Last week, Darius McGhee informed the press and fans via a suspenseful video that he was returning for one more year as a Liberty Flame. The name “Darius McGhee” is nearly synonymous with Liberty Men’s Basketball.
The 5’9” athletic phenom from Roxboro, North Carolina has single-handily changed the excitement factor of watching the Flames. Last season, McGhee blessed fans with a number of clutch, high-scoring extravaganzas. Obviously, last week’s announcement has been met with nothing but anticipation and optimism about Liberty’s chances to make a deep post-season run next year.
Below is a stat report for Darius in his four years at Liberty, per ESPN:
The Numbers
Outside of Darius’ freshman year, his numbers have been fairly consistent. He has been on an upward trajectory in nearly every major category since initially putting on a Flames jersey in 2018. He continues to hone his field goal and three-point accuracy as the seasons progress. His less-than-one percent dip in three-point percentage can be attributed to his increased shot volume, as the Flames ran most of their offense through his hands. Darius is on par with Seth Curry (this is merely a visual observation as the stat was not officially tracked until after Seth was a Flame) as the highest used Flame in program history (for more on Darius’ usage rate and the significance of that stat, see this article).
Darius stands out for his defensive prowess, as well. Averaging 1.2 steals per game is not an outstanding number, but for a 5’9” guard who gets hunted for mismatches, he holds his own well and threatens ball-handlers. McGhee is one of the most clutch Flames in history, and his reliability at the line, especially down the stretch, is reflected in his near-90 percent accuracy at the free-throw line. It is noteworthy that he was even that accurate as a freshman. McGhee has always been a composed player.
Also noteworthy are McGhee’s rebounding numbers. Most undersized guards shy away from competing for 50-50 basketballs. Some of his success is simply attributed to the usefulness of the packline, but it takes effort to rebound. Darius is not above the grind, and his rebounding numbers prove that he is an engaged and aggressive hustler.
For you active Twitter Flames fans, his assists numbers tell a much different tale that is often expressed on social media. Darius has drawn criticism from a certain margin of fans for his ball-dominate offensive play. There are certainly times when he relies on the dribble to his detriment, but this is a tendency of any guard who has a high usage rate. The analytics tell an important story and a different story than the complaints.
When a player has an exceptionally high usage rate, it’s not uncommon to see an increase in turnover numbers. It is important to note whether or not a player is still sharing the basketball. Averaging nearly five assists per game while also being one of the top scorers in the country tells us one story – Darius was literally carrying the offensive output. I don’t intend to take anything away from other individual performances that were substantial in the previous season, but Darius was left to take over and single-handedly win games. More often than not, he did. Darius deserves more credit for his ability to include his teammates while also being relied upon as the primary offensive threat.
Ultimately, McGhee’s numbers speak for themselves. He is efficient, effective, dependable on both ends of the basketball, and an elite college basketball player.
The Intangibles
It’s no secret Darius’ stealthy (until warm-ups) weapon is his exceptional leaping ability. If Darius takes the next step to participate in the NBA combine next summer, he will be flirting with breaking the record for the running vertical test. Henry Barrera is well-deserving of a shout-out. Barrera serves as the strength and conditioning trainer for the Flames, and he has assisted Darius in maximizing his leaping abilities. If you get a chance to go to a game early, make sure to look out for the shortest player on the court putting on the largest show. It’s not unreasonable to think that Darius’ movement and athleticism will be at a peak this season. That is exciting news for fans given that many of us can’t believe seeing him do even more incredible things on the court.
I anticipate McGhee’s scoring numbers may take a three to four point reduction in the coming season, but I think his shooting percentages will rise by about the same numbers. I attribute this prediction to the development of scoring talent around him and his maturity. McGhee already plays above his age, but he is reaching a place where the game will be completely under his control. This is often noticeable when graduate transfers are playing. They are composed down the stretch, not easily rattled (even when missing shots), and tend to play with a higher IQ than their peers. Darius will likely embody these principles this season. Look for an average of one more assist this season, as well.
Nationally, McGhee’s stock will grow. I believe the Flames will make a deeper post-season run, and I think it is possible we see them in the field of 64 next year. If the men can accomplish all they aspire to in the post-season, it is likely Darius becomes a national fan favorite. We witnessed this in real-time as Doug Edert of Saint Peters University became a national sweetheart for his underdog spirit and willingness to embrace the moment in this past season’s tournament. McGhee, with maturity and composure, is poised for that prime-time moment. And, we all know he will be praising his teammates and coaches first if he is blessed with these opportunities.
