Preseason Mr. Basketball Candidate: Lamar Norman
As my colleague Braeden Proctor and I have been taking a look at potential Mr. Basketball candidates, we’ve noted that there a few mid-major commits who could explode for a monster season and steal the award. Historically speaking, this is not likely, as typically a Michigan or Michigan State commit takes the award. In fact, 25 of the previous 36 Mr. Basketball winners were committed to Michigan State (15) or Michigan (10), while no other college has had more than 1 Mr. Basketball from Michigan. However, Norman is certainly talented enough – it is my opinion that he is just as talented as said high-major players.
It’s certainly not a doubt that he is one of the top scorers in the state – regardless of class, offers, etc. Last year, Norman averaged 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game while leading Godwin Heights to a district championship. He also had a successful AAU season, earning a total of 6 offers throughout the spring and summer. Additionally, he was 1 of 80 players in the country invited to the Under Armour All America Camp for the second year in a row. Norman, who recently committed to UTEP, is a top-10 player in the loaded 2018 class.
Norman is an incredibly gifted athlete. He has John Wall-like speed with an explosive leaping ability, however, he’s not just an athlete; Norman is one of the best shooters in the state. He has an ability to catch fire and knock down multiple shots in consecutive possessions, no matter how good the defense. He also has a good set of handles and multiple dribble moves he can use to break a defender down 1-on-1. Norman is super dangerous offensively because you have to guard him several feet out past the three-point line but you also have to give him space so he doesn’t blow by you.
In today’s game of basketball, many coaches only want two types of shots: three-pointers and lay-ups/dunks. Norman fits that mold perfectly, as he excels doing both. He’s a prototype of what the game has evolved into. While he may not have the high-major offers like some of the Mr. Basketball candidates, he has just about everything else. The talent is there. So, with all things being considered, I broke my prediction down into three main categories: individual production, team performance and competition. When taking a look at past Mr. Basketball competitions, these have been the three biggest factors the voting coaches have taken into consideration. So, without further ado:
Production
Norman is no stranger to putting up big time numbers. He’s proven time and time again that he can consistently perform at a high-level. Despite putting up a quality statline last year, he will have to improve on that if he wants to be in serious contention for Mr. Basketball. Norman already has an uphill battle as he’s not committed to Michigan or Michigan State. Due to this, he will have to clearly dominate individually. I believe he will have to average north of 25 points per game as well as boost his assist numbers in order to have a legitimate shot at winning the award. He certainly has the talent to do so.
Team Performance
Godwin Heights will yet again be a top-10 team in Class B this year. This year, however, they lose two key pieces from last year’s squad: point guard Christian Rodriguez has graduated and now plays for Cornerstone as well as guard Payton Harley, who has transferred. With that being said, Norman and teammate Markeese Hastings are more than enough talent to have a successful regular season. Hastings had one of the best AAU seasons of anybody in the state, so if he can carry that momentum into the regular season Godwin Heights will have one of the most talented duos in the state. However, they will have a handful of tough games this season, most notably against Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Calvin Christian – Norman needs to lead his team to victories in big games, as well as take care of business against teams they are favored to beat in order to have a realistic shot at winning Mr. Basketball. It’s important to note that there are other candidates who’s teams have the potential to go undefeated or at the worst lose only 2 or 3 games. To put a number on it, Norman will have to lead his team to a 17, 18 or 19-win season in order to be a serious contender for Mr. Basketball.
Competition
This year’s Mr. Basketball competition is stiff. There are 9 high-major commits/recruits in the 2018 class alone – that’s not to mention the plethora of top notch mid-major talent the 2018 class boasts. Thomas Kithier’s transfer to Clarkston puts 3 of the 9 high-major players on the same team. With only so much ball to go around, that might help desaturate the field for Norman. That’s not a guarantee, however, and that doesn’t even take into account the other 6 high-major players. With that being said, Norman is a rare talent. He’s proven time and time again he’s capable of putting up Mr. Basketball-like numbers.
As I mentioned earlier, there are several other Mr. Basketball candidates who have the potential to lead their teams to undefeated seasons. Combine that with what will certainly be some impressive production, and Norman has his work cut out for him. Given the fact that he’s not committed to Michigan or Michigan State, he will have to prove without a doubt that he is more deserving of Mr. Basketball than some of the other candidates. In order to do this, Norman will have to put up some monster numbers individually, as well as leading to his team to a perfect or near-perfect regular season. He certainly has the talent to do so.