Areas for Improvement in 2024
This preview hinges on the ambition to be title contenders. Without any changes, we would likely still rank within the top 25 teams. Therefore, it’s crucial to clarify that this analysis is within the context of competing for A championship.
Defense: Our defense is a clear strength. Even without significant enhancements, it’s already robust enough to secure a title. The team has not struggled defensively; in fact, we have several defensive rotations that border on dominance. However, the challenge lies in maintaining a potent offense while leveraging these strengths. A critical aspect of Coach Sampson’s defensive strategy is the effectiveness of point-of-attack defense—specifically, our point guard must prevent the opposing point guard from penetrating off the dribble. our trap defense tends to falter if the pg is beat regularly, but Uzan has demonstrated capability, suggesting this won’t be a concern. Defense, as a whole, is not a worry, except for our historical vulnerability to powerful, low-post scorers who can distribute the ball and are surrounded by shooters. We are contenders without any improvement and we should anticipate levels of improvement.
Rebounding: Against larger teams, our rebounding remains a weak point, particularly among our starters. However, there are backup lineups with the potential for strong rebounding performance, especially if Lath develops into a more formidable box-out threat. Overall, we excel against smaller teams, but teams with significant size and rebounding prowess pose a challenge. While reaching a dominant level of rebounding might not be achievable this upcoming season, there is substantial room for improvement. Several of our taller guards, including Uzan and McCarthy, possess the physical attributes necessary to improve their rebounding skills. Similarly, Arc and Sharp have the potential to enhance their performance in this area.
Offense: Addressing our team’s offensive capabilities presents the more challenging aspect of this analysis. To be candid, without significant improvements, our current roster lacks the offensive prowess necessary for title contention. Last year’s offense, even with Shead, was inconsistent, leading to prolonged scoring droughts, often requiring extraordinary efforts to recover from. With Uzan, a reluctant scorer, and the absence of Dunn—who was projected as our second-best driver—the potential for scoring difficulties looms larger. However, there is significant potential for improvement in this area.
Improvement Areas for Key Players
- Milos Uzan: Uzan, capable of passing and decent one-on-one defense, faces multiple areas for impovement. Free-throw shooting emerges as a critical improvement point, alongside a deeper understanding of our defensive system. Despite his height, his rebounding needs work, and a significant increase in physicality is necessary. Offensively, driving is his strength, yet he seldom reaches the free-throw line. Leadership and a more commanding presence on the court are intangible areas needing growth. Though not imperative to our success, his shooting abilities could also see improvement in frequency and percentage, improving his shooting could significantly benefit the team.
Stat wise his shooting just bad, but his form isnt that bad
some defensive plays
-
Sharp and Cryer: Grouping these two, their development areas align closely. They bear the offensive load for the team next year, but their effectiveness as drastically reduced against top-level defenders. For the team to excel, it’s critical that one or both emerge as stars. Their ability to drive and score against elite defenders needs significant improvement.
-
Jwan: In his sixth year, Jwan’s understanding of our system is solid. His improvement could come from incorporating more drives into his post-up play and enhancing his free-throw shooting. While not necessary for the team, improving his three-point shooting could be vital for his professional aspirations.
-
Francis: Adding over 15 pounds during the offseason could unlock his potential for national defensive player of the year honors. While free-throw shooting may not be his strength, avoiding air balls would be a start. The key for Francis is to regain his aggressiveness, which diminished after Tugler’s injury, could lie in developing depth behind him allowing him to play more freely without the pressure of having no substitutes like last year and worrying about foul trouble.
Bench:
Our bench players hold substantial potential for development, which could prove crucial in deepening our roster’s competitiveness. Let’s look into their specific areas for improvement.
-
Tugler: Tugler’s progression has been promising, and there are circulating rumors about his improved shooting abilities. Seeing him demonstrate this skill in the next season would be a significant boost. Encouraging his shooting development could add a vital layer to our offensive strategy.
-
Terrance Arceneaux: Currently, Arc’s performance is “just okay at everything” but lacks specialization; he’s adequate in various aspects without excelling in any. The key to his evolution is to adopt a more aggressive approach in a specific area, be it driving, defense, shooting, rebounding, or passing. A focused improvement in one domain can redefine his contribution to the team. Unlike Sharp, who has successfully shed the “development player” label, Arc still needs to make a definitive mark to drop that label. I’m setting a tangible goal for him, which is achieving two games with 24 points or more next season, I think is something he can achieve.
-
Mylik: While the statement “Mylik is who he is” suggests a limited scope for drastic improvements, maintaining and slightly enhancing his current skill set can still contribute positively to the team’s overall dynamics.
-
Ramon: Ramon’s focus should continue to be on refining his abilities as an open catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter. Eliminating any hesitation in his shot will make him a more reliable and formidable threat from the perimeter. Consistency in this area could significantly stretch defenses and create more space for his teammates.
-
Lath: Lath’s development appears to be in its early stages, needing a broad scope for improvement across various facets of his game. But would love to see him improve as a boxout threat
Players Yet to Debut in Division 1: Key Concerns
Miller
The primary question surrounding Miller is whether his offensive game will successfully transition to Division 1. He’s an underrated rebounder, averaging 10 rebounds a game in high school, but it remains to be seen if this will translate at a higher level. His defensive play in high school was minimal, raising concerns about whether he can achieve at least passable defense in college. However, I believe he has the potential to do so. With the highest offensive potential among our bench players, Miller’s development is something to watch closely.
McCarthy
McCarthy boasts an impressive wingspan and good agility, positioning him to potentially become our best guard defender as a true freshman. Despite his physical attributes, he’s not a strong rebounder, although there’s room for improvement under Sampson’s guidance. His athleticism isn’t standout, and while we may not expect much offensively in his first year (handles arent great for a guard/wing), his ability to exploit mismatches—shooting when left open and driving against slower players—is notable. Having played significant minutes in the IMG/private school league, which is comparable to some college levels, McCarthy’s transition is highly anticipated.
McFarland
McFarland is notable for his exceptional ability to run the court (vertical), resembling a guard’s mobility. His primary experience was guarding centers in high school that leaves his lateral quickness and ability to defend guards as intriguing unknowns. His reputation as one of the best shot blockers in California suggests defensive promise, though his lack of physicality in high school is a point of interest for his offseason development. While there are rumorrs of him being a shooter, the absence of significant evidence or high school stats to support this leaves his offensive capabilities somewhat uncertain. His mobility may offer fast break and cutting opportunities, but beyond that, expectations for his offensive contribution are tempered.
KJ
With Shead’s departure, KJ is poised to become the most aggressive and physically intense “dog” on the team. His style resembles that of an undersized wing, boasting decent skills in shooting, ball handling, and passing, yet without any particularly standout trait. KJ’s defensive fervor and intensity will likely be his most significant contribution to the team, though finding his exact fit within next year’s lineup remains a challenge.
