As tradition dictates, we take a weekly look at some of college basketball’s hottest hands, from blue blood to mid-major and everything in between. This week saw a lot of fantastic games as the Thanksgiving tournament slate was concluding, and several players answered the call. This led to upsets and prime-time performances all across the slate.
Silas Demary Jr.
University of Georgia freshman Silas Demary Jr. didn’t play like a freshman in the Bulldogs’ season-defining 68-66 win over the Florida State Seminoles. In 28 minutes on the floor, Demary Jr. was relentless attacking the rim, drawing several fouls while converting the basket. He went to both sides of the glass, going from both the strong and weak side. Demary shot 4-9 from the field, knocking down a crucial three-pointer and dishing three assists to go along with six rebounds. The 6-foot-5 guard from Raleigh, North Carolina, was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end as well. He had a block and a steal, and played a tough brand of defense down low with four personal fouls. When conference play heats up, expect Demary Jr. to lead a young Bulldogs team.
David Jones
Memphis senior David Jones was on fire on Thanksgiving Thursday, and it’s clear he didn’t pass up much of the protein at dinner that day. Jones carried Memphis to a win over twentieth-ranked Arkansas 84-79 in the Bad Boy Mowers Classic in the Bahamas with a game-high 36 points. Jones was 10 of 14 from the floor, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc in just his fifth game with his new team. He also had sticky fingers, swiping five steals over the course of the game as well as four rebounds and two assists. He becomes the second Memphis player since 2010 to record 34-plus points and four steals in a game along with Jeremiah Martin.
Trevon Brazile
Sophomore forward Trevon Brazile led the way against the seventh-ranked Duke Blue Devils in a 80-75 win. In front of a record crowd at Bud Walton Arena, Brazile was all over the court, recording 19 points and 11 rebounds in the absence of the Razorbacks’ leading scorer. In 38 minutes, he drained four three-pointers and shot 66.7% from the field. Brazile also had two huge blocks, setting the tone close to the rim against a Duke team lead by formidable forward Kam Filipowski. This was a huge performance for the forward looking to lead the Razorbacks to another NCAA tournament appearance and strong run in the SEC. Eric Musselman and company are lucky to have the star sophomore on their squad.
P.J. Hall
Local kid and Spartanburg, South Carolina native P.J. Hall is making the most of his senior year at Clemson. He dropped a solid 21 points in the Clemson Tigers’ 85-77 road win over no. 23 Alabama Crimson Tide, leading the Tigers’ scoring sheet. Hall was huge on the boards, tallying six defensive and two offensive rebounds to help Clemson outrebound the Tide on the defensive side. He was also deadly from behind the three-point line, knocking down three of five. His biggest contribution, however, came on the defensive end, as Hall swatted four shots and provided a huge rim presence. Leading the Tigers to this huge win is sure to pay off down the road, as Clemson looks to make a run at the NCAA tournament after their disappointing collapse last season where they were listed as one of the first teams out.
These stars run the gamut in their college careers, but there is one thing that the sports world can agree on. These are some talented hoopers, and they are going to shine come March Madness time.
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