Which Hoya has been the best shooter during III’s run?

[MCIGuy]

Who has been the best shooter during III’s run?

I’m not sure this would have been a question would have ever posed during Big John’s days, at least not during the times I was following the Gtown program. When I was following the Hoyas under Big John Georgetown was always notorious for scrapping together a bunch of horrible shooters to go alongside their first tier big men. But say what you want to about III’s reign, the man has been able to recruit and/or develop the type of impressive shooters that Zo, Deke, Othella would have loved to have played alongside.

But who has been the best of the shooters? Depends on one’s definition perhaps. For example is it more impressive to be a player who can pull up and make jumpshots off the bounce than it is one who makes his money shooting off screens? III has all types. Those who are great when left opened in a corner, those whose midrange jumper is more deadly than the more valuable three-point shot, those who can knock down shots even when tightly contested, those who are clutch when it counts, those that are automatic at the free-throw line. So take that all into consideration and try to decide who is the most impressive shooter that III has had. The one you choose may not be the best at any one category (three-point shot, FT, mid-range jumper, etc.) but may be the most capable overall in each of those categories. And can a player’s greatness in one of those areas of shooting be negated if he is roughly a one-trick pony?

Below are the names of the guys I think that are in true contention for the title. It may be unfair and premature to throw in Smith-Rivera at this point but I think two seasons are worthy of him being in the discussion. Perhaps there is a player or two that others feel need to be included in the conversation. Curious to see other people’s takes.

Jeff Green
Jonathan Wallace
Austin Freeman
Hollis Thompson
Otto Porter
D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera

[HoyaChris]

If the standard is hit an open three point shot, Jon Wallace would be at the top of my list.

[nathanhm]

To me Freeman and Wallace stand out from the rest of the list because I always remember being shocked when they missed an open shot. I just always expected them to make their shots.

[hoyalove4ever]

Wallace was the best pure shooter, IMHO.

[TBird41]

Wallace was the best 3pt shooter (Hollis is probably underrated here, since he's the only player to make 43% + from behind the arc every season he played).

Otto had the best mid-range jumper.

That being said, I think I'd say the title of best shooter has to go to Austin or DSR. JWall didn't really shoot mid-range shots, and I don't remember him shooting much off the dribble. Hollis wasn't really a mid-range guy either, and he was a horrible free throw shooter (only 67.6% for his career!)

[HoyaSinceBirth]

Their numbers and their rank in GU History

Wallace: 3pt% 43.4% (3rd), 2pt% 46.4 (75th), FT% 82.0 (4th)

Freeman: 3pt% 38.1% (9th), 2pt% 49.8 (T45th), FT% 82.6 (2nd)

Thompson: 3pt% 43.9 (2nd), 2pt% 47.7 (66th), FT% 67.6 (not in top 100)

Porter : 3pt% 35.5 (24th) 2pt% 49.8 (T45th), FT% 75.1 (41st)

Green: 3pt% 35.9(20th)48.8 (T57th) 2pt% FT% 70.0 (79th)

didn't include DSR since career not over

[nychoya3]

Josh Thornton! (j/k)

Austin is my pick. He had some ice cold stretches (most notably the last month of his senior year), but when he was on, he was just automatic from everywhere on the floor. Loved watching him shoot.

DSR has definitely put himself in the conversation. And to echo others, while JWall and Hollis were terrific three point shooter, they shot almost exclusively off the catch which knocks them down a notch for me.

[prhoya]

Wallace.

If we're adding the three (3's, 2's & FTs), then DSR will set the standard by the end of his career. Oh, wait, he's suppossed to suck.

[Deleted]

DSR

[hoyainspirit]

Wallace, Freeman, Thompson. I could be convinced to switch Freeman and Wallace. Freeman had a few stretches where he did not shoot well, but when he did...

[EasyEd]

Wallace.

[kghoya]

I feel like everybody is forgetting Vee Sanford's sophomore season from 3pt range....

[HoyaSinceBirth]

Just for Editeds and Giggles since he is the all time leader in career 3pt%.
Vee Sanford: 3pt% 45.5 (1st) FG% 45.1%(89th) FT% 87% (1st)

Also a note I've been mistakenly putting 2pt% but it's actually their overall FG% not just their 2pt% I don't have access to that.

I mean he is the career leader in 3pt% and FT% but his number at Dayton: 33.3% and 30.2% from 3 indicates that he was unlikely to end his career at Georgetown on top had he stayed.

[tashoya]

Open/softly contested threes I have to say J-Wall. Overall, I'm going with Freeman. DSR could change my opinion though and those are some shoes to fill.

1:10:45 mark....

[beenaround]

1. Wallace 2. Freeman 3. Hollis

[MCIGuy]

Although I should not be surprised by the Wallace love, I am a little caught off guard for just how much there is spread around in this discussion. Wallace's numbers are fantastic but he was taking open three-point shot attempts, rarely would he shoot if someone was up on him. Granted he had to make the shot when open, not a guarantee if you recall the last two seasons of Zo in a Hoya uniform when his teammates could be ignored all game and still not make a shot. Nonetheless the degree of difficult was quite low for Wallace when shooting with no one around him. And I can recall only one or two shots he ever made off the dribble. He is probably the most limited guy in this list in that he is totally dependent on others to get his baskets. But, hey, everyone is entitled to an opinion.


The thing that stands out for me about Hollis is that he shot over 40% every season he was at GU. That's a trait he shares with great NBA three-point shooters such as Ray Allen and Kyle Korver, both of whom made at least 40% of their threes every year in college. The fact that Hollis was also the rare NBA rookie who shot over 40% from the three in his first season in the NBA suggests he could have a long, fruitful career ahead of him even if it was as a specialist rather than an all-around player.

DSR's first two seasons compare very closely and favorably to Juan Williams of Maryland fame.

Freeman's junior season may be the gold standard for shooting for a Hoya. But I don't recall many pullup two-point shots. Freeman's outstanding 2pt FG% was more of the result of drives to the basket than midrange jumpshots. Otto on the other hand was a midrange king. And when he greatly improved his three-point shooting his second season, it became hard to argue against his being the most versatile shooter III has ever had.

[jctnhoya4ever]

here is 2 players that everyone may be forgetting,ashanti cook and daryl owens.can someone please find there stats? owens seemed to always hit 3,s and cook.
thanks. go gu.

[tashoya]

Aug 26, 2014 22:31:30 GMT -5 jctnhoya4ever said:

here is 2 players that everyone may be forgetting,ashanti cook and daryl owens.can someone please find there stats? owens seemed to always hit 3,s and cook.
thanks. go gu.

I'm pretty sure if you go to Google and type ashanti cook stats, you'll get them. I think the thread was more than just stats. As MCI stated, Otto, while not posting the best percentages for his 2 seasons, did improve a ton from three and had 3/4 of a sophomore season that were phenomenal shooting from everywhere. And it would be difficult to argue that Otto wasn't the best midrange shooter under JT3. DSR will be second by the end of his career (if not right now) IMO.

[SFHoya99]

Aug 26, 2014 15:15:40 GMT -5 MCIGuy said:

Who has been the best shooter during III’s run?

I’m not sure this would have been a question would have ever posed during Big John’s days, at least not during the times I was following the Gtown program. When I was following the Hoyas under Big John Georgetown was always notorious for scrapping together a bunch of horrible shooters to go alongside their first tier big men. But say what you want to about III’s reign, the man has been able to recruit and/or develop the type of impressive shooters that Zo, Deke, Othella would have loved to have played alongside.

But who has been the best of the shooters? Depends on one’s definition perhaps. For example is it more impressive to be a player who can pull up and make jumpshots off the bounce than it is one who makes his money shooting off screens? III has all types. Those who are great when left opened in a corner, those whose midrange jumper is more deadly than the more valuable three-point shot, those who can knock down shots even when tightly contested, those who are clutch when it counts, those that are automatic at the free-throw line. So take that all into consideration and try to decide who is the most impressive shooter that III has had. The one you choose may not be the best at any one category (three-point shot, FT, mid-range jumper, etc.) but may be the most capable overall in each of those categories. And can a player’s greatness in one of those areas of shooting be negated if he is roughly a one-trick pony?

Below are the names of the guys I think that are in true contention for the title. It may be unfair and premature to throw in Smith-Rivera at this point but I think two seasons are worthy of him being in the discussion. Perhaps there is a player or two that others feel need to be included in the conversation. Curious to see other people’s takes.

Jeff Green
Jonathan Wallace
Austin Freeman
Hollis Thompson
Otto Porter
D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera

Entirely unscientific:

Open 3: Jon Wallace
Contested 3 from NBA Range: Hollis Thompson
Midrange: Austin Freeman
Contested Midrange: Otto Porter
Stop n Pop: DSR or Ashanti Cook
Layup high off the glass: Jon Wallace
Free Throw: Jon Wallace
3 except that one against Florida: DJ Owens

I think I'm probably underrating Hollis, DSR and Austin. The latter are more versatile; the first super smooth.

[NRC900]

Jon Wallace essentially hit a 3 to go to the final 4 (or at least to preserve a chance to go to the final 4). No one else has been in the same universe as that, so I can't really judge their shooting performance (for better or worse). I'm not one of those people that thinks you need to win everything to be the best, but with multiple semi-equal people, the intangibles that Wallace offers are second to none. If I had 1 person shooting a 3 to win a game in any scenario, I'd pick him.