Looking back at Jamal Branch

[ghostzapper]

When I attended the 2011 Coaches versus Cancer games last November at MSG. I did not have a clue into the future of then Texas A & M freshman point guard Jamal Branch. Who knew that in a matter of months Nurideen Lindsay would be history here and Jamal Branch would be headed to Queens as the future Point Guard of the Johnnies.

I recently came across the DVD recordings I made of those games from last year. I decided to re-watch the games from the perspective of focusing on Branch's play only. I only recorded the last 12 minutes of the A & M - Miss. State game but recorded the entire St. John's - A & M game. Some observations from watching those games:

Branch seems to be a pure point. He has a pass first mentality and does not waist time dribbling when he has an open man. His quarterbacking skills are his strength and will make others on the court better. During the time I watched, he made several open threes (nothing but net). His handle is very good and his defense is good also: He has quick hands and stays in front of his man well. In general he is quick and is constantly looking to dish off to a team mate for the best possible shot. He likes the game when played at an uptempo and runs the break much better than most of our recent Point Guards. He also seemed comfortable in the half-court. He seems to be slightly shorter than Harrison, but it was difficult to be sure based on the angles of the camera when I saw them together.

It will be interesting to see how quickly he blends in when he is allowed to play in games in December. I think he brings something to the table we haven't seen here in at least ten years.

 

[Moose]

When I attended the 2011 Coaches versus Cancer games last November at MSG. I did not have a clue into the future of then Texas A & M freshman point guard Jamal Branch. Who knew that in a matter of months Nurideen Lindsay would be history here and Jamal Branch would be headed to Queens as the future Point Guard of the Johnnies.

I recently came across the DVD recordings I made of those games from last year. I decided to re-watch the games from the perspective of focusing on Branch's play only. I only recorded the last 12 minutes of the A & M - Miss. State game but recorded the entire St. John's - A & M game. Some observations from watching those games:

Branch seems to be a pure point. He has a pass first mentality and does not waist time dribbling when he has an open man. His quarterbacking skills are his strength and will make others on the court better. During the time I watched, he made several open threes (nothing but net). His handle is very good and his defense is good also: He has quick hands and stays in front of his man well. In general he is quick and is constantly looking to dish off to a team mate for the best possible shot. He likes the game when played at an uptempo and runs the break much better than most of our recent Point Guards. He also seemed comfortable in the half-court. He seems to be slightly shorter than Harrison, but it was difficult to be sure based on the angles of the camera when I saw them together.

It will be interesting to see how quickly he blends in when he is allowed to play in games in December. I think he brings something to the table we haven't seen here in at least ten years.

 

You know whats funny? Those were the only two games he actually hit a 3 last year haha. Must be the Garden lights

 

[MCNPA]

 He will be excellent with our style of play. We really can use a QB like him. Big Pg who can run it. I saw enough in the games from last year to see that he will be more than fine with good coaching. He has an unwavering handle and excellent vision. Now he has the surrounding cast to push tempo. I'm not a doubter. I think we have a gem. Not many kids with his size, vision and passing ability. Hope Rico and the rest drilling him.

 

[crgreen]

 He will be excellent with our style of play. We really can use a QB like him. Big Pg who can run it. I saw enough in the games from last year to see that he will be more than fine with good coaching. He has an unwavering handle and excellent vision. Now he has the surrounding cast to push tempo. I'm not a doubter. I think we have a gem. Not many kids with his size, vision and passing ability. Hope Rico and the rest drilling him.

 

Jamal's original final four before committing to TAMU were TAMU, Texas, Kansas and UCLA. Bruins fans were REALLY high on him because of stuff like this: "named the best defender in the Class of 2011 by scout.com", and “A premium in college basketball is placed on stopping penetration from the perimeter into the lane, and no one does it better in this class than Branch. He has complete lockdown capabilities on the outside, and takes pride in shutting his man down.”—Brian Snow, scout.com

UCLA fans envisionied a similar defensive stopper at the PG spot to what they had in 2008 with Pac 10 Defensive POY Russell Westbrook (folks think of the offensive machine Westy has become in the pros, but at UCLA he was a 3.5 pt scorer as a frosh, and a 12 pt scorer as a soph before going pro. But he got them to a final four be being able to lock down every opposing guard he faced but one (Bruins were eliminated by Memphis and some kid named Derrick Rose). We knew the kid was the consensus #7 pg in a pretty deep talent pool for 2011 - but it was that D that was REALLY intriguing.

I was really pleasantly stunned when this kid fell into Coach Lavin and SJU's lap. Could not BELIEVE new TAMU coach Billy Kennedy, on his way to a 14-18 season, had elected to give Dash Harris a 3rd straight year of 30 minutes a game at PG (after 4pts 3 assts as both soph and junior), while giving Jamal only 18. Insane (really afraid they're on their way to a Tony Barone/Melvin Watkins redux down there at College Station)...

 

[usguard]

When I attended the 2011 Coaches versus Cancer games last November at MSG. I did not have a clue into the future of then Texas A & M freshman point guard Jamal Branch. Who knew that in a matter of months Nurideen Lindsay would be history here and Jamal Branch would be headed to Queens as the future Point Guard of the Johnnies.

I recently came across the DVD recordings I made of those games from last year. I decided to re-watch the games from the perspective of focusing on Branch's play only. I only recorded the last 12 minutes of the A & M - Miss. State game but recorded the entire St. John's - A & M game. Some observations from watching those games:

Branch seems to be a pure point. He has a pass first mentality and does not waist time dribbling when he has an open man. His quarterbacking skills are his strength and will make others on the court better. During the time I watched, he made several open threes (nothing but net). His handle is very good and his defense is good also: He has quick hands and stays in front of his man well. In general he is quick and is constantly looking to dish off to a team mate for the best possible shot. He likes the game when played at an uptempo and runs the break much better than most of our recent Point Guards. He also seemed comfortable in the half-court. He seems to be slightly shorter than Harrison, but it was difficult to be sure based on the angles of the camera when I saw them together.

It will be interesting to see how quickly he blends in when he is allowed to play in games in December. I think he brings something to the table we haven't seen here in at least ten years.

 

You know whats funny? Those were the only two games he actually hit a 3 last year haha. Must be the Garden lights

 

So are you saying he is not a good outside shooter or he just does all the other things well but can hit consistently if called to do so

 

[Moose]

When I attended the 2011 Coaches versus Cancer games last November at MSG. I did not have a clue into the future of then Texas A & M freshman point guard Jamal Branch. Who knew that in a matter of months Nurideen Lindsay would be history here and Jamal Branch would be headed to Queens as the future Point Guard of the Johnnies.

I recently came across the DVD recordings I made of those games from last year. I decided to re-watch the games from the perspective of focusing on Branch's play only. I only recorded the last 12 minutes of the A & M - Miss. State game but recorded the entire St. John's - A & M game. Some observations from watching those games:

Branch seems to be a pure point. He has a pass first mentality and does not waist time dribbling when he has an open man. His quarterbacking skills are his strength and will make others on the court better. During the time I watched, he made several open threes (nothing but net). His handle is very good and his defense is good also: He has quick hands and stays in front of his man well. In general he is quick and is constantly looking to dish off to a team mate for the best possible shot. He likes the game when played at an uptempo and runs the break much better than most of our recent Point Guards. He also seemed comfortable in the half-court. He seems to be slightly shorter than Harrison, but it was difficult to be sure based on the angles of the camera when I saw them together.

It will be interesting to see how quickly he blends in when he is allowed to play in games in December. I think he brings something to the table we haven't seen here in at least ten years.

 

You know whats funny? Those were the only two games he actually hit a 3 last year haha. Must be the Garden lights

 

So are you saying he is not a good outside shooter or he just does all the other things well but can hit consistently if called to do so

 

I haven't heard of him being a good outside shooter. He only played however many games last year and missed all his other attempts. Its not like he was taking 4-5 a game. He took 1 or 2 a game so its not like hes hoisting.

He's a PG so dribble penetrate and dish which seem to be his strength and let the others (Harrison/Marco) shoot.

 

[crgreen]

When I attended the 2011 Coaches versus Cancer games last November at MSG. I did not have a clue into the future of then Texas A & M freshman point guard Jamal Branch. Who knew that in a matter of months Nurideen Lindsay would be history here and Jamal Branch would be headed to Queens as the future Point Guard of the Johnnies.

I recently came across the DVD recordings I made of those games from last year. I decided to re-watch the games from the perspective of focusing on Branch's play only. I only recorded the last 12 minutes of the A & M - Miss. State game but recorded the entire St. John's - A & M game. Some observations from watching those games:

Branch seems to be a pure point. He has a pass first mentality and does not waist time dribbling when he has an open man. His quarterbacking skills are his strength and will make others on the court better. During the time I watched, he made several open threes (nothing but net). His handle is very good and his defense is good also: He has quick hands and stays in front of his man well. In general he is quick and is constantly looking to dish off to a team mate for the best possible shot. He likes the game when played at an uptempo and runs the break much better than most of our recent Point Guards. He also seemed comfortable in the half-court. He seems to be slightly shorter than Harrison, but it was difficult to be sure based on the angles of the camera when I saw them together.

It will be interesting to see how quickly he blends in when he is allowed to play in games in December. I think he brings something to the table we haven't seen here in at least ten years.

 

You know whats funny? Those were the only two games he actually hit a 3 last year haha. Must be the Garden lights

 

Its not like he was taking 4-5 a game. He took 1 or 2 a game so its not like hes hoisting.

 

Actually, due to some brilliant coaching, he only attempted 12 threes all season (making 4). I do know that as a recruit both Eric Bossi and Evan Daniels felt he had a solid shot out to the 3pt line.

 

[sirvoo]

 The only issue I have with his style is that if he doesn't keep the D honest with his scoring ability we may have trouble getting open looks from outside. Also if he is on the court with Pointer and Garrett we will have absolutely no perimeter shooting on the floor. I expect the 3 point shooting to improve for Dom and Amir (both 21% last year) but it still is something to keep an eye on in December.