Putting the Team on Their Back

by **Myles (SAS)** Mon May 05, 2014 10:44 pm

Aaric Murray, right, is on a tear

A month of non-conference play is in the books, and we've seen some fantastic basketball from our list of CSL prospects. None have had a bigger month than Aaric Murray of Texas Southern. The 23 year old senior is averaging 29 points per game over the Tigers 7 games so far, and doing so in a variety of ways. Murray has done most of his damage from around the basket, scoring over either shoulder in the post. However, his ability to hit both the mid range jumper and the 3 point ball has made him that much more dangerous, as most defenders who are big enough to guard him can't also close out to his jumper well. He seems fine with a hand in his face and hasn't had any issue scoring over defenders.

He's also shooting an absurd 13 FTs per game, as many of his forays in the paint end up with him getting hacked. Murray is strong and looks to draw contact, and finishes well through the contact. Murray knows he can handle it and uses that to his advantage. He's not a one trick pony either. He's blocking nearly two shots per game, protecting the basket well.

However, part of this may be due to him being one of the few scorers Texas Southern has. He is counted on to do a lot and sometimes lets the pressure get to him, taking less than ideal shots when teammates are in better situations to score. You also have to wonder if how much energy he's putting in to offense is affecting his effort on defense and on the glass, as both seem a bit subpar as of right now. You really can't argue with the results though, as the Tigers are 6-1 and Murray has been stellar in every single game.

Point guard Ryan Boatright has also really stepped up for Connecticut. With Shabazz Napier leaving for the CSL last year, a lot of the scoring load got put on Boatright's shoulders, and boy is he answering. Boatright is scoring on every possession it seems like, and yet somehow, watching him, it doesn't ever look like he's taking a bad shot. Boatright always seems to find the seam in the defense and end up taking an open shot, mostly in the mid range. His handle allows him to break down nearly any defender and split almost all double teams as well. His defense has also been solid, as he hasn't let many players drive past him to the basket. His size does limit his future on defense, but he's doing just fine so far on this level.

Lastly, James Southerland of Syracuse has just been unconscious, hitting damn near every jumper he's shot this year. An elite catch and shoot player, Southerland finds ways to get open and knock down shots, no matter how many hands are in his face. He's also been able to put the ball on the deck and attack the basket, albeit with varied results. He's been excellent in the pick and pop, and when opponents close out to him too hard, he's driven straight to the basket for a bucket around the rim. Southerland reminds us a lot of Channing Frye perhaps, which is a very good type of player to have in specialty situations, making him valuable due to his elite skill.