10 College Basketball Players Who Will Stuff Stat Sheets the Rest of the Season
In past years it was Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson; today it's LeBron James. They are the stat-stuffers, players who are special because they help their teams win in so many ways.
Not only do they score a lot of points, but they pull down rebounds in bunches, hand out plenty of assists and rack up numbers in virtually every column of the box score.
College basketball has its share of stat-stuffers this season, and it's worthwhile to point them out.
A team’s style and the caliber of competition influence whether a player can produce an impressive statistical line. With that in mind, we project 10 players who figure to stuff the stat sheet the rest of the season.
The three most important categories are points, rebounds and assists, but other statistical categories, such as steals and blocks, also were considered when assembling our list. The triple-double is the most obvious example of a stat-stuffing performance, but none of the four players who have recorded triple-doubles this season made our list.
Among the stat-stuffers who failed to make our list but deserve mention are Connecticut guard Ryan Boatright, Davidson guard Tyler Kalinoski, Nebraska forward Terran Petteway, Hofstra guard Juan'ya Green, Oregon guard Joseph Young, Duke guard Tyus Jones and VMI guard QJ Peterson.
Although the 10 players chosen are not ranked, it's fair to say that the most impressive stat-stuffers are listed near the end.
Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington
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Nigel Williams-Goss' 2014-2015 stat line: 13.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.2 steals
Nigel Williams-Goss leads the Huskies in scoring, assists and steals and is third in rebounding. His numbers are up from his freshman season in virtually every category except turnovers.
He twice came within reach of triple-doubles this season, collecting 10 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 30 minutes of playing time against South Carolina State and recording 21 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists against Long Beach State.
Lorenzo Romar’s style certainly gives Williams-Goss opportunities to put up big numbers, and the free-flowing style of the Pac-12 should help too. More to the point, Williams-Goss may have to be a statistical monster for the Huskies to have success in conference play.
“This season, he might be tasked with leading the team in scoring in addition to filling up the entire stat sheet and serving as the epicenter of the team,” wrote Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer. “In fact, if the Huskies have any chance to be better in 2014-15, Williams-Goss must carry a greater responsibility than just about any player in the country.”
Romar acknowledges that Williams-Goss has a rare combination of talents.
“He’s different,” Romar said in a Seattle Times article. “He’s just different.”
Wesley Saunders, Harvard
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Wesley Saunders' 2014-2015 stat line: 18.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.6 steals
Wesley Saunders’ poor showing in Harvard’s embarrassing 76-27 loss to Virginia on Dec. 21 nearly knocked him off our list. He had just four points, one rebound, no assists and one steal in 27 minutes.
But Saunders is the best all-around player in the Ivy League, and we expect his versatility to produce big numbers across the board against conference competition. That was not the case last season, when Saunders’ numbers declined slightly in conference play, but the Crimson are depending on Saunders more than they did a year ago, when the scoring load was shared more evenly across the lineup.
“He prides himself on being a very versatile, dynamic all-around player,” said Harvard coach Tommy Amaker, per One Bid Wonders.
Saunders, a 6’5” senior and reigning Ivy League player of the year, has improved his numbers in each of his four seasons at Harvard. And he produces his biggest numbers in the tightest games, with his 24-point, 12-rebound, three-assist, three-block, four-steal game in a one-point loss to Holy Cross this season being a prime example.
Saunders may have been more impressive in a victory over Princeton last February, when he demonstrated his defensive skill against Tigers' high-scorer T.J. Bray while still collecting 26 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block himself.
“Wesley’s performance in that game, to have to guard that kid and then have 24, 9 and 7 ... it’s unheard of,” Amaker said, per ESPNBoston.com. “In some ways, what I’m trying to say is that his responsibilities are even higher [than Jeremy Lin’s were] because of what we ask him to do defensively.”
The biggest impediment for Saunders may be the pace of the games. If Ivy League opponents choose to slow the pace appreciably, which they are likely to do, it could affect Saunders’ numbers. The other “problem” may be Harvard’s clear superiority in the Ivy League. Blowouts could mean limited playing time for Saunders, whose statistics would suffer as a result.
D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State
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D'Angelo Russell's 2014-2015 stat line: 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.8 steals
It's difficult to predict how a freshman like D'Angelo Russell will do in rugged Big Ten competition, but one thing is certain: He is not shy. Despite being a first-year player, he has nearly twice as many shot attempts as anyone else on the team
In the Buckeyes’ two games against ranked teams, Russell attempted 20 shots against Louisville and 17 against North Carolina. The fact that he made only 10 of those 37 shots does not speak highly of his accuracy or shot selection, but it did put big numbers in the box score.
Russell does other things, though. Twice he had nine rebounds in a game, and he had nine assists in the Buckeyes' Dec. 22 victory over Miami-Ohio. Although his shooting percentage was poor against Louisville and North Carolina, he demonstrated his versatility in those contests, totaling 28 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and five steals in the two games combined.
We expect the 6’5” Russell to attempt enough shots to score points in conference play while still getting his share of rebounds and assists. It's clear coach Thad Matta wants the ball in the hands of his potential star.
“Coaches and my teammates look for me to facilitate and get everybody involved and do whatever it takes, and that’s what I do,” Russell said, per SI.com. “I kind of pride myself on doing it. It came easy for me, because it was something I was looking forward to doing. I try to be the smartest guy on the floor.”
Fred VanVleet, Wichita State
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Fred VanVleet's 2014-2015 stat line: 11.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.3 steals
Fred VanVleet was the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year in his first season as a starter, and coach Gregg Marshall expects even more production out of him this season with Cleanthony Early gone.
VanVleet, a 6'0" junior, is not going to get you 20 points a game, but he will put significant numbers in nearly every important statistical column.
He is one of the few current college players capable of a quadruple-double. VanVleet had seven steals in the opener against New Mexico State, 21 points and nine assists against Tulsa and eight rebounds against Detroit.
As the team’s point guard, he will have the ball in his hands a lot, giving him every opportunity to put up numbers in several categories. But he does it all quietly.
"He makes everything look easy," teammate Ron Baker said in an Associated Press article that appeared on the NCAA.com website. "You aren't paying any attention and then you look up and he has 18 points and eight assists."
His statistics improved during conference play last season, and we expect that to happen again this season.
Georges Niang, Iowa State
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Georges Niang's 2014-2015 stat line: 16.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists
Fred Hoiberg’s system at Iowa State is conducive to stat stuffing because players are required to do multiple things. The Cyclones had one of the nation’s top stat-stuffers last season in DeAndre Kane, and they have two players besides Georges Niang this season who can fill up a stat sheet: Bryce Dejean-Jones and Monte Morris.
We are guessing Niang, 6’8” junior, will be the Cyclones' top stat-stuffer over the remainder of the season because he consistently puts up numbers across the board against the kind of top-flight competition he will see during the Big 12 season.
He had 28 points, six rebounds and eight assists in an 18-point victory over then-No. 18 Arkansas. He put up 16 points, six rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in a 15-point road victory over Iowa. And he had 28 points, six rebounds and three assists in a victory over Alabama.
NBADraft.net provided this assessment last March: “Georges Niang has been one of the conference’s most prolific stat stuffers during his second season at Iowa State, and his versatility has been on full display as of late.”
He sculpted his frame with weight training over the summer, giving him a slimmer, stronger body, according to an SI.com article. He was already a versatile cog in Iowa State's attack last season and should be more dangerous this year.
Niang showed in his first two seasons at Iowa State that he can put up numbers in a bunch of categories, and there is no reason to expect that to stop now.
A.J. English, Iona
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A.J. English's 2014-2015 stat line: 23.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals
You may not be familiar with the name A.J. English, but his numbers speak for themselves.
English benefits from playing in a fast-paced system that provides plenty of opportunities in a number of categories. The Gaels are among the highest-scoring teams in the country, which means there are a lot of points, assists and rebounds to be had by a point guard like English.
English had 31 points and eight assists against Monmouth and put up 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds against Rider.
The fast-paced Iona style also leads to a lot of mistakes. The fact that English has turned the ball over five times or more in five of the Gaels’ past seven games does not help the team, but it does help stuff his stat sheet.
English’s numbers rose in nearly every statistical column during Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play last season, and they should do so again this season. English averaged 30.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 steals in his first two conference games this season, and he had a line of 27 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in the Gaels' Dec. 23 win over Florida Gulf Coast, the Atlantic Sun Conference favorite.
Keifer Sykes, Green Bay
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Keifer Sykes' 2014-2015 stat line: 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.8 steals
Keifer Sykes is a 6'0" senior point guard whose value as a player is starting to get noticed as much as his leaping ability.
Sykes’ scoring and assist numbers are down a bit from last season, but he is still capable of filling every column of the box score. His numbers may rise once he gets into Horizon League play.
Despite his size, Sykes has had eight rebounds twice this season. He can also distribute the ball, getting six assists twice, and take the ball away, recording three or more steals three times.
Sykes’ best skill, though, is scoring, which he can do even against top-flight opposition. He had 32 points against Wisconsin last year and scored 20 against the Badgers this year. He recorded 18 points and seven rebounds in the Phoenix’s 13-point road win over Miami, which was ranked No. 15 at the time.
"For them, he's kind of their engine that makes them go," Wisconsin guard Josh Gasser said of Sykes in a FoxSports.com article. "He's their scorer. He passes the ball really well. Pretty much everything that they do offensively runs through him."
Sykes also has attempted 20 more free throws than anyone else on the team, giving him more numbers in more places on the stat sheet. And if there were a statistic for dunks, Sykes would fill up that column as well.
Kris Dunn, Providence
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Kris Dunn's 2014-2015 stat line: 13.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.9 steals
Kris Dunn did not do much statistically last season as a freshman, when injuries limited him to four games. But this season he has emerged as the versatile standout many expected when he was a McDonald’s high school All-American.
“Physically, he’s as gifted a player as I’ve ever coached,” Friars coach Ed Cooley said, according to CollegeBasketballTalk.
The 6'3" Dunn may have trouble maintaining his numbers against Big East opponents, but he has demonstrated a penchant for putting up numbers in virtually every statistical category, including some of the negative categories.
Besides his numbers in the three main categories, Dunn is averaging 2.9 steals, putting him among the top 10 in the nation in that category. He had at least four steals in four of his first 11 games this season. He also has had double figures in assists twice and put up 22 points and nine rebounds against Rhode Island.
However, what helped push Dunn onto this list is his carelessness with the ball. He is averaging 3.8 turnovers and turned it over 10 times against Kentucky. That’s not the category in which you want to have big numbers, but it does help stuff the stat sheet.
Bryce Cotton demonstrated last season that Cooley's system provides the opportunity for his point guard to put up impressive statistics. Dunn should be able to take advantage of that.
Tyrone Wallace, California
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Tyrone Wallace's 2014-2015 stat line: 19.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals
The style of new Cal coach Cuonzo Martin fits perfectly with what combo guard Tyrone Wallace does best.
Wallace can shoot, but his strength is penetration off the dribble, which allows him to pass to the open man when the defense converges, score off the drive or get to the foul line.
When Cal fell behind underdog Princeton by nine points at halftime, Martin simply gave the ball to Wallace and let him create plays time after time after time. He finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, three fouls and four turnovers, and Cal won by 10.
Despite being a slender 6’5”, Wallace knows his way around the paint. Perhaps his most impressive stat is rebounding, leading the Bears by a wide margin in that category despite bearing little resemblance to the prototypical rebounder. He has had double figures in rebounding four times, including a 15-rebound game against Montana.
He also has had at least four assists in eight of Cal’s first 11 games and added at least two steals in six of them. Pac-12 defenses, which figure to focus on Wallace, may make it more difficult for him to maintain his statistical line, but he seems to figure out ways to score and create opportunities regardless of the defense.
“He’s a good player. He goes and gets rebounds if he wants rebounds,” Martin said in the Oakland Tribune's BearTalk. “Offensively, he’s doing what we do in practice. He’s not taking any shots I don’t think he should be taking. He’s putting pressure on the defense, getting in the lane. If they don’t help, he’s finishing plays. They help off, he’s finding big guys, he’s finding perimeter guys.”
Wallace's attacking style helps him get to the foul line. He has attempted 71 free throws, 17 more than the Cal player with the second-most attempts. Wallace would help himself by improving his free-throw shooting, with his 55.7 percent from the line only slightly better than his impressive field-goal percentage of 50.6.
If the Bears climb into the Top 25, you will be hearing a lot more about Wallace.
Delon Wright, Utah
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Delon Wright's 2014-2015 stat line: 16.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.0 blocks
Delon Wright does not have a true position, because he can play almost anywhere, although he's generally called a point guard.
His rebounding and assist numbers are actually down from a year ago, partly because the Utes' improved overall talent this season alleviates the load on Wright. However, his numbers are likely to increase as coach Larry Krystkowiak depends on him more heavily in Pac-12 play.
The 6’5” Wright can, and does, do it all, especially against the type of high-level competition he will face in conference play.
He had 23 points in the three-point loss to Kansas. He had 11 rebounds in the four-point road win over BYU. He had seven assists in the overtime victory over Wichita State and had 10 assists in the 14-point victory over South Dakota State. Three times this season Wright had four steals or more, and three times he has had two blocks or more.
“He’s one of those guys who doesn’t do anything great maybe, but is kind of a stat sheet stuffer who by the time the game’s over, he might have 14 points, seven assists and seven rebounds and some deflections and steals,’’ Krystkowiak said, according to the Deseret News.
Wright leads the team in scoring, assists and steals and is second in rebounding. And he does it on a consistent basis.
“I said before Delon played a game that I think he's a classic definition of a stat-sheet stuffer, where he steals, blocks shots, assists (and) obviously, the ability to score," Krystkowiak told the Arizona Republic.
It’s no coincidence that Utah went from 15-18 the year before Wright arrived from junior college to 21-12 in his first season with the Utes to a national ranking this season.
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