:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6125095/img_1387s.0.jpg)
The NBA D-League maintains a list of the top 30 prospects to help casual fans keep track of the players most likely to get a shot at playing in the NBA. With the 2013 D-League Showcase around the corner, the league recently published its most up to date list.
All of the changes were reasonable and packed with great analysis and commentary. However, there is one glaring omission that must be recognized : Mad Ants' guard Ron Howard.
Looking objectively at Ron Howard’s (6’5", 185, Valparaiso) stat sheet, compared to some of the top players on the NBADL Top 30 Prospect List, digging into the numbers should help shed some light on the situation.
|
Pos. on
|
Player
|
Team
|
eFG%
|
ORtg
|
DRtg
|
PER
|
APG
|
RPG
|
SPG
|
PPG
|
|
4
|
Travis Leslie
|
SAN
|
0.585
|
110
|
93.4
|
23.1
|
1.82
|
7.91
|
1.55
|
16.36
|
|
N/A
|
Ron Howard
|
FWN
|
0.459
|
114
|
106
|
19.3
|
4.08
|
4.38
|
1.38
|
20.60
|
|
7
|
Courtney Fortson
|
LAD
|
0.461
|
106
|
105
|
18.2
|
6.18
|
5.45
|
1.64
|
18.82
|
|
3
|
Chris Wright
|
IWA
|
0.449
|
104
|
104
|
18
|
7.67
|
5.5
|
1.58
|
16.25
|
|
8
|
D.J. Kennedy
|
ERI
|
0.469
|
108
|
99
|
17.8
|
5.46
|
8.31
|
1.62
|
18.38
|
|
20
|
Justin Dentmon
|
AUS
|
0.487
|
108
|
105
|
17.7
|
4
|
5
|
1.08
|
19.67
|
|
5
|
Andrew Goudelock
|
RGV
|
0.491
|
109
|
110
|
16.5
|
3.4
|
3.33
|
0.8
|
20.93
|
|
6
|
Ben Uzoh
|
SPG
|
0.413
|
96.1
|
105
|
13.9
|
5.46
|
5.62
|
1.77
|
15.46
|
**Stats as of 1/4/2013 – Retrieved from RealGM.com
Experts evaluating prospects in the D-League put significant emphasis on PER. It’s the single stat that corresponds most to a player getting a call-up. When stacked against the D-League’s top players, Howard comes in second behind just Travis Leslie.
When compared to only fellow point guards, Howard’s 19.28 rating is the best among them.
The Mad Ants' point guard is the third best scorer in the D-League with 20.6 points per contest. Among fellow guards on the Prospect List, Howard is second once again, only to Andrew Goudelock. His 45% shooting from the floor is best among all floor generals in the NBADL, as is his 114.2 offensive rating.
Clearly, Howard is performing at a level comparable to players who are in the top ten of the NBADL prospect list. Since taking over the point guard role, he has added 7 assists per game to his stat sheet. This increased production elevates him past Goudelock, subsequently slotting him even with Fortson and Wright.
Scouts must also consider that Howard has one of the best first steps in all of the D-League. He is known for making quick moves, drawing contact, and getting to the charity stripe. In fact, his .60 FT/FGA ratio is best in the minors. He averages 9 free throw attempts per contest which is again among the best in the league as well.
The stats don't answer the question as to why Howard was completely left off of such a list. Perhaps it's up to the guard himself to prove his doubters wrong yet again.