Player to watch: Indiana’s OG Anunoby

OG Anunoby went from being a bench player whose name many couldn’t pronounce to one of the most exciting NBA prospects, seemingly overnight.

Indiana coach Tom Crean found Anunoby by accident. While attending an AAU game in Atlanta, Crean happened to catch Anunoby in action and after doing a little research, knew he had to pursue him. Some may call it luck, but Crean has found these unknown prodigies time and time again.

It is remarkable that a player that only averaged 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and .5 assists per game last season is creating so much buzz. Averages aren’t fair to Anunoby, however, as he didn’t get his chance until partway through the season after James Blackmon Jr. went down with a season ending injury. Even then, it still took some time for Crean to realize what great potential he had.

Watching Anunoby, it is hard to deny the similarities to the way former Hoosier Victor Oladipo played. Both were incredible defenders that possessed the ability to play virtually any position on the floor. They stretch the court and have the capability to hit three-pointers, as well as take the ball inside. The likeness that most people will remember them for, is their explosive dunks. Reverse jam, 180 dunk, taking the ball to the hoop and posterizing Michigan State’s Kenny Goins – Anunoby was not short of clips for his highlight reel.

It won’t be long before people start calling him the silent assassin. Despite the explosiveness and excitement that he brings, he rarely boasts. He lets his game do the talking. This is part of what makes him an immediate fan favorite – other than his short shorts and tall hair which makes him look like an NBA player straight out of the 80’s.  Plus, he has a pretty sweet name.

For all he brought to the table, it was a smart decision for him to stay for another year. Having played so few minutes over the course of the season, he lacks the type of experience that an NBA player needs. There were also moments during Big Ten games which showed his immaturity, like going up with an ill-advised shot in traffic only to get it sent back. And while he showed moments of brilliance, they were often in spurts and he would sometimes disappear on offense for minutes on end.

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Next season will be his year. He will be training with the first team and his confidence will grow exponentially. Now that he realizes he possesses star ability, he will begin to play like a star. The best part for Anunoby is that opponents won’t focus all of their attention on him because of all of the other talent surrounding him. Thomas Bryant, De’Ron Davis, and James Blackmon Jr. will draw most of the attention from defenses. Many are scared of a season without Yogi Ferrell who was perhaps the best distributor the program has ever seen, but the current roster is chock-full of players who can create their own shots.

There are many reasons to get excited about Indiana this upcoming season, and Anunoby should be near the top of the list. Everyone is looking at Anunoby to produce, which only adds more pressure to the 19 year old. His calm demeanor suggests that pressure will not be an issue, though.