3 things to love about Louisville basketball’s newest commit
By Jacob Lane
“3 & D”
If you’re a fan of the NBA this is a term you’ve probably heard over and over again for years to the point where really everyone who touches the floor on the wing position can be defined as being a “3 & D” wing. However, that’s not the case – especially at the college level.
Too many players enter college basketball as specialists – typically either having the ability to score at a very high level or having the ability to defend the best of the best. The other part of their game takes time to develop and maybe by the time they’ve left the collegiate ranks they’ve become a true 3 & D player or at least gotten closer.
It’s rare that coaches not recruiting the top 10 to 15 players in the class find a player who is able to contribute as a high-level shooter/scorer and defender right away – yet that is what Mack has gotten in Michael James.
As a junior James emerged into a lethal scorer and shooter for Oak Ridge High School, averaging over 18 points per game on 53 percent shooting from the field and nearly 42 percent from deep. Whether it was playing with the ball in his hands or setting up shop behind the three-point line, James displayed a blossoming ability to score and do so efficiently.
Speaking on his ability to score, James said:
“I shot it pretty well this year and I’ve just been working on my athleticism and my explosiveness. This is really like my first year actually doing weight training with a trainer and stuff so like over these past few months I’ve seen a huge improvement in my athleticism.”
While many will tell you James has the ability to be a really good offensive player, almost all the praise you read and listen to is directed towards his ability to play defense at an elite level.
EVALUATION NOTES: Any conversation about 6’6 2021 SF Mike James @MichaelToReal0 has to start with the defensive end, where his length, positional versatility, footwork & all-around instincts truly shine for any player. He’s a guy that can wreak havoc on the defensive end. pic.twitter.com/JdvluqOkxp
— Tony Perkins (Florida Basketball Bulletin) (@tperkinsbball23) July 23, 2020
Put on the highlight tapes and you’ll see more offense than anything but on the few plays where James makes something happen defensively, you can see what makes him special. At 6’6, 195-pounds with an elite wingspan, James has the ability to guard one through four without skipping a beat and has no problem guarding the opposing team’s best player.
There’s still work to be done, but it’s not hard to see that his ability to play lockdown defense is what’s going to make him a lot of money down the road. Mack landed an elite defender who can space the floor for Louisville’s incoming guards while matching well with guys like Josh Nickelberry and D’Andre Davis on the wing.