| Flying Under The Radar: Marcus Slaughter Authored by Alex Cohen - February 18, 2006 - 8:29 pm
In today's college basketball world, where prestigious east coast universities like Duke and North Carolina capture much of the media attention, one west coast player, Marcus Slaughter, is trying to obliterate all the biases that come along with the mention of west coast basketball. And he's turning heads doing it.
Marcus Anthony Slaughter was born March 18,1985 in San Leonzo, California. He graduated from J.W. North High School where he only played two years of organized basketball, and was rated the 80th best prep player by www.Insider.com, earning honorable All-American status.
After averaging 24 points and 9 rebounds in the MWC tournament last year, Slaughter decided to test the NBA draft waters, without hiring an agent (leaving him the option of returning to college). While at workouts with other NBA draft hopefuls, he realized he was not prepared for such a big step, deciding to return to SDSU for his junior season.
So far this season, Slaughter has averaged 17 and 11, and shooting nearly 50% from the field, while propelling the Aztecs to first place in the Mountain West. Against Washington State, in a non-conference game, Slaughter wooed scouts by dropping 26 and 17, while the rest of his team could manage only 23 points…
SDSU is now in first place, but it is not only because of Slaughter's great statistics. Another junior, Brandon Heath, is having his best season yet, and is also drawing praise from many NBA scouts.
Along with junior transfer Mohamed Abukar (Florida), and freshmen Richie Williams and Kyle Spain, the Aztecs are looking as strong as ever, and prepared for a postseason run.
If he was to leave after this season, as many fans suspect he will, Slaughter is a likely late round draft pick, and a good fit for a team like the Mavericks, who is full of offensive enigmas (Dirk, Howard), but lacks the strong defensive abilities that will take them to the NBA finals.
Although I think that Slaughter is almost certain to leave the Aztecs following this season, personally, I think the best move for him is to stay for his senior year. If he does stay, he would draw more praise from NBA scouts, as he could very well be college basketball's leading rebounder. This idea alone can enhance his rising draft status.
If the Aztecs win their conference tournament, as expected, they are a dangerous Cinderella team come March Madness. With junior leadership from Slaughter, Heath, and Abukar, quickness from Earl Boykins-esque guard Richie Williams (freshman), and the powerful rebounding of another freshman Kyle Spain, the Aztecs have the ability to bust many brackets come postseason play.
In the pre-season, college basketball's most famous voice, Dick Vitale, named Slaughter to his All-Windex team, awarded to the nations top rebounders. Vitale saw NBA abilities that many NBA scouts have not yet seen.
Marcus Slaughter is leading the Aztecs to the postseason, and will continue putting up his 17 points and 11 rebounds , while garnishing no national media attention. But when the dust settles, he will be in the NBA, because he has the talent. It's only a matter of time until scouts start realizing it.
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