PROFILES IN HUBRIS SANITY: JOSH SHIPP
| With the draft only two weeks away, we’re taking a closer look at the players who chose to leave college early for the NBA – probably unwisely. We’ve already had some fun with three players projected not to be picked – Derrick Caracter, Danny Green, and Jeremy Pargo. But today, we honor the wise decision of another to get his ass back to school. Today: Josh Shipp. |
| (Statistics and assistance with player analysis courtesy of Draft Express.) |
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School: UCLA, Junior.
Basketball Position: Wing (SG/SF).
Life Position: Wingman.
Vitals: 6′5″, 220lb., 23 years old. We understand redshirting and everything, but doesn’t 23 seem old for a junior who isn’t a refugee or a past missionary? Or are we just out of touch?
2007-2008 Statistics: 12.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG. Understandable stats considering the talent all around him, but he did finish in the Top 10 in the nation in minutes played, and the Top 25 in 3-pointers attempted. So, he stayed healthy, and launched a lot of shots while he was out there. That’s not necessarily a net plus.
Pros: Solid shooter from long range if he gets a clean look. Above average ball handling and passing for a wing. Rotates well away from the ball on defense and clogs up passing lanes. Good athlete who runs the court well, despite hip surgery two years ago. Capable of making illegal incredible shots to win games.
Cons: Squishy shooter from long range if he doesn’t get a clean look. Scoring is somewhat inconsistent, as he got shut down late in the season by good defensive teams. Weak man-to-man defender. Is essentially the same player he was when starting college in 2004 – solid but unremarkable.
Projected Draft Position: Undrafted (Draft Express), Undrafted (Inside Hoops), Undrafted (NBADraft.net), 2nd Round / Undrafted (My NBA Draft), 2nd Round / Undrafted (Chad Ford / tWWL), 2nd Round / Undrafted (HoopsHype).
Backup plan: Shipp saved himself from a Profile in Hubris by withdrawing from the Draft last night. With Shipp and fellow declaring/withdrawing senior Darren Collison, UCLA will have one of the most talented and experienced backcourts in the nation next year. Suddenly, the Bruins making a fourth consecutive Final Four sounds like a realistic proposition even without Westbrook and Love.
Backup backup plan: After all the references to his winning shot against Cal as a “circus” shot, Shipp could decide to fulfill every child’s dream by running away to join the circus. Cirque de Soleil is all the rage these days, but making the acrobat squad would require an incredible amount of patience and practice for Shipp – and, perhaps, man lust.
| NTTIAWWT. |
1
Eric says:
Rotates well in a zone defense, huh? Howland NEVER plays zone. You’re either incredibly astute in your talent evaluation abilities, or…you’re talking out your ass. I vote for the latter.
JK, pal. I actually agree with your article. Shipp would have been a fool to come out.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
2
eirishis says:
Whoa, whoops – that was a dumb mistake. I should have said “away from the ball”, not “in zone”. Fixed – thanks for the heads up.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
3
Javy says:
His defense is superb. that assessment of “Weak man-to-man defender” is completey wrong. Of course he never had to cover the opposing teams best guard because that was Westbrooks job, but he did shut down every 3 man he faced.
Of course his shooting was awesome, til the USC game that they lost, in which his confidence shot down to hell and never recovered. Im glad he came back because i didnt see him getting drafted either.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:43 pm