John Dawson

[Big Daddy 84]

I had the opportunity to see JD play Tuesday night in Lovington, NM  (I was in Midland, TX for a few days and took Tuesday afternoon off and drove the ~120 miles) to see the game.  Just able to sit down and type this up now.

Unfortunately it was probably not the best game to see, very chippy and lots of fouls called...in the 2nd qtr there were over 15 fouls called alone.  Clovis ended up winning 67-60 and JD had 16 points.

My overall thoughts are:

1) Legitimate 6'3 - 6'4  body type think Jerel McNeal
2) Very nice jumper, especially pull-up in that he goes straight up and down even in transition..shot needs a little work in keeping elbow in...but he is already a better shooter than many we have seen come in lately.
3) Needs to work on left hand for shooting...everything is right handed, even layups from the left side.
4) Handle is good not great...typical HS player in that dribble is a little high but coaching and drills will handle that.
5) Good leader and tough minded...when things got chippy he was not one to back down..but also kept his cool and kept team focused on winning game.
6) Offense ahead of defense right now...will need to work on BBall IQ and foot work..got away with crossing over his feet a couple of times because he was just better than man he was guarding.
7) Good athlete, but not overly explosive..but I think Todd can make a difference here too.
8)I can see him and DW as a good matching pair.  DW defensive specialist and JD as Offensive PG.
9) Has a really nice pull-up floater.
10) Most impressed with was that he plays under control and lets the game come to him...he is not the leading scorer on the team, and does a great job of not making bad plays.


Note of warning these are my thoughts from one game against a team that was not the best and in a game that had no flow.  I am the same guy that the first time I saw JFB play I thought we was going to be a bust....

BD

[Goose]

Good to see you back BigDaddy. Any insight into the new conference?

[Dawson Rental]

I had the opportunity to see JD play Tuesday night in Lovington, NM  (I was in Midland, TX for a few days and took Tuesday afternoon off and drove the ~120 miles) to see the game.  Just able to sit down and type this up now.

Unfortunately it was probably not the best game to see, very chippy and lots of fouls called...in the 2nd qtr there were over 15 fouls called alone.  Clovis ended up winning 67-60 and JD had 16 points.

My overall thoughts are:

1) Legitimate 6'3 - 6'4  body type think Jerel McNeal
2) Very nice jumper, especially pull-up in that he goes straight up and down even in transition..shot needs a little work in keeping elbow in...but he is already a better shooter than many we have seen come in lately.
3) Needs to work on left hand for shooting...everything is right handed, even layups from the left side.
4) Handle is good not great...typical HS player in that dribble is a little high but coaching and drills will handle that.
5) Good leader and tough minded...when things got chippy he was not one to back down..but also kept his cool and kept team focused on winning game.
6) Offense ahead of defense right now...will need to work on BBall IQ and foot work..got away with crossing over his feet a couple of times because he was just better than man he was guarding.
7) Good athlete, but not overly explosive..but I think Todd can make a difference here too.
8)I can see him and DW as a good matching pair.  DW defensive specialist and JD as Offensive PG.
9) Has a really nice pull-up floater.
10) Most impressed with was that he plays under control and lets the game come to him...he is not the leading scorer on the team, and does a great job of not making bad plays.


Note of warning these are my thoughts from one game against a team that was not the best and in a game that had no flow.  I am the same guy that the first time I saw JFB play I thought we was going to be a bust....

BD

IMO, the toughest things to teach are numbers 5 and 10, so its great to see that he has those now.  They are also the keys to the type of player that buzz likes, again IMO.

[Brewtown Andy]

If the shots go in, what does it matter what it looks like?

[GGGG]

If the shots go in, what does it matter what it looks like?

In some respects you're right.  However the best shooters tend to have the same form.  I once coached with a guy who said that as long as you finish high and point to the basket, it doesn't really matter.  Both of his kids had classic shooting form though and one played in college.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

If the shots go in, what does it matter what it looks like?

See Blue, Vander

[wardle2wade]

IMO, the toughest things to teach are numbers 5 and 10, so its great to see that he has those now.  They are also the keys to the type of player that buzz likes, again IMO.

Thanks and great write-up. And I completely agree, Murs... first thing I thought of, "this sounds like a prototypical Buzz player." Great to hear.

[drbeauch]

See attached link for scouting report on Dawson by Future150 scouting service - for whatever its worth, they rank him as #83 player in the country for 2013.

http://future150.com/hs/basketball-profiles/john-dawson-pg-2013

[MU82]

Holy smokes ... you drove 120 miles to look at a recruit! I am beyond impressed. Thanks for the report.

[Marqus Howard]

8)I can see him and DW as a good matching pair.  DW defensive specialist and JD as Offensive PG.

Thanks BD. I'm assuming you're referring to Derrick Wilson here, correct? How will Dawson's skills complement Duane Wilson's?

[martyconlonontherun]

IMO, the toughest things to teach are numbers 5 and 10, so its great to see that he has those now.  They are also the keys to the type of player that buzz likes, again IMO.

I would have to go with number 1 in that regard.... 

[tower912]

Thanks for the report.   I was wondering how he was doing.    If his defense doesn't get better by November, he isn't going to get heavy minutes.

[BCHoopster]

I would not expect much from the freshman anyway, I do expect McKay to play as he is a little older, and Duane Wilson might start and get playing time, but Johnson, Burton and
Dewson, I do not see big minutes, much like Steve Taylor this year.

[MURFC]

Great report, thanks for posting.  Absolutely love your intensity...driving 2 hours across the desert to see a recruit.  Well done sir!

[Markusquette]

Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts!  It would be great to have that offense/defense combo with a couple point guards.  Right now Duane Wilson Jr. seems like an offensive stud, so hopefully Dawson can be a bit of both too. 

[keefe]

I had the opportunity to see JD play Tuesday night in Lovington, NM  (I was in Midland, TX for a few days and took Tuesday afternoon off and drove the ~120 miles) to see the game. 

Are you kidding? I have flown over that area many times and it is like the moon. This ranks up there among the greatest hard core fan feats of all time. We're talking 5 hours of sheer boredom. Impressive.

[MUfan12]

I would not expect much from the freshman anyway, I do expect McKay to play as he is a little older, and Duane Wilson might start and get playing time, but Johnson, Burton and Dewson, I do not see big minutes, much like Steve Taylor this year.

I'm not as sure. These guys are at another level from past classes.

Johnson and Wilson will play big minutes. Burton can guard 1-4. I'd be surprised if rode the bench.

[GGGG]

I think we have to keep in mind who is going to be back....the only one leaving for sure is Junior.  There may not be a lot of playing time to be had.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I'm not as sure. These guys are at another level from past classes.

Johnson and Wilson will play big minutes. Burton can guard 1-4. I'd be surprised if rode the bench.

I'll take the exact opposite viewpoint. I just don't expect frosh. to ever have a significant impact. It's very rare.

I assume they will play "spot minutes" and be solid role players in Buzz's 10-12 man rotation.

I've never seen these guys play, so maybe I'm completely wrong. I'm simply paying the numbers. The majority of Frosh. in college basketball aren't good enough to play major minutes.

[keefe]

I'll take the exact opposite viewpoint. I just don't expect frosh. to ever have a significant impact. It's very rare.

UK, circa 2012. UofM, circa Fab 5.

[GGGG]

UK, circa 2012. UofM, circa Fab 5.

None of MU's freshmen are ranked nearly as high as those examples.

[BCHoopster]

I think we have to keep in mind who is going to be back....the only one leaving for sure is Junior.  There may not be a lot of playing time to be had.

Agreed, senior leadership next year, Wilson, Gardner and Blue (maybe Otule),  Taylor and Mckay are back up bigs
If Mayo is back he is going to get some minutes with Anderson at the 3, but Johnson and Burton might get sometime there
Blue is going to get 30 plus at the 2 guard, Mayo will see back up minutes there as well
point- Dwill will get first chance being a junior, as you know, I am not sure he is a Big East caliber point so bothn incoming frosh will get a chance.

You forgot Lockett, he is gone as well.

[GGGG]

You forgot Lockett, he is gone as well.

Blah...thanks.  Forgot about that.

So yeah, there will be some time available.  Hopefully Mayo returns, but if he doesn't, there could be a lot of guard time available.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

UK, circa 2012. UofM, circa Fab 5.

Oh good God.

How many Frosh. basketball players enroll at D1 programs every year? 1200? Maybe more?

How many are making a significant impact and playing a lot of minutes? 200?

How many are making a significant impact at a major program? 50? 75?

I said it's RARE. RARE.

I'm playing the odds. MU's incoming frosh. probably won't play a lot of minutes or make a huge impact on next year's team.

[keefe]

None of MU's freshmen are ranked nearly as high as those examples.

I am addressing the fact while rare it does happen. Both of those examples were led by freshmen and resulted in stellar results. MU never had such classes, even under Al. Al very much believed in the senior star theory. They also had freshmen teams back then too so it is not analogous.