DaJuan Summers enters the 2008/09 season after a disappointing sophomore year where he showed little to no improvement. After the departure of
Jeff Green to the NBA, expectations were high for him to elevate his game and become a legitimate NBA prospect. This did not happen, as Summers was unable to show the versatility needed to develop into a top scoring option on a very good Georgetown team. This year, those same expectations are present, and scouts and front office executives will be looking to see if Summers can break out of his shell and develop into the type of player many thought he would become after the intriguing glimpses of potential he showed as a freshman.
In terms of physical attributes, Summers looks the role of an NBA small forward, showing good size at 6-8 and 241 pounds. He will need to expand his offensive game if he wants to be an NBA 3-man, the position he will most likely be asked to play at the next level. As of right now he plays power forward for the Hoyas and its going to be interesting to see if he can make the transition.
Its difficult to pinpoint the reasons for the lack of improvement for Summers, but one reason may be his decision making, and lack of versatility. He turned the ball over at a very high rate considering how little he put the ball on the floor, and shot far too many 3-pointers considering the type of accuracy he enjoyed. Over half of his attempts from the field came from beyond the arc, but he hit only 34% of them, which is not a very impressive clip.
Thats not to say he doesnt have potential in this area as a floor spacer. Summers has an effortless stroke with very little wasted motion. His quick release allows him to get his shot off despite little elevation. Although his shot is a great asset, it may also contribute to his lack of development. According to Synergy Sports Technology, 43.35% of his offense consists of spot-up jump shots. Clearly, Summers relies way too much on his outside shot and settles for contested looks when he should be attempting to create more high-percentage looks.
With a good stroke and a willingness to let it fly, defenders are likely to bite on pump fakes which will open up driving lanes. Within the offense there are opportunities to penetrate and finish or drive and kick. Its going to be interesting to see if Summers can take advantage of that or if Coach Thompson will have to put a few wrinkles in the system to accommodate his talents.
In accordance with that, Summers will need to show that he has improved his ball handling skills and is willing to attack the basket. Right now he is only attempting three free throws a game, which shows his reluctance to dribble drive. He has displayed flashes of what he can do, but not nearly enough to impress scouts. What is impressive is his length on the court and his overall skill-level. He is also a good (not great) athlete who can finish in transition and runs the floor well. With all of these factors, theres no reason for Summers to rely solely on his outside shooting.
Defensively, Summers has all of the tools to be outstanding with good size, strength and athletic ability. With limited lateral speed however, Summers has a hard time keeping his man in front of him. Hes often late to close out, or simply cant contain slashing forwards who like to attack. On the positive side, Summers does a great job contesting shots. With his long wingspan, hes good at getting a hand up on shooters and disrupting shots.
This is a very important year for Summers, as his development appeared to stunt compared to what was expected from him. Perhaps with the absence of
Roy Hibbert clogging up the middle, Summers will feel more comfortable stepping up and showing more versatility.
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