Is Stephen Curry Overrated?

In a word: no. Stephen Curry is the best player in the Southern Conference since Jerry West (when West Virginia was in the SoCon). Offensively, he is as good as anyone I've seen in college hoops this decade (J.J. Redick was a better shooter but Curry can create his own shot and is a better all-around offensive player). Is there anyone else you would want to take a big shot in crunch time? He is not a true point guard, but he can handle the rock, pass, and make his teammates better. He takes a lot of shots, but he is not a ball hog. Against Loyola (Maryland), he was double-teamed the entire game so he essentially stood in the corner and let his teammates play 4 on 3 -- Curry only took 3 shots that game and Davidson won by 30. The fact that Curry will likely play shooting guard in the NBA makes it even more impressive that he was willing to play point guard this year for Davidson, after last year's starting point guard Jason Richard graduated. I do not think Davidson can make a March Madness run like they did last season (Elite 8). Not only did they have a few bounces go their way during the tourney last season, the team was better last year. They will miss Jason Richard running the point, controlling the game, and distributing the ball to Curry running off screens. Curry is great, but Davidson is asking him to do too much this season. Although I believe Davidson was a better TEAM last season, Curry is a better player this year than he was last season. Apparently he went to skills camps run by Steve Nash, Chris Paul, and LeBron James last summer. He should be a lock for 1st Team All-American. Even still, I am little surprised he is getting so much hype.

As a Virginia fan, I love that Virginia Tech did not offer Stephen a scholarship. Let me get this straight Hokie Nation -- one of the best basketball players in Virginia Tech history, Dell Curry, marries a former Virginia Tech women's volleyball standout and you don't offer their son a basketball scholarship? I know Curry was even smaller in high school, but he was all-state. He didn't come completely out of nowhere. Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg offered Curry a chance to walk on the team, but he could not spare a scholarship. Good call, Seth. Ralph Sampson's son could be the biggest stiff in high school basketball history, and I'm pretty sure UVa would give him a scholarship.

As much as I have raved about Steph Curry, I am not sold on his ability to play at the next level. In my opinion, he is not a prototypical point guard. If he plays shooting guard in the NBA, he will be matching up with much bigger and taller players. Curry is 6'3'' but he will have trouble defending the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Brandon Roy, and other shooting guards. Offensively, Curry's quick release and ability to create his own shot make up for his slight build and average height (for a baller). He may be able to play the role of a scoring point guard - similar to rookie Mario Chalmers in Miami - in which he could guard the opposing team's point guard, bring the ball up the floor, and then run off screens for his own shots. Regardless of what position he plays, I do not think he is a top 10 pick.

Since I much prefer college basketball to the NBA, I am not as concerned as most people about Curry's future in the NBA. I hope he comes back to Davidson next year for his senior year. It is nice to watch somebody that knows how to play the game. I heard somewhere that if he comes back for his senior year and maintains the same scoring average for the rest of his career, he will end up as second all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball history (behind "Pistol" Pete Maravich). While others debate whether Curry is a lottery pick in the NBA, I will enjoy watching him play college ball.