I love Jason Preston's game and how it has blossomed, grown over his two-plus seasons playing in Athens. I'm extremely excited to see what the finished product will be next season as I hope and expect he'll stay in a Bobcat uniform.

The next step for Preston is to learn how to play like a MAC Player-of-the-Year (not candidate, the winner!). MVP's don't wait for the game to come to them; they keep the pressure on throughout the game. They inflict their will on the game when the situation calls for it and even when it doesn't. Player of the Year winners sense when they need to take over a game whether it be at the end, in the middle, or even in the first half if they sense things slipping away.

This came naturally to ballers such as Walter Luckett, Snoop Graham, Dave Jamerson, Gary Trent and D.J. Cooper. They were dominant high school players who were accustomed to having the brunt of the attention focused on them. They flourished, dominated in that role. Being somewhat "selfish" wasn't a negative, it was expected, actually helpful, as it opened up the game for their teammates.

This way of thinking and playing goes against Preston's nature and everything he's known as a basketball player. Even thinking he could be "The Man" couldn't have been anywhere on his radar before arriving in Athens, as he was just trying to find his way onto the court.

Preston has grown into being the team's best player and leader. I'm hoping he'll take that last step, taking the team with him. But understand, he's gonna have to learn how to do it on the fly, as nothing he did or learned in high school or prep school prepared him for ascending to King of the Hill status.

Any intel (or conjecture) out there as to whether JP will return to Ohio for his senior season?

My sense is the NBA draft talk has died down. Just hoping he doesn't follow the Jason Carter path of graduating early to transfer to a high-major league.

Hopefully the Jaaron Simmons saga would give him pause. He can stay here and have the keys to the car and chase triple-doubles, or go "up" and risk being a role player / having his role much more limited.

The drafts I've seen have him as a 2nd round pick.

Question - Is 2nd round still not guaranteed money? Therefore, would he not be better served trying to play his way into a 1st round position, rather than chasing a 2nd round pick.... unless he has assurance to make the team from whomever drafts him?

Good info - sounds like if he can get in the top half of round 2 (or better) and (therefore) get guaranteed money - he'd be hard pressed not to take it.

takes:
Preston is a tall lead guard who doesn’t blow you away with speed or athleticism but really knows how to run an offense and control the pace of play.

He’s a very crafty player with great ball handling ability and a nice ability to use his big frame to shield the defender and get to his spots. Preston can score the ball and is a deadly 3pt shooter but he’s very much a pure point guard who’s at his best facilitating and setting up his teammates.

His smarts and BBIQ are evident on defense where he makes up for his lack of speed by playing with great positioning and anticipation.

At this point he looks like more of a second round pick but is getting some first round buzz.



NBA SCOUT: “I saw him at the Myrtle Beach Invitational last year and I had to ask about this little kid who looked like LaMelo Ball. He knows how to play. He already deserves first-round consideration. He has a feel for the game.”

Just curious if you all using the same magazine who had DJ and Simmons in 2nd round as well.

As good a player as he is until we can at least split with Toledo, Kent, Akron and BG, someone else will win the award.

Latest ESPN Top 60 draft projections and Preston is not on the list. Selfishly, I hope it stays this way. If he ends up turning pro and gets drafted...awesome. But I just know if he can stay another year and improve the outside shot he's got the chance to a be a top 20 pick in 2022. The "money" shot still has a long way to go.


https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/30816181/nba-...

It is becoming increasingly likely Preston will play his Senior Season...it just becomes a question of in what uniform.

Agreed 100%. If his goal is to get to the NBA he can do it from the confines of the Convo and playing in the MAC.

Just like NBA MAC alumni guards like... hmm... wait, hold on...

Oh I don’t know. Maybe Dave Jamerson, Hal Greer, Butch Komives, Antonio Daniels, Dan Majerle, Earl Boykins, George Gervin, Ron Harper, Bonzi Wells.

It's because the whole recruiting landscape has changed and the MAC can't get those players any more.