Labaron Philon Jr. was all set to be a one-and-done after a successful freshman season, but at the final hour, the guard pulled his name out of the NBA Draft and announced his return to Alabama.
With his return came great expectations for Philon to make a leap in his on-the-court production as well as leadership.
The sophomore shattered those expectations.
Philon finished the regular season averaging 21.5 points and 4.8 assists per game on an efficient 50.7% from the field and 38.9% from 3.
Despite these numbers, the Mobile, Alabama, native was not a finalist for the Cousy Award given to the nation’s top point guard.
Philon became the first power conference player since 2000 to average at least 21 points and 4.5 assists per game at a 50% clip, and he will not even be recognized as a top-five player at his position.
“If I was him, I’d have a chip on my shoulder,” head coach Nate Oats said. “I’m sure he’s seen it and I’m sure it’s going to drive him a little bit.”
Finalists for the award include other phenom guards like Arkansas’ Darius Acuff, Purdue’s Braden Smith, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears, and Arizona’s Jaden Bradley.
Although all great players, I cannot see how Philon missed the cut. For instance, Bradley began his career with the Crimson Tide, averaging fewer points and assists per game on a worse shooting percentage from both the field and 3.
In fact, Philon averaged more points per game (21.5) than four of the finalists, including Smith (14.9), Flemings (16.5), and Fears (15.5). Acuff (22.2) was the only player to average more.
If you’re looking for the clutch factor, he’s got that too.
Philon has seven game-tying or lead-taking field goals in the last three minutes of the second half and overtime this season. Arguably the biggest of them all came in the final thirty seconds against rival Tennessee, when the star guard hit a game-winning turnaround jumper to end the Crimson Tide’s losing streak to the Volunteers.
With the magnitude of every game left rising for Alabama, Philon has a chance to not only win an SEC and National Championship, but also prove that he is the best point guard in the nation.
The Crimson Tide will be back in action Friday afternoon in the SEC Tournament. Tip is set for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
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