Scouting and Highlights: Julian Dozier (2019)
Julian Dozier is one of the top 2019s in the state. Currently playing AAU at the 17u level (The Elite), he’s proven himself against some of the top competition in the state. While his playmaking ability and defense are certainly D1 level, his height and inability to finish above the rim are a concern. With that being said, I believe he’s still a low-major D1 player already, possibly mid-major in the right system. However, he’s only 5’8″, which is very undersized for any level, let alone D1. He’s only a sophomore though, so he has plenty of time to grow/develop.
Here’s my take on Dozier’s game:
Strengths:
Passing – He’s one of the premier passers in the state. He combines excellent court vision with a nice ability to aim the ball perfectly on target. He capable of throwing lobs from halfcourt, as well as pocket passes off a pick-and-roll. Most importantly, his passing ability makes his teammates better by getting them easy, open looks.
Finishing – Dozier has a really nice arsenal of floaters and flick layups that allow him to finish around the rim despite being a foot shorter than most bigs. His ability to finish adds versatility to his game, as the defense must respect his finishing as well as his passing ability.
Defense – He has quick feet and can change direction quickly, which allows him to stay in front of most opponents. However, it is his crafty ability to poke the ball loose and generate steals that makes his defense one of the strong points in his game.
Playmaking – Combining his aforementioned abilities to pass and finish with a killer crossover and a nice set of handles, Dozier is stellar playmaker. Every team needs a player who can create offense off the dribble and Dozier can fill that role on any team. His ability to break a defender down 1-on-1 and create offense for his team is what makes him one of the top 2019s in the state.
Areas For Development:
Shooting – While Dozier is capable of making jumpers of any sort, he needs to become more consistent. If he was 6’4″, he might be able to get away with inconsistent shooting, but to be effective at 5’8″ he will need to be to consistently hit open shots.
Turnovers – While he definitely has a solid assist-to-turnover ratio, he still turns the ball over too much as the point guard and primary ball-handler. This may be simply an age thing- as he gets older and more experienced this issue might go away. Regardless, he will need to make sure he makes an effort to limit his turnovers if he wants to be effective at the next level.