2012-2013 Statistics
23.9 PPG
5.0 RPG
2.9 APG
1.4 SPG
49.5% FG%
51.6% 3PT%
CJ McCollum is a guard from Lehigh that fits the all-too-familiar role of the small school scoring combo guard. Is he an undersized SG or a scoring-minded PG? McCollum was averaging over 20 PPG entering January of his senior year before breaking his foot against VCU, ending his senior season. The Lehigh guard burst onto the scene by dropping 20+ against the likes of Duke and Kansas in the NCAA tourney, including knocking off Duke in a historic upset. He stands at 6’3’’ with a 6’6’’ wingspan and is known as a prolific scorer who has been developing his game as a true point.
Offensively, McCollum can do it all; he shot over 50% from beyond the arc and shot just under 50% from the floor. He possesses an elite ability to create his own shot, as evidenced by 49% of his jumpers coming off the dribble. This ability to create shots is helped by his above-average ball handling ability, a skill that makes him one of the best isolation players in this draft class. He also excels in transition, which accounted for 20% of his total offense. As far as a passer, McCollum still has a ways to go, not because he lacks the court vision or the basketball IQ to do so, but because he isn’t a natural facilitator. His basketball IQ is actually extremely high, and he uses this knowledge to pick apart defenses as a scorer, not as a passer. This is evident when he runs the pick & roll or draws help defenders in iso situations, as he doesn’t automatically look to hit the open man. Another offensive limitation may be his inability to finish strong around the basket, but this could be helped by adding strength.
As a defender, McCollum is very willing and gives great effort; he simply lacks the elite lateral quickness that GMs look for when drafting PGs. This, along with his scoring mentality, may limit him to mostly combo guard responsibilities, which could go either way depending upon development. He rebounds at an above average rate for a player of his position and stature, grabbing 5 per game in his shortened senior season.
CJ McCollum’s future as an NBA player will depend upon his ability to develop as a facilitator and guard NBA PGs. He will be able to score at the next level, that is not even a question, but if he wants to play PG, he will most definitely need to change his mentality from a pure scorer to a guy who scores AND hits the open man (think Stephen Curry coming out of Davidson). In fact, McCollum should use Curry as a blueprint for his development and hope that he can become even a poor man’s version of the Golden State PG. Both players were more scorers than facilitators coming out of college, and Curry was able to become enough of a passer to blossom as an NBA point. I’m not saying either is/will be a pass-first player. It’s just about knowing when the easy play is to pass rather than score.
By Jamie McNeill
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