Tech’s Shumpert stays in the draft but might not get drafted
Iman Shumpert's January outing against Virginia Tech was terrific. (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
Here’s one of those times I hope I’m wrong. Because I like Iman Shumpert and I like the way he plays. But I think he’s making a mistake. By choosing to stay in this NBA draft, he has left himself open to the possibility of not being drafted.
I have to say I’m surprised. I thought he’d explore his options and remove his name from NBA consideration, thereby returning to Georgia Tech for his senior season. But it was Paul Hewitt, the man who signed and coached Shumpert, who once said it’s hard for a guy who enters the process of professional basketball to step away. (That’s why Hewitt, and most everyone else, was surprised Gani Lawal removed his name two years ago.)
At Tech, Shumpert was known for being a fierce defender and a one-on-one offensive operator. In the eyes of NBA scouts, he’ll be viewed more critically. He’s a big guard — he’s 6-foot-5 — and that never hurts, but this part usually does: He’s neither a true distributor nor a consistent shooter.
We’ll never know if a season under Brian Gregory would have made any difference in Shumpert’s development, and there’s a chance Shumpert, who’s strong-willed and who had tactical issues with Hewitt, wouldn’t have liked the new man at all. So maybe this was just a case of a player preferring to bet on himself, as opposed to hitching a ride with a coach he didn’t really know.
I should, however, tell you this. When I watched the three leading in-state juniors last season, I saw them this way:
• Trey Thompkins, Georgia forward: Was ready to leave.
• Travis Leslie, Georgia guard: Wasn’t quite ready but was close enough to try it.
• Iman Shumpert, Tech guard: Wasn’t ready and shouldn’t go.
All three are gone. I must, however, note that nbadraft.net had Shumpert going 46th — there are only 60 spots — in 2012. Even after he’d declared, he still didn’t crack this year’s mock.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
64 comments Add your comment
Spud Webb
May 4th, 2011
10:55 am
sooooooooooo dumb…not sure what he’s thinking. Another year at tech wouldn’t do anything but help him.
Outside Observer
May 4th, 2011
11:10 am
I never got a kudos Mark? I’m slightly hurt.
Mark Bradley
May 4th, 2011
11:27 am
Kudos, Outside.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
May 4th, 2011
12:36 pm
I think he saw an opening in Al Qaeda.
I also thought Tech students were soooooooooo smart. Wait, no I didn’t.
San Antonio
May 4th, 2011
1:13 pm
Best outcome – no lockout and he latches on to a team willing to Carr a 3rd string point guard. He bounces back and forth between parent team and d league. He gets NBA minimum, which isn’t bad, for two to three years and maybe gets three more around a million a year.
Likely outcome – drafted in second round, lockout, no summer league, no d league, and no money. He plays in second tier Euro league because when NBA restarts after lost year the new draft class squeezes him out. If he adapts, he can have a great five to ten year experience, if not he becomes another almost was, who struggles for the rest of his life
UGA=YAWN
May 4th, 2011
1:41 pm
He can change his mind if he hasn’t hired an agent. Did this article mention if he signed an agent or not?
drew
May 4th, 2011
4:18 pm
Shumpert’s decision to enter the NBA draft is consistent with my belief that he simply thinks he’s better than he really is. Ditto for those advising him to leave.
Seriously, I wish Shumpert the best. He’s got the skills to be successful in the NBA, but I’ll be surprised if he goes in the first two rounds.
His numbers are misleading…while I applaud his “effort” stats(rebounding, steals, overall defense) some of his stats are more a reflection of his selfishness with the ball this past season. And don’t tell me Shumpert was all Tech had last year…they had “players”, but Shumpert (possibly with Hewitt’s blessing) seemed to think he had to do it all.
And I think his stats support this. He assists numbers dropped each year at Tech (Fr: 143, Soph: 120, Jr: 108), and he put up 436 shots last year, compared to 270 the year before, and 271 his freshman year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if his leaving turns out to be addition by subtraction for Tech. Basketball is the ultimate TEAM game, and when one player tries to do too much, the team often suffers. Hopefully new coach BG can coach up a point guard that will get the WHOLE TEAM involved. At any rate, I’m looking forward to GT basketball next year…which is something I haven’t been able to say in a couple of years.
BYRDDAWG
May 5th, 2011
12:14 pm
I think it’s a bad decision for Leslie & Shumpert to leave early…They both have good coaches & are getting to go to college free with paid tutors!!!! That said I’d love to see the Hawks take Trey in the 1st round & either of the 2 guards in the 2nd…..I know that would help sell tickets @ Phillips!!!
skip bayless is senile
May 5th, 2011
2:15 pm
Just curious, which school in this state put’s it’s grads in a position to make the most money? It’s an honest and legitimate question, I really do not know.
Bad news for GT's future recruiting this is
May 5th, 2011
2:21 pm
Chan’s boys are all gone now. This last kid begging the NFL to take him is an indication of GT’s lousy, lousy read of talent under CPJ. THIS IS BAD NEWS for GT in the future, regarding their recruits. I thought AL Groh was going to bring in some talent bound for the NFL. NOT !!!
This is confirmation of the beginning of the end for CPJ and his lousy bowl LOSS record.
Gooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs.
Dollar Bill
May 5th, 2011
2:35 pm
We will see how much IMG can help him get exposure. Best of luck to Iman.
BYRDDAWG
May 5th, 2011
6:50 pm
Just heard Gary Williams retired…WOW!
GT Fan...
May 5th, 2011
9:15 pm
Hey Bad News …… remember the name Jeremiah Attaochu. You’ll see what Al Groh brought with him when he left VA. (And another one he brought with … Louis Young).
Derrick
May 6th, 2011
2:50 pm
I wouldn’t put any stock into nbadraft.net. There mock drafts are horrible…Draeftexpress is much better and they have Shumpert in early 2nd rounder.