Coming into this season, much was made about Duke’s incoming star freshman Jahlil Okafor, and deservedly so. He is a rare talent, and one that would likely have headed straight to the NBA if not for the age requirement.
But over in Columbus, Ohio, another five-star recruit named D’Angelo Russell was somewhat quietly preparing for what would turn out to be an incredible season as well, and his play now has him skyrocketing up NBA draft boards, culminating with a visit on Thursday night by New York Knicks president and 13-time NBA champion Phil Jackson, who attended the Buckeyes’ 81-57 victory over Nebraska to scout the 6-foot-5 freshman from Montverde Academy in person.
Russell actually had somewhat of an off night with just 11 points and six assists, and was forced to sit out much of the game’s action with cramps. But fortunately for him, he actually got some much-needed help from his teammates in the win, something that has been hard to come by for him as of late.
At this point in the season, Russell is leading all freshmen in scoring with 19.0 points per game, and is also averaging a very respectable 5.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game to go along with 46 percent field goal shooting.
So at this point, the inevitable question has already been asked.
Should Russell go pro?
The answer is yes, and that decision is fully expected. Nearly every notable draft site has Russell going No. 3, just behind Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns in most cases. This kind of scenario is nearly impossible for players with Russell’s talent to leave on the table.
But can he carry over this production over to the NBA?
Again, the answer is yes, and for many reasons.
The Long Ball
Three-point shooting has become an increasingly valuable commodity in the NBA, as the league moves further and further away from the days when a dominant center was needed to contend for NBA championships. The Golden State Warriors are a great example of this, relying heavily on backcourt scoring in place of high-percentage baskets in the post, leaving most of their production in the hands of guards Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, the latter bearing much resemblance to Buckeyes freshman himself. Russell fits this mold perfectly, and is capable of scoring from both the one and two-guard positions, whether it’s off the dribble or from a spot-up shot. His 42 percent mark behind the arc is already very serviceable, and could stand to improve even more over time.
Passing Skills
Russell has been an excellent setup man for Ohio State all season, even in spite of his high shot volume and scoring output.
Several of his passes this season have made the rounds on the internet, and for good reason.
Consider this example:
And here’s a good montage of his assists in a game against Indiana back on Jan. 25:
Russell is excellent on the fast break, whether it’s his excellent vison and anticipation on a quick pass to a cutting teammate, or pulling up for a shot himself if he knows he has an opportunity. Although capable of playing both guard positions, it’s Russell’s awareness of the space on the floor that makes him so dangerous with the ball in his hand, a truth that is more evident when he is in control of the offense. He knows he can score from anywhere, but if he sees a better opportunity for a teammate, that’s where the ball is heading.
Intangibles/Upside
While it’s obvious that Russell has been the star of the Buckeyes nearly all season, he has always been quick to give credit to his teammates and head coach Thad Matta without it sounding forced or contrived, and seems unwilling to appear as the main reason to any success the team has. The spotlight has grown each week for him, and he has handled it with class and maturity, which is a trait that is not so easy to find right now in an increasingly individualized league.
It’s important to remember that Russell is still a freshman, and still has plenty to learn. His per game average of 2.8 turnovers could stand to come down, and his 4.1 free-throw attempts per outing are surprisingly low for a player that possess the driving skills that he does. If he can learn to balance out his perimeter shooting game with more drives and visits to the foul line, he’ll become an even bigger headache for opposing teams and coaches.
There are often two types of dominant players in college basketball. On one side, you have the players that rely largely on athletic superiority and niche talents to fill up stat sheets against opposing teams, such as BYU’s Tyler Haws, who scores most of his points on mid-range jumpers that are scarcely utilized these days in the NBA. On the other side, you have the type of players that possess a type of skillset that transcends what level of basketball they are playing on, allowing for them to produce significantly no matter where or who they are playing. Russell is that type of player, and even though he is nowhere near a finished product yet, he is certainly ready to bring his talents to the next level, where he will flourish just as he has everywhere else.
