Player Feature: Ryan Boatright
Every team needs a spark plug; a player that can channel emotion and momentum. Ryan Boatright is that player for the UConn Huskies. He’s been at UConn for two years now, and each year has had its fair share of drama and excitement. He was a part of the stellar 2011 recruiting class and has lived up to expectations. As a freshman, Boat averaged 10.3 points per game and just over 4 dimes a game. He became one of UConn’s primary scorer’s his sophomore season, as he averaged 15.4 points per night. Regardless of statistics, Boat is an up-tempo player who fits well into UConn’s offense.
At times Boat has been a clutch player. But sometimes, he over-dribbles and tries to find ways to score. This isn’t exactly a bad thing; see Kemba Walker 2011. But Boatright is comparable to a loose cannon. He has a great deal of firepower and can make opposing teams get headaches, but sometimes he loses control. Boat averaged just fewer than 3 turnovers a game last season, approximately a 30% increase from his freshman year. Of course, more time handling the ball correlates to more turnover opportunities. Regardless, if Kevin Ollie can help limit Boatright’s over-aggressiveness he has the ability to become a very special player.
Undersized at around 5’10” (he went from 6’2” out of high school, to 6’1” his freshman year, and now to 6’0”. But all indications point to him being under 6 feet), Boatright makes it up with his speed and vertical leap. His jumpshot has improved greatly, and is expected to make another jump entering his junior year. His speed and athleticism has drawn Nate Robinson comparisons, but the overall package is not there yet. Boatright might find a way onto an NBA roster, but the 2014 draft class is an unusually talented one. This could propel him to return for his senior year, but as of now, all indications are pointing to his early entry.
Despite the issue, Ryan Boatright will have to produce like no other this season in order to get drafted. But will that mean putting himself over the team? Hopefully it won’t, because both Ryan and the Huskies have a change to cause some serious damage throughout the course of the winter and into March.
-CTBasketball
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