Acie Law, 6-3, Senior, Point Guard, Texas A&M
2 Games Combined: 44 points, 22 assists, 3 turnovers, 6 rebounds, 16-29 FG, 4-8 3P, 8-10 FT
Jonathan Givony
Coming off probably the most impressive week weve seen from any player in college basketball since the in-conference season kicked off, it would be impossible not to start off this edition of the NCAA performers without a detailed account of Acie Laws play.
Law went into one of the toughest arenas in college basketball in Phog Allen Fieldhouse and took down an incredibly talented Kansas team with an impressive 23 point, 7 assist performance, only to outdo himself less than 48 hours later with a 21 point, 15 assist outing in a home win over Texas, playing on one leg for much of the 2nd half after rolling an ankle.
It cant be stated enough just how much Law has improved throughout his four years of college basketball, developing from being a run of the mill high school prospect and a college freshman on a team that couldnt even win one game in the Big 12 into arguably the best point guard in the entire country, playing for a team that absolutely no one wants to meet in the NCAA Tournament.
Law has always been known as a combo guard, but hes done a terrific job this year shedding that label and developing into a true lead guard. Hes got a great supporting cast around him and is not afraid to use it, passing up good shots regularly for the benefit of finding a better one, something that was unheard of for him in the past. Hes making crisp, confident, creative passes swinging the ball around the perimeter in Billy Gillespies patient half-court offense, taking care of the ball wonderfully (2.12/1 assist to turnover ratio) despite the fact that hes really forced to dominate it on a team that severely lacks other ball-handling options. Hes able to do that precisely because he is such an excellent ball-handler, being capable of breaking down defenses with his mind rather than with sheer explosiveness, and being equally skilled with either hand. He has a counter to every counter with his diverse triple-threat game, and therefore is rarely flustered even by the sight of an oncoming double-team that he enjoys splitting apart with the greatest of ease.
Law has wonderful body control and the ability to shift gears and change directions almost instantaneously reacting to what defenses throw at him, not being afraid to thread the needle with a lightning quick bounce pass on the drive and dish or take matters into his own hands when the situation calls for it. His offensive game inside the arc is amazingly complete, starting with his excellent mid-range game pulling up on a dime off the dribble with a nifty fadeaway using the glass and continuing with his patented floater that he sinks smoothly with either his left or right hand. His 3-point shot has improved by leaps and bounds this season despite his awkward shooting mechanicsgetting virtually no lift on his jumper (a far cry from his mid-range shot), shooting the ball flat with an odd sidespin and his left elbow flailing out and sporting a fairly slow release as well. It goes in for him regardless at a great clip, 45% on the season-- which is all that matters--and much higher than that in the clutch. The problem is that we dont have a huge sample size to work off of, only 2.5 attempts per game, which likely means this is something NBA personnel will be studying closely when they bring him in for private workouts.
As a slasher, Law is not going to blow anyone away with his amazing first step or ability to rise up off the floor, but his newly added strength and always-super-high basketball IQ help him create contact and get to the free throw line at a nice clip. Law is shooting a terrific 51.5% from the field, up from 38.7% as a freshman, which should tell you a little bit about the quality of shots hes taking, as well as his much improved all-around skill level. In the clutch is where hes really made a name for himself, though, outscoring opponents 7.3 to 7.1 in the last five minutes of games according to a stat mentioned by ESPN. He clearly takes his game to a completely different level in tight game situations when the pressure is on, which tells you plenty about the player he is.
In terms of his pro prospects, these past two games made plenty of previously indifferent scouts begin to jump on his bandwagon, at least from what we can tell. The NBA likes players who are winners, and thats exactly what he is. Weve always been extremely high on him as you may have read in the preseason , and the rest of the country is finally finding out why. In such a weak point guard class, theres no telling how high Law could be drafted if a team is desperately looking for a playmaker. He has a chance to give his stock a tremendous boost if he can take his team to the Final Four-- and considering the way the Aggies are playing, it probably wouldnt shock anyone if they did.
Law has always been known as a combo guard, but hes done a terrific job this year shedding that label and developing into a true lead guard. Hes got a great supporting cast around him and is not afraid to use it, passing up good shots regularly for the benefit of finding a better one, something that was unheard of for him in the past. Hes making crisp, confident, creative passes swinging the ball around the perimeter in Billy Gillespies patient half-court offense, taking care of the ball wonderfully (2.12/1 assist to turnover ratio) despite the fact that hes really forced to dominate it on a team that severely lacks other ball-handling options. Hes able to do that precisely because he is such an excellent ball-handler, being capable of breaking down defenses with his mind rather than with sheer explosiveness, and being equally skilled with either hand. He has a counter to every counter with his diverse triple-threat game, and therefore is rarely flustered even by the sight of an oncoming double-team that he enjoys splitting apart with the greatest of ease.
Law has wonderful body control and the ability to shift gears and change directions almost instantaneously reacting to what defenses throw at him, not being afraid to thread the needle with a lightning quick bounce pass on the drive and dish or take matters into his own hands when the situation calls for it. His offensive game inside the arc is amazingly complete, starting with his excellent mid-range game pulling up on a dime off the dribble with a nifty fadeaway using the glass and continuing with his patented floater that he sinks smoothly with either his left or right hand. His 3-point shot has improved by leaps and bounds this season despite his awkward shooting mechanicsgetting virtually no lift on his jumper (a far cry from his mid-range shot), shooting the ball flat with an odd sidespin and his left elbow flailing out and sporting a fairly slow release as well. It goes in for him regardless at a great clip, 45% on the season-- which is all that matters--and much higher than that in the clutch. The problem is that we dont have a huge sample size to work off of, only 2.5 attempts per game, which likely means this is something NBA personnel will be studying closely when they bring him in for private workouts.
As a slasher, Law is not going to blow anyone away with his amazing first step or ability to rise up off the floor, but his newly added strength and always-super-high basketball IQ help him create contact and get to the free throw line at a nice clip. Law is shooting a terrific 51.5% from the field, up from 38.7% as a freshman, which should tell you a little bit about the quality of shots hes taking, as well as his much improved all-around skill level. In the clutch is where hes really made a name for himself, though, outscoring opponents 7.3 to 7.1 in the last five minutes of games according to a stat mentioned by ESPN. He clearly takes his game to a completely different level in tight game situations when the pressure is on, which tells you plenty about the player he is.
In terms of his pro prospects, these past two games made plenty of previously indifferent scouts begin to jump on his bandwagon, at least from what we can tell. The NBA likes players who are winners, and thats exactly what he is. Weve always been extremely high on him as you may have read in the preseason , and the rest of the country is finally finding out why. In such a weak point guard class, theres no telling how high Law could be drafted if a team is desperately looking for a playmaker. He has a chance to give his stock a tremendous boost if he can take his team to the Final Four-- and considering the way the Aggies are playing, it probably wouldnt shock anyone if they did.