By Sandeep Chandok:
With the dismissal of former freshman walk-on point guard Terrell Brown, the unanswered question now is who will run the offense for San Jose State next season?
Brown appeared in 24 games last year, starting in nine and had a late-season stretch of six straight games with at least 12 points.
He was set to start what would’ve been his sophomore season but now, the roster has just two true, experienced point guards remaining going into the 2017-18 school year.
Senior Jalen James and sophomore Isaiah Nichols.
James played in 30 games, starting in 17 of them while Nichols played in 29 and started in 11.
Their styles of play differ from one another as Nichols looks to attack the basket, draw in defenders and set up his teammates for easy baskets, pushing the ball in the open court every chance he gets.
The senior James thrives in the half-court system and connected on 35 percent of three-point attempts last season. He also has the upper-hand defensively.
But Nichols shot 42 percent from the floor compared to just 35 percent for James.
An area both guards struggled with last season was turnovers. James was tied for second-most giveaways on the team (48) while Nichols was third and closely behind (46).
Both players are likely, and hopefully, getting in the gym during the summer break to improve their perimeter shots. Even James, because lets face it, 35 percent isn’t that good and James surely knows that himself.
With junior forward Brandon Clarke being the focal point of the Spartan offense, the ball is thrown onto the block and high-post area fairly often and when double-teamed, Clarke looks to kick the ball out to find his teammates for open shots.
Ball security, playmaking and shooting will determine who starts as the Spartans floor general next season which at this point would favor Nichols.
But I think head coach Dave Wojcik will give James the early nodd because he is a senior and there not being much discrepancy between the two guards.
Although, James will be on a short leash and this is evident from Brown taking over last year.
As for Nichols, he will get as much, if not more, floor time should James not be on his game.