Remember when Chris Jones was given a late scholarship after an excellent senior season of high school? A versatile player who was clearly going to be a development project. Along the lines of Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Patterson?
Well, it might be happening.
One game does not mean he’s arrived. But what Jones has been doing in the month of February has been a couple notches above his January. Which was better than his wretched December. In other words, he’s actually been developing and improving as the season has continued.
It’s been a theme for this squad, the entire season. Young players developing. From the leap Jamel Artis has made. To Sheldon Jeter coming into his own. Michael Young’s consistent work. Josh Newk — okay, there is an exception. Back to Jones.
For comparison’s sake, a look at the second seasons of playing time for Lamar Patterson and Bradley Wanamaker.
——————————– Min — Pts — Rbd – Asts – Stl — Blk — TO — FG —— 3FG —- FTs
Wanamaker (2008-09) — 19.0 — 5.8 — 3.3 — 2.1 — 0.8 — 0.2 — 1.7 — 0.462 — 0.390 — 0.746
Patterson (2011-12) —— 28.5 — 9.6 — 5.3 — 3.6 — 1.0 — 0.3 — 1.7 — 0.442 — 0.410 — 0.771
Jones (2014-15) ———– 28.3 — 9.2 — 3.0 — 2.1 — 0.4 — 0.4 — 1.0 — 0.440 — 0.381 — 0.596
Wanamaker had a much smaller/different role on a team featuring Fields, Blair and Young. He was also a much better defender than the other two. The Patterson comparisons seem to be the easiest to make with such similar minutes and scoring numbers.
Jones obviously has a ways to go. He doesn’t match Patterson in terms of rebounding or assists. He definitely needs to improve his free throw shooting.
Not a bad change for a guy that by the end of December had fans wondering if he would transfer. That lost his starting spot in January. Instead, he has responded. He’s gotten more confident. God knows he has work to do on defense, but that is true for the entire team this year.
Quick Add-on.
I meant to add the effective Field Goal % for each, but forgot. eFG% takes into account the value of the 3-point shot in overall shooting percentage. The formula is simple: (FGM+0.5x3FGM)/FGA
Wanamaker: (66 + 0.5×23)/143 = .542 eFG
Patterson: (126 + 0.5×41)/285 = .514 eFG
Jones: (96 + 0.5×37)/218 = 0.525 eFG
Thanks for the reminder about Taft being a two-and-done. Still my point is partly valid.
Taft entered the NBA draft in 1995. The one-and-done rule didn’t start until 1996. So, Taft played the minimum, but he played two years, not one.
Howard
I meant to write that Taft entered the draft in 2005 and One-and-Done started in 2006 (not 1995 and 1996). I was just off by one decade. Sorry about that.
Just reminded my neighbor last week. I can’t believe the Pens didn’t win, I can believe they didn’t do this and do that. I told him, you know, the Capitals wanted to win too!!!
The task is big, but the task is
certainly doable.