RESULT: Weber State 85, Northern Colorado 81(OT)
WHERE: Dee Events Center, Ogden, Utah
WHEN: February 29th, 2024
Dillon Jones and Saint Thomas have emerged as mid-major sleepers, and a showdown between the two players on Leap Day was the perfect opportunity to get a watch. Also, I was a big fan of how each player guarded the other defensively. Love a good challenge.
Dillon Jones
30 points (9-23 shooting, 1-9 from 3, 11-11 from the free throw line), 23 rebounds ( 4 assist
Offense: Dillon Jones is the offense for Weber State. He relishes contact, driving down the lane like a bowling ball — whether in transition or in the halfcourt. He’s so tough to stop when he’s getting downhill. He leverages his physicality with crafty handling and finishing, managing to shift to finish at the tin. He’s a good playmaker that can find his teammates with creativity or within the flow of the offense. These two elements make him a potent transition weapon, as he’s initiating transition offense more often than not. As his game scales down to a NBA role, I wonder how the transition will go for him. He’s a mediocre shooter at the moment, and he lacks lift on his jumper. His shooting translation will be one to watch, since he won't be at the tippy top of scouting reports with amplified defensive pressure.
Offense One Play:
Dillon Jones made a killer play to tie the game and take it to overtime. He went right at Saint Thomas to utilized his physicality to go get a tough bucket.
Defense: Jones’ defense will be fascinating to monitor, because his primary positional assignment is unclear — though he is switchable. Again, he leverages his frame into being a physical defender, stonewalling downhill actions whenever he’s in front of his man. On the contrary, he’s susceptible to drivers gaining a step on him. He’s a major steal generator as well. He’s got a nose for the ball on the glass, as he’s an immediate grab-and-go threat once he secures rebounds. A note for the next level, his defensive motor isn’t crazy — though he makes good, technical plays. That’s something to gauge when his offensive workload diminishes, and more responsibility can be shifted to the defensive end.
Defense One Play
Dillon Jones had really good, technically sound plays defensively. However, teams will love how he put his body on the line for a big charge to make the defensive stop and send the game to overtime.
Saint Thomas
17 points (7-16 shooting, 2-8 from 3, 1-1 from the free throw line), 12 rebounds, 7 assists (5 turnovers), 3 fouls in 40 minutes
Offense: Saint Thomas’ primary offensive skill, in my eyes, is his playmaking. At 6’7”, he can see over defenses to make right reads — often leading to sensational reads for assists or hockey assists. He loves this little slip pass to the short roller in give-and-go situations off handoffs. At the next level, he can serve as a tertiary playmaker that creates off advantages and next actions. His handle is a bit loose, and he also over-dribbles in the post (not that worried about this component, since he won’t have any postups called for him). It parlayed into turnovers as well -- like Jones, more under the belief his turnovers is a product of role rather than decision-making. Nonetheless, he’s a fascinating post weapon because of his combination. His shooting mechanics aren’t clean — there’s a weird hitch on his way to his release point.
One offensive play
A fascinating intersection of skills that could be translatable, Thomas' playmaking could be an asset off rebounds or event creation. He rewards the running big man by threading the needle with a lead pass between the defense for the bucket.
Defense: Thomas has the potential to be a great perimeter defender. He took on the challenge of Dillon Jones, providing a match for his physicality. He offered nice contests and made it difficult for Jones to generate seamless advantage. He’s a good events creator with a knack of generating turnovers and steals — 1.6 steals per game. He has the versatility to take on various roles and responsibilities within a defensive system.
One defensive play:
Thomas stayed with Jones this entire sequence -- navigating off-ball screens. More impressively, he had counters to Jones' counter, ultimately leading to a nice contest at the basket.