James Blackmon Jr.

McDonald’s All-American Recap: Blackmon continued to showcase his smooth 3-point jump shot. He was near-automatic on catch-and-shoot opportunities, but as I wrote in the past, he struggled to make plays off the dribble. He remained passive until an open shot presented itself, shying away from driving lanes or making plays off the dribble. A smooth shooter in a limited sample size, but as a 6-3 guard, Blackmon needs to be more than just a stationary shooter.

McDonald’s All-American Preview:

Blackmon is a score-first guard whose best attribute is 3-point shooting. He plays within himself, partly because he’s under control but also because he’s limited in his ability to score. In other words, he knows his limitations, and remains passive until an open shot emerges.

He’s an extraordinary shooter—with his feet set, off the dribble, or running off screens—but is limited otherwise. He struggles to finish at the basket and he lacks necessary point guard skills. Average athlete, average defender; purely a shooter right now.

His sharpshooting abilities should immediately translate to Indiana, and make him a threat to score 20 points every time he steps on the floor. But I’d like to see Blackmon contribute in ways besides scoring; namely, facilitating and penetrating off the bounce. I last saw him in July, so it’s possible he’s rounded out his game since then.

Nike Global Challenge 2013 (Washington D.C.): When Blackmon is on, he’s on. He scored 25 points in 21 minutes on Saturday. Blackmon is a big-time scorer who can knock down shots and swing the ball to keep the defense on their feet. Leave him for a second and he’ll make you pay. He is making the transition from shooting guard to combination guard, showcasing improved passing ability along the way.

Still, his forte is scoring. Blackmon can score in a variety of ways and do it quickly. Not a great athlete, but he is skilled enough to put the ball in the hoop on the high school level.