'Almost mistake-free' freshman George sparks Herd off the bench
Marshall's Darius George leans in for a layup against North Carolina Central in a game Nov. 22 at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington. "He doesn't make a ton of mistakes," Marshall head coach Dan D'Antoni says of George. "He doesn't turn the ball over. That's pretty good for a freshman that's coming from a small school in Virginia and coming to this level."
HUNTINGTON - Darius George moved along the baseline for good rebounding position while Jon Elmore's 3-point shot attempt was in the air. University of Toledo players either didn't notice or didn't care about George possibly getting the rebound for the Marshall Thundering Herd so he went to the basket unguarded as Elmore's shot came off the rim.
George leaped high to snare the ball with his right hand and in one motion stuffed it in the basket. An electrifying Marshall play in a Saturday men's basketball road victory for sure, but also the type of action Herd fans are beginning to expect from their freshman phenom.
"That dunk was spectacular, but he did more than that," Marshall head coach Dan D'Antoni said about George's impact on that game and this season. "He doesn't make a ton of mistakes. He doesn't turn the ball over. That's pretty good for a freshman that's coming from a small school in Virginia and coming to this level and playing almost, especially on offense, mistake-free. We have to work a little bit on defense."
George is a 6-foot-7, 200-pound freshman forward from Staunton, Virginia. In his first nine game appearances, he averaged 18.4 minutes, 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. He had 12 points in a blowout of NCAA Division II Concord University and eight rebounds in a win against N.C. Central University.
He is firmly established as one of D'Antoni's first players off the bench and could become a starter before long.
"I feel like I bring energy coming off the bench, a spark coming off the bench, and we need that," George said.
George led Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton to last season's state championship in Virginia's 2A classification. The Virginia 2A Player of the Year averaged 24.5 points and 9.7 rebounds as a senior.
Marshall's original plan was to farm George out to Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia for one year before he joined the Herd. Then starting forward Terrence Thompson left the program late in July and the plan changed to having George come on board this season, but as a redshirt. During preseason practice, D'Antoni indicated the redshirt might be coming off.
With Thompson gone as a graduate transfer to Wake Forest University and senior forward Milan Mijovic getting injured (broken arm) in a Nov. 19 game at the University of Illinois, the Herd needed some frontcourt help.
"They kind of needed a body and I had to step up," George said.
George said the biggest difference from high school to college basketball is it's a faster game. And college teams have better players. He said being on the court with teammates such as Elmore, C.J. Burks and Jarrod West is making him a better player.
He hasn't taken a lot of shots, but he's hitting for good percentages on field goals (19 for 36, 52.8) and 3-pointers (7 for 15, 46.7) while he's struggling at the foul line (4 for 12, 33.3 percent).
"I'm good with the rebounding and shooting," George said. "I just have to get the mental part of the game down and I'll be better as a player. My defense has to get better. My free throw shooting too. I'll work on that."
This is final exam week at Marshall and D'Antoni said he isn't concerned about George getting through it because he's mostly an A and B student.
George isn't fretting either.
"I only have two (finals) this week, sociology and math," he said. "I haven't had any problems. I have tutors that help me, all my classes are fine, my professors are cool.
"I'll be fine."
- By RICK McCANN
Marshall's Darius George leans in for a layup against North Carolina Central in a game Nov. 22 at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington. "He doesn't make a ton of mistakes," Marshall head coach Dan D'Antoni says of George. "He doesn't turn the ball over. That's pretty good for a freshman that's coming from a small school in Virginia and coming to this level."
HUNTINGTON - Darius George moved along the baseline for good rebounding position while Jon Elmore's 3-point shot attempt was in the air. University of Toledo players either didn't notice or didn't care about George possibly getting the rebound for the Marshall Thundering Herd so he went to the basket unguarded as Elmore's shot came off the rim.
George leaped high to snare the ball with his right hand and in one motion stuffed it in the basket. An electrifying Marshall play in a Saturday men's basketball road victory for sure, but also the type of action Herd fans are beginning to expect from their freshman phenom.
"That dunk was spectacular, but he did more than that," Marshall head coach Dan D'Antoni said about George's impact on that game and this season. "He doesn't make a ton of mistakes. He doesn't turn the ball over. That's pretty good for a freshman that's coming from a small school in Virginia and coming to this level and playing almost, especially on offense, mistake-free. We have to work a little bit on defense."
George is a 6-foot-7, 200-pound freshman forward from Staunton, Virginia. In his first nine game appearances, he averaged 18.4 minutes, 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. He had 12 points in a blowout of NCAA Division II Concord University and eight rebounds in a win against N.C. Central University.
He is firmly established as one of D'Antoni's first players off the bench and could become a starter before long.
"I feel like I bring energy coming off the bench, a spark coming off the bench, and we need that," George said.
George led Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton to last season's state championship in Virginia's 2A classification. The Virginia 2A Player of the Year averaged 24.5 points and 9.7 rebounds as a senior.
Marshall's original plan was to farm George out to Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia for one year before he joined the Herd. Then starting forward Terrence Thompson left the program late in July and the plan changed to having George come on board this season, but as a redshirt. During preseason practice, D'Antoni indicated the redshirt might be coming off.
With Thompson gone as a graduate transfer to Wake Forest University and senior forward Milan Mijovic getting injured (broken arm) in a Nov. 19 game at the University of Illinois, the Herd needed some frontcourt help.
"They kind of needed a body and I had to step up," George said.
George said the biggest difference from high school to college basketball is it's a faster game. And college teams have better players. He said being on the court with teammates such as Elmore, C.J. Burks and Jarrod West is making him a better player.
He hasn't taken a lot of shots, but he's hitting for good percentages on field goals (19 for 36, 52.8) and 3-pointers (7 for 15, 46.7) while he's struggling at the foul line (4 for 12, 33.3 percent).
"I'm good with the rebounding and shooting," George said. "I just have to get the mental part of the game down and I'll be better as a player. My defense has to get better. My free throw shooting too. I'll work on that."
This is final exam week at Marshall and D'Antoni said he isn't concerned about George getting through it because he's mostly an A and B student.
George isn't fretting either.
"I only have two (finals) this week, sociology and math," he said. "I haven't had any problems. I have tutors that help me, all my classes are fine, my professors are cool.
"I'll be fine."
