Alan Daniels

When asked about college basketball players who have put up multiple 40 point games this season, most people would immediately think about Redick or Morrison, but a relatively unknown player in the Southland Conference named Alan Daniels had his second 40 point game of the season on Saturday.

Against Louisiana Monroe, Daniels needed just 23 shots to get his 40 points, shooting very well from both the three point line and free throw line. Though he was the focus of the defense, as he has been in every game he has played this season, he managed to only turn the ball over twice, and didn’t force any bad shots. Daniels led his team to a 89-83 victory, which was much needed for the Lamar Cardinals as they try and make a late season charge heading into their conference tournament and possibly the NCAA tournament. They now sit in a tie for fourth place in the Southland Conference.

Daniels has a quick release on his shot, and gets it off with good elevation. Though he does have nice form, he is shooting low percentages from both the three point and free throw line this season. Alan gets forced into some bad shots, and he’s often expected to make something happen when he’s handed the ball with a few seconds left on the shot clock. Though he’s very fluid, and usually the fastest guy getting down the court, he does not stand out as a guy that has great athleticism. It’s sometimes hard to tell how explosive he is, because Daniels gets doubled or triple teamed and is often fouled while going to the basket. Instead of trying to force everything to the rim, Alan Daniels has a nice midrange game, and can pull up very quickly and get his shot off with ease.

In terms of NBA potential, Daniels is a guy who could hear his name called on draft night if he plays well in the pre-draft camps. He has a very skinny frame, similar to that of both Rawle Marshall and Kevin Martin. With his quick release, Daniels should not have a problem getting his shot off at the next level, and he will benefit from a role where he’s not a primary scoring option. He will need to improve his effort in transition defense, because a few times a game, he conserves energy by hanging back and waiting for the ball if he feels he doesn’t have a shot at making a play. In our never ending hunt for the next diamond in the rough we are working on getting more tape of Alan Daniels to better judge his potential, particularly his 41 point outing against Memphis, so look for a scouting report in the coming months leading up to the draft.