Recruiting Update: David Stephen (2016)
While DME Academy post-grad players Jordan Oakley and Connor Ferrell took D1 visits last week, point guard David Stephen is still hunting for his college home.
“In my opinion he could be a low D1 type guy,” said DME Academy Head Coach Chris Chaney. “Him and TJ Howard (WKU) went at each other all the time (in practice).”
DME Academy expertly escorted numerous Class of 2016 players to college basketball programs. Signees include Tobias Howard (WKU), Darron Johnson and Malik Norfleet (Western Oklahoma), Ivan Madunic (Southern Utah) L.B. Jones (South Carolina State), and Tristan Angelo (Pacific).
Stephen plays on the ball. With DME Academy Magic, Stephen averaged 15 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.8 rpg, and 1.8 steals per game. He came to DME from powerhouse Dr. Phillips High, where he spent 2014-15 averaging 14.6 ppg, 7 apg, and 4 rpg.
“He played at Dr. Phillips and was one of their top guys,” said Coach Chaney. “He was their starting point guard. He was a winning type kid.”
Point guards, like quarterbacks are often measured by their wins and losses. In this quadrant, Stephen excels. Leadership, poise, and brains coalesce to make him an ideal floor general.
“He is a different type of kid,” said Coach Chaney. “He is a high-character, high-academics.”
David Stephen Evaluation
Stephen is a willing passer, especially in the open floor. For a guard he definitely doesn’t take or make many outside shots. David is patient with the ball in his hands and typically looks for a crafty solution to the defensive setup.
When attacking the lane he can finish with either hand, but generally prefers to draw and dish to either block. Stephen adeptly waits until the vulnerable big commits to his drive, and then drops off his post pal.
Defensively, Stephen expends a lot of effort helping off his man. He drops onto the side of the lane when the ball is on the opposite side. Closing out is not a problem for Stephen, but his helping instincts need to be adjusted when he faces a top shooter.
Stephen will be able to defend either guard position at the next level.
Division II colleges seeking a leader with court vision would be wise to pounce.