With the NBA Season now under way, The AOSN decided it was a good time to start yet another “Stud” special but this time for the NBA. The AOSN did one called “Stud Watch” for baseball diamond and will now carry it over to the hardwood. The criteria for this special is simple, they are basketball players who produce “stud like” numbers but don’t get the recognition they deserve. These players aren’t household names, but after this special we are hoping you start paying more attention to these players. So sit back, and enjoy!
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors, SG
DeRozan attended Compton High School and was ranked as one of the top college recruits in the nation from the class of 2008. He was ranked #3 in the nation by Rivals.comand #6 by Scout.com. He played all 4 years on the varsity basketball team while attending Compton High. As a senior averaging 29.2 ppg and 7.9 rpg, DeRozan led Compton High School to a 26-6 record, a second consecutive Moore League championship and the CIF Division IAA Southern Section quarter-finals. For his efforts he was awarded the Moore League Most Valuable Player Award and named to the California All-State team. DeRozan was a member of the 2008 McDonald’s All-American Team, and also won the 2008 McDonald’s All-American Slam Dunk Competition. He was also invited to play in the 2008 Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden and the Nike Hoop Summit, where he scored a team-high 17 points. DeRozan’s achievements on the court in his senior year saw him earn First Team Parade All-America honors and First Team Best in the West honors. In November 2007, DeRozan signed a letter of intent to play basketball at USC. He chose USC over Arizona State and North Carolina, deciding to join his friend, musician-actor-basketball player Romeo Miller, to play for the Trojans. He decided to declare for the NBA draft after one season at USC because he wanted to take care of his mother who had lupus at the time. DeRozen was selected 9th overall during the 2009 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. Since that day he has became a fan favorite and has been the face of the franchise and isn’t looking to slow down what so ever.
Ever since becoming a Raptor he has became an offensive weapon in the NBA. His statistics have increased for the most part every year. He has never had a problem getting the ball through the hoop but he would lack in other categories as in rebounds, and assists. Since his rookie year he has steadily increased those secondary categories.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | Toronto | 77 | 65 | 21.6 | .498 | .250 | .763 | 2.9 | .7 | .6 | .2 | 8.6 |
| 2010–11 | Toronto | 82 | 82 | 34.8 | .467 | .096 | .813 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | .4 | 17.2 |
| 2011–12 | Toronto | 63 | 63 | 35.0 | .422 | .261 | .810 | 3.3 | 2.0 | .8 | .3 | 16.7 |
| 2012–13 | Toronto | 82 | 82 | 36.7 | .445 | .283 | .831 | 3.9 | 2.5 | .9 | .3 | 18.1 |
| 2013–14 | Toronto | 79 | 79 | 38.2 | .429 | .305 | .824 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 1.1 | .4 | 22.7 |
| Career | 383 | 371 | 33.3 | .447 | .267 | .815 | 3.7 | 2.2 | .9 | .3 | 16.7 | |
Strengths
- Offensive Power House
- Drives to the rim
- Consistent shot
- Able to finish after contact
- Gets to charity strip with ease
DeMar DeRozan is one of those special players in the league that doesn’t have a problem scoring 20+ points a game every single night they have a game, and he makes it look relatively easy. His offensive game relies on him attacking the rim, creating contact to get to the free throw line, and taking great looking shots for himself. He never takes a bad shot and doesn’t throw up many 3 pointers for a shooting guard, he may shot 1-3 from behind the arc a game. He is able to get to his 20 points per game by driving the basket and finishing at the rim with his 6’7 frame. He is able to finish even when he creates contact, creating a very easy shot for himself. Once he reaches the free throw line he is able to knock them down with ease, last season he finished fourth in total free-throws made and 7th in attempts in the NBA. When he does take jump shots they are usually when he has an open look. He is one of the best players in the league at creating his own shot and finishing at the rim.
Outlook
DeRozan was an All-Star during his 2013 season and that put him on the map for a lot of basketball fans, and he doesn’t look to stop that. He is already off to a great start for his 2014 campaign and looks to be a lock for yet another All-Star selection. In Toronto he has made a name for himself and has became the face of the franchise after dominating every year so far during his young career. DeRozan is hands down an offensive weapon that not many players can contain with his ability to attack the rim, create contact, get to the free throw line, and knock down his open jumpers. His stats have increased slightly every year for him and he doesn’t want to slow that down, he wants to prove to everyone that he is more than a scoring monster. He should be looking to score 25+ per game very soon in his young career and everyone should strap in to see this star on the rising!
Photo Credit: Getty Images