[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqihngBYM4Q&w=560&h=315]
In case there was any doubt that Creighton’s Doug McDermott is the National Player of the Year, he added to his resume with a game-winning 3-pointer on Tuesday night against St. John’s.
McDermott notched a season-high 39 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left, as No. 20 Creighton moved back into first place in the Big East Conference with a 63-60 win over St. John’s.
At one point, McDermott had 30 points to St. John’s 28.
“McDermott should be the Player of the Year,” one veteran NBA scout in attendance told SNY.tv.
“Most effective offensive player in the country for being the main focus at the offensive end of the floor.”
The scout said he believes McDermott still slots in at “15-20” in the draft “but he could move into the Lottery depending on who else comes out.”
The win was Creighton’s 13th in the last 14 games, improving the Bluejays to 18-3 overall and 8-1 in its inaugural Big East season.
“We had a play drawn up and I was open in transition, so it came right to me and I got a great look,” McDermott told 1620 ESPN Radio.
“We gutted it out, we found a way to win and that’s what it’s all about in conference play.”
McDermott’s 39-point effort featured his second game-winner of the year (also Nov. 16 at Saint Joseph’s), as he moved past Daren Queenan, Reggie Lewis and Hank Gathers into 18th place in NCAA history with 2,741 career points. In McDermott’s 131-game career, he now owns 73 games of 20 or more points and 21 contests of 30+ points. In addition, the 39 points tied the third-highest total of his career and were five shy of his career best done as a sophomore at Bradley.
NBA SCOUT ON ST. JOHN’S GUYS
The veteran NBA scout had these thoughts on McDermott and St. John’s JaKarr Sampson (10 points) and Chris Obekpa (11 points).
“Sampson is a really good athlete who is not ready for the NBA,” he said. “He needs to develop an offensive game as a small forward.
“Obekpa is a shot-blocker. He is not ready for the NBA Draft. He needs to establish a consistent low-post game at the offensive end of the floor. St. John’s does not have an NBA guy on their current roster that could have any kind of impact on an NBA game. All need to stay in school.”
That is good news for the Johnnies in 2014-15. If Sampson, Obekpa, D’Angelo Harrison (15 points) and Rysheed Jordan (11 points) all return, the Johnnies should be even stronger next season.
At this point, they will need to win the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden to make the Big Dance.
Video/Release: Courtesy Creighton Athletics
