Mo Watson Jr. (#10 / G / 5-10 / 170 lbs / Jr.)
Creighton’s Mo Watson Jr. (WBR/Adam Streur) $ CLICK TO BUY $
Just over three weeks prior to the wild afternoon that included Nevada transfer Cole Huff’s decision to play at Creighton, Mo Watson Jr., a point guard transferring from Boston University, decided to make CenturyLink Center Omaha his home court during his final two years of eligibility. With Austin Chatman entering his senior season this year, Watson’s addition and remaining eligibility fill a need at a key position for the Bluejays.
Watson introduced himself to Creighton fans this summer at the Metro Summer League. Over the month-long summer season, Creighton’s newest point guard stood out. He earned a 1st-Team All-League nod along with Chatman after leading his team to the best overall record and top seed in the league tournament at the end of the season. His consistency and at times dominant performances even led to him being considered the best player in the league by some who got to see him on a regular basis.
An ESPN Top 100 player coming out of high school with an ever-improving jump shot, elite speed, ball-handling, and decision making he has been one of the most impressive players on the team during the preseason. He won’t have an impact when the lights are on during games, but he will push Chatman and the first unit while he waits a year for his chance to get on the court when the games count. An underrated part of his game has been his leadership, especially around the younger players. Whether he is participating in the drill or watching from the sideline, he is usually delivering some form of instruction or encouragement. A good indicator that when it comes time for him to take the reins in 2015-16, he won’t need much of an adjustment period.
Watson’s Boston University Stats:
Freshman – 11.2 ppg / 3.3 rpg / 5.4 apg / 1.7 spg / 125-270 FG (.463%) / 25-76 3FG (.329%) / 60-80 FT (.750%)
Sophomore – 13.3 ppg / 3.6 rpg / 7.1 apg / 2.1 spg / 189-382 FG (.495%) / 28-83 3FG (.337%) / 59-94 FT (.628%)
Watson’s High School Stats:
Senior – 21.8 ppg / 7.5 apg
Photo Gallery (here) and Slideshow (below) of Mo Watson Jr.:
Head Coach Greg McDermott on Watson:
“He needs to improve. Both he and Cole need to treat every practice as game day. When you make the decision to leave what was a successful career to transfer you want to make sure that when you get here and you’re sitting out you make the most of it. He has to do that. I’ll say this, it’s fun watching him and Austin now that Austin is back. Watching those two go at it every day — those are two pretty good point guards on the floor at the same time.”
Q&A with Mo Watson Jr.:
Q: How has practice and preseason preparation gone for you so far?
A: “It’s been a pretty tough transition. Just trying to learn the new system. There is much more complication learning where Mac wants you to get and how to get there. Using this year off I’ve just been trying to learn as fast as I can, but at the same time help the team as much as possible in terms of bringing energy, helping the guys on the sideline, pushing them on defense and offense. Giving up shots for myself to get other people involved.”
Q: Is it a difficult balance for a player like you knowing you get to use this season to develop, but also not being able to play right away?
A: “Yeah it is a little bit. You have things coming up like our first scrimmage, our exhibition, then we start getting close to the season, and being a junior I know how it feels to approach a season. I’m doing the same things I’m just not playing any games, so that’s the only thing for me. But these practices are my games. I just have to come in and try to get better every day and be ready to break out when I can play next year.”
Q: How has the competition been so far between you, Austin, Devin, and Zierden?
A: “We push each other. We guard the ball, we pressure the ball, a lot of hands flying. We try to make as big of an impact on the ball as possible, because there will be taller guards in the conference. Quicker guards, stronger guards, and all I want to do is make things tough for them that way they deal with it come game time. During games people don’t guard the way we do in practice, so if they can make things happen when there is difficulty, then when the games come it’ll be a lot easier for them.”
Q: What are your thoughts on the Championship Center and how has that helped you improve?
A: “It’s been great just having the technology here. When I visited it was only bricks and stone, but now having 24 hours, it’s only for us. You want to be in here because it’s so chill. You can come in here and watch TV, eat because of the new rule, play video games, and then come in the gym when it’s time. Having that access helps improve my game, and being able to take advantage of that is the key thing.”
Q: What are some of the things you need to work on to fit in this system and feel more comfortable?
A: “Get used to the length of the players. People are tall. There are seven-footers, the wings are way more athletic at this level than they were when I played at BU, so some passes I could make are getting tipped now. I have to learn to do things like not jump in the air when I pass or be stronger with the ball, use ball fakes more. That’s my biggest thing right now is just getting used to the athleticism and the speed. Other than that I feel like I make adjustments well. I study the game and I’m always critiquing my own game, so I’m always learning new things every day and that’s how I improve every day.”
Q: What did you think when you saw Creighton picked ninth in the Big East preseason poll?
A: “I think it’s motivation. You know I can have the attitude where I say I’m not playing this year so it doesn’t account to me, but I feel like this year leads off for things next season with recruiting and respect. Even though I’m not playing I still don’t want my school to be disrespected, because I play for the name on the front of my chest, not the name on my back. I’m a part of this family now, and when they disrespected them they disrespected me.”
Q: From what you’ve seen of this group what do you think this team is capable of?
A: “I think we’re capable of accomplishing anything we set our minds to. We have goals and we know what we need to do to get where we want to go. I think we can make the tournament with this team here, even though people don’t think we can. I’m expecting us to make the tournament and get a win just like every other season. I think our ceiling is high — we have shooters, we have rebounders, we have great defenders, we have great athletes. If we have the discipline and the focus then that will push us far.”