Cousins Adding Face Up Game to Low Post Prowess

Ivan McDowell, Southeast-Midsouth Editor

November 5, 2006 - Heading into last weeks Sports Med Shootout in Huntsville, Alabama, 6’10 sophomore Demarcus Cousins had already established his reputation as the best post player in the state. Cousins recorded a double-double in both of Erwin High School’s games, further enhancing his ranking as the best sophomore in the nation, according to one scouting service.

Cousins has now expanded his game however, taking his myriad of skills to the perimeter and showing a deft touch from about 18 feet.

“That’s where opponents make their mistake when they try and guard me”, stated the Erwin superstar, who averaged 21 pts, 14 rebounds, 6 blocks, 70% FG and 80% FT per game as a freshman in high school last year.

Cousins has future star written all over him. (Picture property of McDowell/i95Ballerz.com)

“I can take other post players off the dribble or face them up and shoot the jumper, so my game is better rounded than people think it is.”

At the annual Huntsville tournament, now in its sixth year of existence, Austin High found out how versatile and dominant Cousins can be.

Against the Black Bears, Cousins displayed the aforementioned ability using a refined drop step on several occasions, while maintaining the interior prowess his opponents fear him for. Cousins cleaned the glass and rejected shots in both of Erwin’s games (1-1) and was clearly the most dominant big man of the tourney, even though Erwin played in but two contests.

While not getting moved out of his spots on defense, Cousins could stand to get stronger to better lock down opponents and force them to give up the ball when attempting to make a move against him.

“I need to work on everything, but especially my conditioning and post defense”, commented the 16-year old Birmingham native.

This Erwin High School sophomore could be unstoppable with future physical development. (Picture property of McDowell/i95Ballerz.com)

With a skill set that is very advanced for a youngster, Cousins is already ahead of most bigs two or three years his senior and has a man’s body. So much so, you forget he’s just 16.

In other words, the sky is the limit for Demarcus. Teams such as LSU, UNC, Connecticut, Missouri, Alabama, UCLA, UAB and Texas, are already paying close attention to this developing center.

Despite not divulging a GPA, Demarcus indicated his grades are “good” and that “I couldn’t play if I didn’t have my grades.”