Under the Radar Stars
By Ryan Feldman
rfeldman@thehoopsreport.com
Friday, November 11, 2011
Everyone knows the names like Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger and Terrence Jones. But there's more to college basketball than just those big names. There are players that are capable of playing on the big stage but don't get the attention that those players get. We're talking about the Under the Radar Stars, the guys who will surprise many this season with their abilities.
ORLANDO JOHNSON, UCSB
6-5 Sr. SG
21.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 47.5 FG pct, 40.5 3-pt pct
Do you feel that you are under the radar?
"I do feel I am under the radar and have been for some time. But I think with the hard work and dedication I have put into the game, people are starting to hear about me. And I think it's because of the great opportunities I had this past summer with putting my name in the draft to the Kevin Durant and Lebron James clinics and to top it off making the USA World University Games team roster. I think the more chances I have to play against the best people I think people will have a chance to rank or assess my game from there. Coming from a mid-major you don't get that much notoriety but in my case I feel it's been a blessing and it's only made me hungrier."
Do you enjoy being under the radar or do you wish you were more
nationally recognized? Do you ever wish you could get the type of
notoriety that Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker got last year?
"I mean, who wouldn't want to have the national attention on them like a Kemba or Jimmer? I think being under the radar has kept pushing me to keep working so I can get that type of attention because I believe in myself and think that if people saw me play more that they would like what I can do on the court. Getting that type of attention would definitely help out the student body and bring the atmosphere the city of Santa Barbara needs. While being awarded as a preseason Wooden Award candidate for Player of the Year is a great honor, leading my team to a national championship or winning that award would be unbelievable."
Do you feel that being under the radar makes it more difficult to
make the NBA/become a pro?
"I think that it's hard to make it from any school. You just have to go to a program that best suits you and you feel that gives you a chance to be successful. But I know that coming from a small school the things I have done here and what I have learned while being in college have given me a chance to make my dream of being in the NBA hopefully a reality. I have to keep being productive on both ends of the court, especially on the defensive end. I have to show that I am more than capable and willing to be a defender at that level, while also using the things that have got me this far - and that's scoring, rebounding, and being a playmaker - and improving in all aspects of my game and making sure every time I step on the floor that I give it my all. I'll have no regrets."
What's your goal for the upcoming season and even further into the future?
"My goal for this season is to try to lead the team and become better with each game. I want to leave an imprint on this program that every time I stepped on the court I gave it my all and I was always determined trying to win at all costs. I hope for the future that I can become a successful NBA player and one day give back to my community and have a life that my family would be proud of."
DOMINIQUE MORRISON, ORAL ROBERTS
6-6 Sr. SF
19.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 51.4 FG pct, 40.4 3-pt pct
Do you feel that you are under the radar?
"I feel that I am under the radar. The Summit League is not thought to be a strong conference, but there is a lot of competition and good players in the conference. So, it makes it even harder to be seen but hard work won’t be unnoticed forever."
Do you enjoy being under the radar or do you wish you were more
nationally recognized? Do you ever wish you could get the type of
notoriety that Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker got last year?
"Being under the radar only makes working hard that much better. Being noticed or known does not matter to me, as long as we are winning and Oral Roberts is getting the recognition. Kemba and Jimmer had great seasons last year that probably will not be matched. But the way they went out every game and played hard can be. They played hard every game and that’s what I would like to do."
Do you feel that being under the radar makes it more difficult to
make the NBA/become a pro?
"I think that it depends on how well your team is doing. The more your team gets exposure and start getting noticed makes it easier than being a guy on a bad team with good numbers. In order to make it I believe that I have to be a leader and do my part in making our team the best team possible. Each game I have to go out and play as hard as possible and leave everything on the court.
What's your goal for the upcoming season and even further into the future?
"My goals for this season are to win the regular season title and conference tournament and make it to the NCAA tournament. Individually I would like to be player of the year in the conference and make First Team All-Conference for a third straight year. In the future I want to make it to the NBA, do whatever it takes to get there. But, it first starts with accomplishing our team goals, because that will help my individual goals."
KEN HORTON, Central Connecticut State
6-6 Sr. SF
19.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.6 bpg, 1.4 spg, 49.2 FG pct, 37.6 3-pt pct, 86.9 FT pct
Do you feel that you are under the radar?
"Yes I do. I think that is because the school I play for is relativly small and not really nationally known as compared to the other schools like Duke, Uconn and UNC."
Do you enjoy being under the radar or do you wish you were more
nationally recognized? Do you ever wish you could get the type of
notoriety that Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker got last year?
"I've never really looked at it as being under the radar. The way I feel is, the recognition and things like that will come when the time is right. I just go out and play like I'm supposed to and don't worry about the other stuff. It would be nice to have but I just worry about playing ball, all the other stuff will come. There are times that I look at Kemba and Jimmer and see how people treated them and all the recognition they get. I do want that but that's not something I feel I can control. I can only control the way I play and the things I do on the court. My skills and the things I am able to do on the court will help me get to where I want to be in the near future."
Do you feel that being under the radar makes it more difficult to
make the NBA/become a pro?
"I do feel it's harder to mkae it to the NBA/play pro. It's more difficult because being at a smaller school, people don't really recognize you like you would want. With the bigger schools people are already watching them because they have a lot of big time players and have had a lot of big time players go through their programs. In order to make it to the next level I just need to keep working hard and make sure that I keep adding to my game as much as I can."
What's your goal for the upcoming season and even further into the future?
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