Shooting guard, Dion Waiters of Syracuse University, is projected to be a top 10 draft pick in the 2012 NBA Draft despite only starting 1 game in his college career.
Tonight when the NBA Draft begins, Dion Waiters can expect to hear his name be called within the first 10 picks. Unlike most of the other top 10 draft picks, Waiters only started 1 game at the college level but he made his playing time count. Most bench players wouldn’t average 23.9 minutes per game in a season, but Waiters played in the role assigned to him by Syracuse University Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim.
Waiters also wore the #3 jersey for Syracuse, which has a storied history recently with the play of Gerry McNamara and Preston Shumpert who were fan favorites during their playing careers with the Orange. Waiters also received the same type of appreciation that came with the jersey during his two years at Syracuse.
Boeheim utilized Waiters’ talent as a spark of energy off the bench during his two years at Syracuse. Every time the Carrier Dome announcer announced Waiters’ name as an incoming substitution, a loud roar of applause would be heard from the crowd. The fans had reason to do so with Waiters’ ability to hit big shots and provide a boost that is shown by his averages of 6.56 and 12.62 points per game during his Freshman and Sophomore seasons respectively.
At the end of Waiters’ Freshman season, Syracuse fans wondered whether or not he would return though. Waiters only averaged 16.3 minutes per game that season, despite being productive during those minutes, but it was a team filled with multiple star players. Coach Boeheim and fans alike knew the 2011-2012 season could be a deep postseason run if Waiters returned though, which led to himself and teammates encourage Waiters to stay at Syracuse.
Coach Boeheim and fans were right about Syracuse having another productive season with him too. The overall season record of 34-3, combined with making it to the Sweet 16 despite losing their center, Fab Melo, right before the NCAA Tournament was a result of hard work by Waiters and his team. Unlike most star players of a team, Waiters did not create any controversies about minutes played or not starting though. Waiters’ play that season led to him being named Sixth Man of the Year by the Big East.
The anticipation of hearing Waiters’ name in the Top 10 of the NBA Draft tonight is a result of his ability to be a true team player. Waiters works well with his team members to work towards certain accolades, as shown by his play at Syracuse. A player doesn’t have to start a game to make a difference and potentially be a deciding factor in the outcome of it.
Congratulations Dion Waiters, your time to shine at the NBA level is now.
