WHO: Kansas University vs. University of Cincinnati
WHEN: January 22nd, 2024 -- Lawrence, Kansas
RESULT: Kansas 74-69
I usually don't have a quick turnaround on watching a game from the same college team, but Johnny Furphy -- freshman wing from Kansas -- has been garnering a lot of Draft Twitter buzz since entering the starting lineup. Since entering the starting lineup (5 games), he's averaging 14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and a steal per game on 57.1% shooting from the field (8.4 attempts, 68.8% on 2's) and 50.0% from 3 (5.2 attempts per game). It was also a chance to check out Cincinnati's freshman guard Jizzle James -- son of Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James -- a player that several of trusted draft analysts are high on long-term.
Johnny Furphy
23 points (7-8 from the field, 4-4 from 3, 6-9 from the free throw line), 11 rebounds (3 offensive), 2 steals, 0 assists (2 turnovers), 0 blocks, 3 fouls in 37 minutes
Offense: Johnny Furphy is always moving. He flies up the floor in transition to capitalize on early offense. He's a deft cutter as well. He's a superb shooter that has a good sense of where to relocate for a better kickout window -- he could improve as free throw shooter (73.1%), though. Probably the most intriguing element of his movement is his offensive rebounding. He keeps possessions alive with his hustle, and after crashing the glass, he always looks for his teammates to reset the offense. 6'9" wings that fly up and around the floor and can shoot the 3-ball are commodities.
Offense One Play:
The play that really drew me into the allure of Johnny Furphy. This is a sequence coaches show young hoopers. Furphy crashes the glass for the offensive rebound, and immediately seeks out a teammate. After the dish, he keeps his hands ready and subtly relocates to the corner off the drive to hit the 3.
Defense: Again, Furphy stays moving. He crashes into the paint for rebounds. Whenever drivers get into the paint, he tries to get his hands on the ball. He stays vertical on his contests from the perimeter and in the paint. His defense is suspect with his drive defense. He opens up too much leeway for the ball-handler to get downhill, and he's not physical enough to knock them off their path to the basket.
Defense One Play:
Johnny Furphy gives the driver too much of the baseline on the drive, and he gets caught in the spin cycle too. However, he stays with the play to fight for the rebound then ultimately swipe the ball away for a steal.
What I'm monitoring: What is his defensive position? The saying goes, "you are what you can defend." It'll likely be matchup-based more often than not. As a 6'9" wing that needs to add some muscle, he'll likely need to defend 2's and 3's. As a result though, Furphy needs to improve as an individual defender facing NBA-caliber ball-handlers. Luckily, he's at a good start with his "energizer bunny" like motor.
Kevin McCullar
20 points (5-17 from the field, 2-6 from 3, 8-12 from the free throw line), 5 rebounds, 5 assists (1 turnover), 3 steals, 0 blocks, 1 foul in 35 minutes
Offense: McCullar was aggressive with the ball in his hands but forced a lot of tough, contested shots inside the arc. He struggled finishing around the rim, but also leveraged rim pressure and paint touches with trips to the free throw line. With the ball in his hands though, he thrives better in side-action initiations -- making decisions around screens, as the defense adjusts within the ball movement. The jumper -- big point of emphasis in his development -- was fine, but the wind-up on his jumper is a bit slow.
Offense One Play:
Nothing flashy here, but I think this play offers small context into his potential role at the next level. Even though Kansas thrusts him with a plethora of playmaking and live-dribble responsibilities, it's likely not his optimized role at the next level. He's more likely to be a wing/forward that plays off ball -- spots up, cuts, rolls off screens -- with pinches of initiation responsibilities. It led to a foul here, but McCullar could be an intriguing short roll wing in a more spacious system.
Defense: McCullar remains an intriguing defensive prospect. He defends screens well as a navigator and switcher. He's smart defending closeouts. His drive defense rocks. He has this innate ability to defend drives with his physicality while getting his hands out of the cookie jar at the right moment to force a stop and avoid a foul.
Defense One Play:
McCullar draws the switch on the late-clock possession. He maintains active hands on the driver. His quick feet cut off the baseline. On the step-back, James tries to pump-fake McCullar, but to no avail. McCullar jumps but manages to back his arms and body away to avoid the foul and force a travel. His ability to hound defenders and alter his body on the drive to avoid fouls with a formidable contest is so intriguing.
Hunter Dickinson
10 points (4-7 from the field, 0-1 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line), 6 rebounds, 1 assists (0 turnovers), 1 steal, 1 block, 4 fouls in 30 minutes
Offense: It was a quiet game for Dickinson, but his usage was loud to me. His skillset can be seen through a NBA context here. Instead of throwing the ball to him in the post, they utilized him as a hub around the elbows and high post. He found teammates in handoffs and through cuts. It showcased his potential pro fit a bit better than a post-heavy game.
Offense One Play:
Dickinson caught the ball more towards the wing and flips the ball back for a ghost screen and pop. The defender blows the DHO, which Dickinson hits Harris with a small bounce pass. Without a clear baseline, Harris turns back for another screen-and-roll with Dickinson for a layup. It was rather exquisite two-man game that exemplified a better pro context for Dickinson.
Defense: Dickinson struggled with foul issues, but he utilized his size and hands well on the inside. He drew good contests and caused turnovers with quick hands. Kansas threw him a bit higher at the level in screen actions to mixed results, but he didn't look like a fish out of water.
Defense One Play:
Dickinson completely obliterates the post hook attempt. On the second chance though, Dickinson maintains ball pressure up high, even crowding the ball-handler at the wing for the double team. Nothing flashy or anything, but it was nice to see him step out of a comfort zone a bit.
Jizzle James
10 points (4-7 from the field, 0-1 from 3, 2-2 from the free throw line), 1 assists (3 turnovers), 0 rebounds, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 fouls in 18 minutes
Offense: James is a stout, physical guard -- clearly possessing NFL running back genetics. He shifts gears well in the open floor to read the defense. His ball control a bit mixed with his turnovers. He's not much of a shooter, but he has a really cool leaning middy he gets to off the dribble.
Offense One Play:
James possesses great shiftiness and control on this bucket. Off the catch, he hits the defender with the crossover to get downhill. Once he doesn't see a lane to the bucket, he goes to the stepback and squares up for the fadeaway jumper in the mid-range.
Defense: James had a quiet game, as the only thing that really stood out defensively was screen navigation. He possesses potential as a point-of-attack defender because of his frame and physicality.
Defense One Play:
Jizzle James' defensive pressure is turned up here. James navigates the first screen going under, then forces a drive-and-kick. He stays with his man and sticks with him through the 2nd pick. He crowds the ball-handler after he picks up the ball. Once his man hits the teammate, James plays great deny defense and forces an awkward lead pass into a contested layup attempt.
What I'm monitoring: Where he'll be ultimately most efficient. James won't be a 2024 guy, but he's an intriguing prospect for 2025 and beyond. In the process, he'll pick up different tips and tricks as a smaller guard, especially with a larger role. With that, more strengths will appear. He's currently shooting 39.8% from the field -- 42% on 2's (5 attempts per game) and 33.3% from 3 -- while dishing out 2.2 assists against 1.1 turnovers per game. Where he ultimately grows as a player could dictate what kind of lead guard he could become at the next level.
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