularly impressive—court vision.
Nice game vs. Richmond, but Richmond is no barometer of NBA potential. He did score 33 points on 9-14 shooting vs. Syracuse earlier this season, but I have not observed that game.
In terms of the NBA, I think Frazier would struggle as a 6-3 shooting guard, on both ends of the floor. Offensively, I can’t see him getting his shot off against longer and more physical defenders. Defensively, he needs to add muscle to his skinny frame.
Smooth scorer, but I don’t see his game translating to the NBA. I could, however, see him competing in the D-League.
Video: Scoring vs. Richmond
Video: Assists
Video: Pick-and-Roll Misses
Video: Pick-and-Roll Scoring
2. Jon Severe — G, 6-2, 185
Freshman, 20 years old
Season (36.5 mpg): 21.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.3 APG
Game: 19 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Outlook: Severe has no filter or discretion on offense—he leads the A-10 with 266 field goal attempts, which is 42 more attempts than any other player in the conference. Some other numbers:
17.7 FGA
30.5% Usage Percentage (2nd in A-10)
28.8% of possessions used (95th nationally)
30.5% of Fordham’s shot attempts (83rd nationally)
Severe has the ultimate green light on this Fordham team, and it’s been both a blessing and a curse due to inconsistency. He’s scored 28 points on 9-15 vs. St. Francis, 19 on 5-12 vs. Syracuse, and 29 on 11-19 vs. Harvard. But he’s also had 9 points on 1-21 vs. St. John’s, and 19 points on 4-22 vs. Richmond.
Right now, his scoring is inconsistent, and I think it stems from his overall feel (or lack thereof) for the game.
His biggest strengths are ball-handling and 3-point shooting. His biggest weakness, however, is a penchant to jack up shots, instead of being patient and letting the game come to him. He jacks up shots early in possessions, and frankly doesn’t know how to play within the framework of an offense. He’s a good scorer and can score in bunches, but he incessantly calls for the basketball, and forces it. He needs to learn how to impact the game without the ball in his hands.
Only a freshman, Severe will have to transform himself into a point guard if he wants to garner NBA consideration. Right now, he lacks the proper mindset to facilitate for his teammates, let alone lead an offense.
Against Richmond, Severe had 8 points (2-9), 0 rebounds and 0 assists at halftime. He was an even worse 2-13 in the second half. The key is becoming more consistent while showing a willingness to move the ball. At only 6-2, he needs to be more than a scorer.
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Video: Isolation Scoring
29% of Severe’s offense is in isolation, where his .91 points per attempt ranks in the 61st percentile nationally. He uses a variety of offensive moves and a quick release to get his shot off. He’s converting a solid 40% of his 3-point attempts (nine per game).
Video: Transition Struggles
Severe struggles in transition. He forces attempts, and also lacks the burst/athleticism to finish at the rim.
Video: Spot-Up Misses
Severe often takes ill-advised shots early in the clock. He’ll need to develop patience and more prudent shot selection.
*Ages calculated at time of 2014 Draft