This comparison has been made a number of times, and up until recently -- I felt it was a fair to bring up, but still clearly Marcus Denmon is the answer. First the stats.
Senior stats. I did look at each of their stats from their junior years, and remarkably Kassius has almost IDENTICAL stats to last year. Seems kind of odd, just since he was playing for a different school in an entirely different kind of league. MD's stats were also very similar between his senior and junior year. Makes sense, the BIG leap most college players make it between their freshman and sophomore years. I'd say this would be the case 90% of the time.
Points
MD - 17.7
KR - 16.4
Rebounds
MD - 5.0
KR - 2.6
Assists
MD - 2.1
KR - 2.3
Turnovers
MD - 1.2
KS - 2.4
FT%
MD - 90%
KS - 84%
3P%
MD - 41%
KS - 42%
2P%
MD - 46%
KS - 42%
Steals
MD - 1.6
KS - 0.9
While these aren't the advanced stats that many use now, I'd say the stats probably would suggest Denmon still the superior player. I "DO" think Denmon was a better ball handler, which shows up in the turnovers -- but Kassius has improved dramatically on that (Martin said he really really struggled in that department when he arrived on campus). Also the significant turnover difference could partly be explained by the fact that Denmon had Pressey, Dixon, and other solid ball handlers around him to not put nearly as much pressure on him to handle the ball against immense pressure.
Denmon certainly was a stronger player at the attacking the rim, that is undeniable. Which shows up in the rebound difference as well.
Either way, pretty amazing that this is even a discussion. I figured back when we signed him, that Kassius would the guy we all said... "where we would be without him" --- but he's just blown away even the highest of expectations.
And to think he was recruited by ONE D-1 school.
Senior stats. I did look at each of their stats from their junior years, and remarkably Kassius has almost IDENTICAL stats to last year. Seems kind of odd, just since he was playing for a different school in an entirely different kind of league. MD's stats were also very similar between his senior and junior year. Makes sense, the BIG leap most college players make it between their freshman and sophomore years. I'd say this would be the case 90% of the time.
Points
MD - 17.7
KR - 16.4
Rebounds
MD - 5.0
KR - 2.6
Assists
MD - 2.1
KR - 2.3
Turnovers
MD - 1.2
KS - 2.4
FT%
MD - 90%
KS - 84%
3P%
MD - 41%
KS - 42%
2P%
MD - 46%
KS - 42%
Steals
MD - 1.6
KS - 0.9
While these aren't the advanced stats that many use now, I'd say the stats probably would suggest Denmon still the superior player. I "DO" think Denmon was a better ball handler, which shows up in the turnovers -- but Kassius has improved dramatically on that (Martin said he really really struggled in that department when he arrived on campus). Also the significant turnover difference could partly be explained by the fact that Denmon had Pressey, Dixon, and other solid ball handlers around him to not put nearly as much pressure on him to handle the ball against immense pressure.
Denmon certainly was a stronger player at the attacking the rim, that is undeniable. Which shows up in the rebound difference as well.
Either way, pretty amazing that this is even a discussion. I figured back when we signed him, that Kassius would the guy we all said... "where we would be without him" --- but he's just blown away even the highest of expectations.
And to think he was recruited by ONE D-1 school.
