Evaluating Stanton Kidd to Colorado State

NC Central fans hardly got to know Stanton Kidd. The JUCO transfer played just one season, and was 1st Team All-MEAC. He was third in the conference in scoring, but as we've seen with so many other transfers, points per game is a terrible way to evaluate anyone. A lot of transfers fit the "high volume, low efficiency" mold, and then move on to somewhere else when coaches preach the need to take smarter shots.

Meanwhile, Colorado State coach Larry Eustachy runs one of the most efficient systems in college basketball. Is he going to need to teach Kidd a new bag of tricks, or is Kidd one of the rare transfers who doesn't fit the gunner mold?

Kidd did take 25.3% of the shots when he was on the floor, which was higher than any Colorado State player (just above Wes Eikmeier). But he was also efficient with those shots. He made 59% of his 2s, 37% of his 3s, and 70% of his free throws. He was also – at 6-7, 215 – in the top 16 in the conference for both OR% and DR%.

The reason he's transferring is because he wants the exposure that comes with playing in a bigger conference. “I wanted to get more exposure so I can have a better shot playing with top competition,” Kidd said. “It’s not that the MEAC isn’t good competition, 15-9 in the MEAC is OK, but you won’t get recognized much by scouts. If you go 15-9 in the Mountain West, that’s a lot better. There are a lot of pro guys who have come from the Mountain West, plus the conference sends four or five teams to the NCAA tournament.”

Kidd will have to sit out a season, but he plans to use the time to better develop his game as a wing. Only 16% of his shot attempts were from beyond the arc, but his future at the next level depends on his ability to play outside-in, and to be able to create his own shots.

This is a great pickup for Eustachy.

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