In this rebooted edition of scouring the nation, I profile North Carolina Wesleyan (DIII) standout Damon McDowell, a three level scorer replete with all of the tools necessary to succeed at the professional level. In lieu of Duncan Robinson's development into a bonafide NBA starter, more college teams are looking for similar non-D1 standouts to boast their current programs. Look no further than the Luke Smith
story for an example of this. But, what about the Division III standouts who continue to hone their games within their programs' systems? These are the unrefined gems of professional scouting 'so to speak'. Damon McDowell certainly fits this billing. His path to professional basketball relevance has been anything but ordinary, though, after a football injury derailed him in his senior year, causing him to miss much of the basketball season (and when playing, not performing to the level he is capable of). But, Coach John Thompson recognized McDowell's talent from the outset and has worked with him to develop into one of the best players in Division III.
In terms of where McDowell excels, Damon is first and foremost a sweet-shooting, lefty scorer. He is a viable three point threat who picks his spots well and is shooting an efficient 40.9% from distance this season. While McDowell is a rhythm shooter for the most part, he frequently hits shots coming off of screens and does a nice job setting his feet. McDowell does not need a lot of room to get his shot off. He sports a good form and a high release point. He is also capable shooting off the catch and is effective with less than two dribbles, which underscores his efficiency of movement.
McDowell scores in rhythm and is dynamic shooting off the dribble. He utilizes his dribble to create separation. While he is fundamentally sound and ordinarily opts for the best shots, he can connect from the mid-range fading away in either direction. His excellent, balanced footwork really supports this versatility.
Furthermore, McDowell is capable slashing to the basket. Damon uses ball screens extremely well to free himself. The threat of his shot often leads defenders to overplay him pre-catch, and this opens the door for back cuts, which he excels at. When opting to drive to the rim, McDowell does a nice job shielding the ball with his body and has a serviceable enough handle to attack the rim at a professional level. As his handle becomes more advanced and he improves his stop-and-go dribble, he will become an even more dynamic threat attacking the basket. Couple this with his ability to pull up for a balanced mid-range shot and the threat of his three point shot, and Damon McDowell could emerge as one of the most versatile ex-Division III pro scoring threats in recent memory. To bridge the gap, McDowell must continue to refine his handle, work on his Euro step, and rely more heavily on floaters in the lane. McDowell will have to wean himself off using his dominant hand when driving right against bigger defenders. But, he is more than capable of finishing with both hands and actually prefers going left-to-right.
On the defensive end, Damon McDowell is mostly a mixed bag, but possesses the tools to be serviceable at a higher level. While his team mostly played zone (against the D1 opponents I watched) and this obscures my ability to evaluate his 'man' defense, certain traits can be gleaned from the tape. Notably, he possesses very quick hands and good length, readily poking the ball away (without fouling) from players at every level of college ball. With that said, he has momentary lapses where he remains upright (and not in fundamental guarding position). On the East Carolina tape, this could have been because of his position in the zone defense, where he was tasked with consistently chasing down and closing out on open three point shooters after ball reversals. In 'man' defensive scenarios (mainly against D3 foes), Damon proves capable at times guarding multiple positions and tends to drive his man into the back-line defense. McDowell is often good at contesting jump shooters without fouling. Overall, while his lateral quickness is not elite, he is not a total liability either. In terms of play strength on the defensive end, he will have to physically adjust to the next level by getting under a professional weight training regiment. This could do wonders for his physicality on this side of the ball. It also would help on the glass, where McDowell must become more fundamentally sound, boxing out and fighting for loose balls on the defensive glass.
Finally, in terms of his vision and intangibles, McDowell is a willing passer and a very good teammate. He is hungry to improve. He plays within his team's construct and readily passes to open teammates when opportunities present themselves. While I would have liked to see him grab the ball and take over at certain moments in late shot clock scenarios, McDowell appears comfortable deferring to his teammates. He often finds them moving without the ball, but is also able to create opportunities due to the threat of his shot. He possesses a high basketball IQ and a good awareness for floor spacing. On the defensive side of the ball, he understands where his teammates need to be and provides good vocal leadership in this respect. All in all, Damon McDowell is a unique offensive talent with the skillset and mentality to thrive at a higher level of basketball.
(Photo/Clips Courtesy of North Carolina Wesleyan Athletic Department)
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