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California still produces some of the best talent in basketball. When you glance at the landscape of the NBA, several players are currently representing the state. The California products continue to be on the rise as Riverside’s own Donovan Dent is making his case as one of the prolific scorers in college basketball.
If you haven’t heard of Donovan Dent, you should do your Google research right now. This guy is a box office talent. Dent is an electric offensive player who plays with great energy and passion. Throughout his college career, Dent has been a pivotal piece in the University of New Mexico’s success. This season has been no different as Dent has embraced the role as the top-scoring option while putting the team on his back.
What is it that makes Dent a special scorer? I’m glad you guys asked. One thing that stands out to me about his offense is his patience. You rarely see Dent settle for an ill-advised shot. When he’s playing in single coverage, he loves to size up the defense. He may hit his defender with a hesitation move off the dribble to give him more time to make a decision. Once Dent finds the look he wants, he has no problem elevating over the defense.
It’s difficult to stop a talented scorer like Donovan Dent. He’s a multi-dimensional scorer and the defense is unaware of what to expect with the ball in his hands. While Dent is an exceptional scorer, he’s at his best when attacking the inside. His mentality is to put pressure on the defense every time he penetrates. As Dent navigates his way to the rim, the defense has no choice but to either foul him or allow the easy basket inside. His runner at the rim is nearly automatic once he releases his shot.
As for his perimeter game, Dent’s shot has come a long way. As a freshman, he shot 21 percent from the three-point line. As a sophomore, those shooting numbers improved significantly as he shot 37.5%. Dent’s shooting numbers are down this season. as he’s shooting 34% from behind the arc. Luckily, his confidence has continued to grow as a perimeter scorer and you see the work he has put in over the years.
Dent’s junior season has been a career year for him, averaging 19 points per game on 50% shooting. The question heading into this season was what was next for Dent. He had a spectacular sophomore campaign as he led New Mexico to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years. Since he has continued to dominate, the Lobos have emerged as one of the top teams in the Mountain West as they currently have an 8-1 record in conference play.
Dent has not disappointed in the box score. He started the season strong by recording 15 points on 45 percent shooting in a win against Nicholls. Since then, Dent has continued to produce high-scoring games. Two standout performances from this season was his double-double of 25 points and 10 assists in New Mexico’s win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi. A month later, Dent scored a career-high 40 points in a win over VCU.
Donovan Dent’s growth over the years has been exciting to watch. As a junior, he has fully embraced being the face of New Mexico and wants to continue to lead the way. The Lobos have high hopes of making the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. To do so, Dent must continue his high-level play on the offensive end.