Jared Cohen
Is CJ McCollum number five?
In recent history, point or combo guards coming from small schools have proven to be very productive players in the NBA. The reigning rookie of the year Damien Lillard of Portland went to Weber State. Obviously one of the top guards in the game is Stephen Curry of Golden State went to Davidson. CJ McCollum had a great four years at Lehigh and is considered one of the top guards in the draft.
Will Ryan McDonough and the Phoenix Suns roll with a two point guard lineup though? McCollum is a guy that could make the most sense at that position for the Suns because not only can he handle the ball, but can really score it as well. McDonough mentioned after the team worked out McCollum along with Trey Burke, Michael Carter-Williams and others that the league is trending toward to point guard lineups because teams like having two players that can handle the ball. McCollum along side Dragic might make the most sense on paper.
McCollum might also have a small leg up on the rest because the Suns President of Basketball Operations, Lon Babby, is also a graduate of Lehigh.
Career Highlights: McCollum ranks first in Patriot League history and second in school history with 2,361 career points scored. Named Patriot League Player of the Year as a freshman and junior. Earned honorable mention All-American Honors from the AP as a junior and freshman as well. Named First Team All-Patriot League as a junior, sophomore and freshman. He battled a foot injury his senior season but looks to have recovered from that fully.
Strengths: Has solid size and length for a guard. Son of Kathy Andrews and Errick McCollum. Was a journalism major in college and penned an article for The Sporting News in 2012 about his decision to return to school his senior year.
