Markel Starks

Seton Hall 82, Georgetown 67

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Thursday, February 20, 2014 | Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)

Markel Starks — SG, 6-3, 220
Senior, 23 years old

Season (37 mpg): 17 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.2 RPG, 2.5 TO
41% FG, 31% three-point (5 attempts), 1.6 A/TO

Game: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
4-8 FG, 0-3 three-point, 5-6 FT

Outlook: Markel Starks has gradually worked his way into an NBA prospect. He’s improved every year in college.

SR (37 mpg): 17 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.2 RPG, 2.5 TO, 41%
JR (34 mpg): 13 PPG, 3 APG, 1.8 RPG, 2 TO, 46%
SO (24 mpg): 7 PPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 RPG, 1.4 TO, 37% FG
FR (10 mpg): 1.5 PPG, 0.7 APG, 0.7 RPG, 0.6 TO, 28% FG

At 6-1 with terrific ball skills and a smooth jumper, Starks is a shooting guard stuck in a point guard’s body. His game is predicated on making plays with the ball in his hands. He’s equipped with a crafty handle to maneuver the court, and get the offense into its actions. His advanced handle allows him to score in a variety of ways — he can drive in isolation, create space for a jumper, or operate the pick and roll. This is reflected in his scoring distribution—24% spot up, 19% pick and roll, 15% transition, 13% isolation, 12% running off screens—as well as on film.

Playing within Georgetown’s (very) structured offense, Starks showcased a quick first step to sliver through openings and penetrate the lane. Once in the paint, he has perfected the “short jumper.” He can finish a tear-drop, or one-legged runner (a la Steve Nash). Part of the reason his in-between game is so polished is because he lacks vertical athleticism and explosion. Due to below average athleticism, Starks struggles to finish at the basket. He opts for double-pumps, reverses, and off-balance layups, often resulting in a miss. Still, all things considered, Starks is a crafty and capable scorer, albeit using 28% of the available shots in the process.

However, at 6-1 Starks is too small to play shooting guard in the NBA. He would presumably struggle to score over bigger/longer/stronger 2-guards, but more importantly, he wouldn’t be able to defend the SG position. If he were two inches taller, I’d vouch for him as a combo guard, similar to CJ McCollum, but he’s not. Thus, if Starks is going to make it, it will be as a point guard.

Starks is solid distributor within Georgetown’s offense. But from what I saw in person and on film, he lacks natural point guard instincts, in terms of crisply moving the ball, getting teammates in their spots, valuing each dribble, and just making plays. He uses so much time and energy to create his own shot that it minimizes other aspects of his game. To his credit, he’s leading the Hoyas with 3.9 assists per game, but he posts a pedestrian 23% assist rate (308th nationally). If Starks were three years younger, I’d say he has the time to drastically refine his offensive repertoire. But he’ll be 23 at Draft time, and lacking the passing/athleticism to be a PG, and the size to be a SG, I have difficulty seeing Starks earn minutes in the NBA.

Strengths
— Lethal ball handling to penetrate the lane and create offense
— Converts shots with defenders draped all over him
— Excellent “short jumpers” to finish over length (shooting 47% from 17-feet and in)
— Can operate pick and roll
— Capable of driving in either direction (47% of attempts going right, 53% left)

Defects/Areas of Improvement
— A scoring-oriented guard, but only 6-1
— Hasn’t shown the requisite ability—or potential—to run a team as a point guard
— Will struggle to defend shooting guards at 6-1
— Lacks vertical athleticism and explosion to finish in the paint
— Ball-stopper at times, mostly due to over-dribbling on perimeter
— Doesn’t stand out in any particular facet of the game

Video

Video: Recent Scoring (vs. Xavier, Seton Hall)

Video: Misses

Video: Drawing Fouls

— Averaging 4.7 free throws in 37 minutes per game. I don’t anticipate Starks being afforded these calls in the NBA.

Video: Assists

— Decent facilitator, but nothing remarkable.

Video: Off the Dribble Shooting

— Starks is shooting 37% off the dribble this season. On one hand, he wastes time with unnecessary dribbles. On the other, he can make difficult shots.

Video: “Short Jumpers’ (17-feet and in)

— Crafty handle to penetrate the lane. Polished floater and 17-foot jumper to finish over size.

— Capable driver with either hand.

Video: Driving Right (47% of isolation drives)

Video: Driving Left (53% of isolation drives)

Video: Missed 3-Pointers

— 31% on 5 attempts per game

Video: Isolation Defense (Poor)

— Starks lacks the lateral quickness to defend speedy guards. He also lacks the length/athleticism to compensate if he gets beat. Not a defensive liability, but certainly not an asset.