Editor’s Note: Statistics used in this story are dated before LSU’s game against Ole Miss.
With a single glance at his smooth stroke, leaping high above his defenders to create separation, most would recognize why LSU freshman guard Antonio Blakeney garnered praise as an elite scorer coming out of Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, Florida.
But oftentimes, the former five-star prospect’s statistics don’t reflect his capability to score from the perimeter, something coach Johnny Jones has seen in a lot of highly touted freshmen.
Blakeney, like fellow freshman guard Brandon Sampson, is still learning to find efficiency with a lower number of shot attempts, Jones said.
“A lot of times, these guys come into high school, and they’re volume guys,” Jones said. “They have an opportunity to take a lot of shots. Whether they can get on and start hitting [shots], that’s the big adjustment for most high-profile guys coming from high school.
“It’s no different with Sampson and Blakeney. Both of those guys were able to have green lights [in high school]. We do as well, but it’s within our offense. [They’re] probably not getting as many attempts as they’re used to.”
For the season, Blakeney is shooting just 35.6 percent from field and 27.4 from beyond the arc. In the last five games, including the Tigers’ first three Southeastern Conference games, the Sarasota, Florida native is converting only 32.2 percent of his shots and is 2-for-15 clip from three-point territory.
While Blakeney has started in all 15 games thus far, Sampson has only started in five — four of which came in the first four games of the season. Obviously, the Baton Rouge native’s time on the bench has resulted in fewer minutes on the floor, recording fewer than nine minutes in each of the last three games.
Since his 18-point performance against NC State in Brooklyn, New York, on Nov. 24, Sampson hasn’t taken more than six shots in a game without hitting a field goal in the last three games. Conversely, the former four-star recruit from Madison Prep took as many as 12 shots in three of his first five games, averaging 11.8 points in those games.
Likewise, Blakeney’s shot attempts have decreased since the start of the season, which is in part due to addition of senior guard Keith Hornsby and sophomore forward Craig Victor II to the starting lineup. Since his season-high 17 attempts against the Wolfpack, during which he hit just four shots, Blakeney hasn’t taken more than nine in any of the last 10 games.
Despite fewer attempts, Blakeney still hasn’t found consistency, highlighted by four straight contests without making a three pointer. He did, however, knock down 2-of-6 treys in the 68-62 loss to Florida on Jan. 9.
With less scoring opportunities, Blakeney has turned his focus to other aspects of the game, heeding his coach’s advice.
“We all have that freedom on offense,” Blakeney said. “[Jones] just really wants you to play hard on defense — take good shots, take smart shots. We don’t really talk about the slump because basketball is way more than just shooting the ball.
“If I came to a team where it was still the same way as high school, my defense wouldn’t have grown.”
In spite of their statistical struggles, Jones hasn’t wavered in his confidence in his two rookie guards’ scoring capabilities. The key for Blakeney and Sampson is patience, he said.
“It will come around, and they’ll become very comfortable with that,” Jones said. “It’s just taken them some time. I think that night will come, where he and Blakeney are going to get on and get in rhythm, and we won’t look back. We’re looking forward to that.”