Knight and Freshmen Leading Teams to Final 4

[Borat]

Here is the list I could compile of 18-19 year old freshmen to lead their teams to Final 4 (scoring leaders):

Knight (2011, 17.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 4.2 apg, 42% FG, 80% FT, 38% 3FG)
Love (2008, 17.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1,9 apg, 56% FG, 77% FT, 35% 3FG)
Oden (2007, 15.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.3 bpg, 62% FG, 63% FT, 0% 3FG)
T.J. Ford (2003, 15 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 7.7 apg, 40% FG, 82% FT, 27% 3FG)
Melo (2003, 22.2 ppg, 10 rpg, 2.2 apg, 45% FG, 71% FT, 34% 3FG)

I have gone as far as ESPN tracker allowed me to go (2002): https://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/96/kentucky-wildcats

The list is short, but there are some solid guys on there. And (unlike the NHS game for Kanter) we are talking about entire season against tough, mostly older competition here, en route to quite remarkable accomplishment. Knight also has an excellent size for a position and top 5 athlete in the draft: https://www.draftexpress.com/article/Analyzing-the-NBA-Combine-Athletic-Testing-Results-3728/

The more I think about it, the more I realize Knight is a top pick in any draft. Seems to me like a no brainer if Irving and Williams are off the board.

 

[somebody]

Knight's FG% leaves something to be desired, especially what it was during the tournament (something like 32 % if I recall, don't quote me on it). Contrast that with Melo who shot 47% his last 5 games.

edit: Okay I checked. During their NCAA tournament games Knight shot 32.9% and Melo shot 47%. That's the problem I have with Knight, is that, with the exception of a few Sundiata Gaines moments, his shooting % really got worse, not better, throughout the season.

 

[vslice02]

Not a complete list - but some others: Joe Forte-UNC, Mike Bibby-Arizona (Miles Simon was the Wildcat's leading scorer but Bibby was the leading scorer in the Championship game), Chris Webber (Michigan).

 

[larryselbows]

Not to mention that Knight is one of only 3 players ever to be national player of the year twice in high school. (Oden and James are the others.)

 

[Dr. Jones]

Knight's FG% leaves something to be desired, especially what it was during the tournament (something like 32 % if I recall, don't quote me on it). Contrast that with Melo who shot 47% his last 5 games.

edit: Okay I checked. During their NCAA tournament games Knight shot 32.9% and Melo shot 47%. That's the problem I have with Knight, is that, with the exception of a few Sundiata Gaines moments, his shooting % really got worse, not better, throughout the season.

I have a couple concerns with Knight, but shooting isn't one of them. His body of work over a much longer period than the NCAA tourney suggests he's $. His last year of HS he shot more three's than Austin Rivers and hit at a higher percentage.

 

[Ben10]

Everyone seems to think his he is only going to be a Jason Terry type player. Anyone watching the NBA finals. Who wouldn't want a Jason Terry. Great series so far and 17 first half points with 6 min left.

 

[Zerol]

Anyone watching the Finals now? I will happily take Knight if he really turns out to be Jason Terry.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Yep, Terry having a great game.

 

[Jazz4ever]

Knight didn't "lead" them at all. It was a concerted team effort. You could make a case, and PKM will probably agree, Josh Harrelson was their best player in the tournament.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Hmmm .. I don't think I could really agree. Knight shot poorly, but he flat out directed the team. He also had a REAL knack for finding Josh for easy baskets.
Really difficult to quantify who the 'best' player was .. but I can say with 100% certainty that without Knight we don't get out of the first round.

 

[Borat]

Knight's FG% leaves something to be desired, especially what it was during the tournament (something like 32 % if I recall, don't quote me on it). Contrast that with Melo who shot 47% his last 5 games.

edit: Okay I checked. During their NCAA tournament games Knight shot 32.9% and Melo shot 47%. That's the problem I have with Knight, is that, with the exception of a few Sundiata Gaines moments, his shooting % really got worse, not better, throughout the season.

Sometimes in play-offs, when you get into defensive type of games, with refs calling it tight, you end up with lower shooting %. You need to find a way to win, and Knight did that. I don't have to go far for an example: just look at Dirk. He shot 52% in regular season and only about 37-38% in the play-offs. But he still dominated and found a way to win. Knight shot over 44% in regular season, which is pretty good for a PG against very tough competition he has faced as a freshman. With that said, I am not claiming he will be a star like Melo, but he is certainly in very good company, looking at the list of other young freshmen who led their teams to final 4.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Sometimes in play-offs, when you get into defensive type of games, with refs calling it tight, you end up with lower shooting %. You need to find a way to win, and Knight did that. I don't have to go far for an example: just look at Dirk. He shot 52% in regular season and only about 37-38% in the play-offs. But he still dominated and found a way to win. Knight shot over 44% in regular season, which is pretty good for a PG against very tough competition he has faced as a freshman. With that said, I am not claiming he will be a star like Melo, but he is certainly in very good company, looking at the list of other young freshmen who led their teams to final 4.

Nice post.