Best Senior With a Slim Chance at an NBA Career: JayVaughn Pinkston (Villanova)
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November 7, 2014
by Mark Titus
Halfway through last season, I thought JayVaughn Pinkston might have a shot to be named Big East Player of the Year over Doug McDermott. McBuckets had the national POY award locked up almost as soon as the season started. But, I wondered, what if Villanova dominated Creighton both times they faced each other (they didn’t), and what if Pinkston maintained his pace of 18 points and seven boards per game in Big East play (he didn’t)? Pinkston eventually wound up on the all-conference second team when his scoring numbers dipped over the second half of the season, and my hypothetical ended up looking ridiculous. But back in January, I swear you could’ve said, “JayVaughn Pinkston is better than Doug McDermott” and I wouldn’t have necessarily laughed you out of the room.
So what happened to Pinkston? Well, nothing. Aside from dealing with occasional foul trouble, he rarely had a bad game. In fact, Pinkston’s rebounds per game and field goal percentage both improved as the season wore on, and his scoring dropped because Villanova had so many offensive weapons and only one ball to share. The Wildcats will have tons of scoring options again this year, but getting the rock to Pinkston should be more of a consistent offensive priority for Villanova.
As much as I want to believe that Pinkston can join Jared Sullinger in the “Overweight 2010 McDonald’s All-Americans who cut a ton of weight in college and then made the NBA” club, I’m afraid most American basketball fans won’t be seeing Pinkston play after this season. He lacks NBA athleticism, and at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, he’s basically a power forward/center stuck in a small forward’s body. He’s too small to play in the paint, but he shoots only 26 percent on 3-pointers and he’s turnover-prone.
So Pinkston’s NBA prospects look bleak. Let him deal with that later. For now, he’s the best player on one of the best teams in the country, and I’ll enjoy watching him as long as he’s around. And besides, even if he never makes a dime in the world of professional basketball, Pinkston’s five-year journey at Villanova is one he should be proud of.
November 7, 2014
by Mark Titus
Halfway through last season, I thought JayVaughn Pinkston might have a shot to be named Big East Player of the Year over Doug McDermott. McBuckets had the national POY award locked up almost as soon as the season started. But, I wondered, what if Villanova dominated Creighton both times they faced each other (they didn’t), and what if Pinkston maintained his pace of 18 points and seven boards per game in Big East play (he didn’t)? Pinkston eventually wound up on the all-conference second team when his scoring numbers dipped over the second half of the season, and my hypothetical ended up looking ridiculous. But back in January, I swear you could’ve said, “JayVaughn Pinkston is better than Doug McDermott” and I wouldn’t have necessarily laughed you out of the room.
So what happened to Pinkston? Well, nothing. Aside from dealing with occasional foul trouble, he rarely had a bad game. In fact, Pinkston’s rebounds per game and field goal percentage both improved as the season wore on, and his scoring dropped because Villanova had so many offensive weapons and only one ball to share. The Wildcats will have tons of scoring options again this year, but getting the rock to Pinkston should be more of a consistent offensive priority for Villanova.
As much as I want to believe that Pinkston can join Jared Sullinger in the “Overweight 2010 McDonald’s All-Americans who cut a ton of weight in college and then made the NBA” club, I’m afraid most American basketball fans won’t be seeing Pinkston play after this season. He lacks NBA athleticism, and at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, he’s basically a power forward/center stuck in a small forward’s body. He’s too small to play in the paint, but he shoots only 26 percent on 3-pointers and he’s turnover-prone.
So Pinkston’s NBA prospects look bleak. Let him deal with that later. For now, he’s the best player on one of the best teams in the country, and I’ll enjoy watching him as long as he’s around. And besides, even if he never makes a dime in the world of professional basketball, Pinkston’s five-year journey at Villanova is one he should be proud of.
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