Robert Carter gives Robert Sampson two thumbs up — way up.
Sampson, Georgia Tech’s transfer from East Carolina, has performed the role of Duke stand-out forward Jabari Parker as the Yellow Jackets have prepared for their Tuesday night matchup with the Blue Devils at McCamish Pavilion.
“If they’re hitting the shots he’s hitting, it’s going to be a good game,” Carter said. “He’s giving us exactly what we need to get us prepared for each and every game.”
It is Tech’s hope that Sampson’s work will have Carter ready to defend the gifted freshman. It will be a considerable and critical challenge as the Jackets attempt what would easily be their biggest win of the season.
“I think he’s such a multidimensional player and so versatile that he can hurt you in a lot of different ways,” coach Brian Gregory said. “And with their perimeter shooting from the other guys on the court, the defense gets stretched so many times. So his strength and explosiveness to the basket either from the perimeter or in the post is very difficult for guys to stop one-on-one.”
Parker, a top-five recruit in the 2013 signing class and likewise a possible top-five pick in the NBA draft when he makes himself eligible, is living up to the billing. In the past seven games, Parker has averaged 20 points and recorded four double-doubles, the same number he had in his first 18 games. He is getting to the free-throw line more frequently, rejecting more shots and feasting on the offensive glass.
Gregory sees a different player than when Duke and Tech played on Jan.7 in the Yellow Jackets’ second game of the ACC season and Parker scored 12 points with six rebounds.
“When he sees (scoring opportunities) now, he’s super aggressive to make the most of them,” Gregory said. “But when they’re not there, he’s not forcing it as much. That just comes with minutes played.”
There isn’t exactly an expansive list of opponents who have slowed him down, but Notre Dame held him to seven points in a win for the Fighting Irish on Jan. 4. Virginia held him to eight points on Jan. 13 and nearly upset the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Carter, who will be playing his third game since returning from a torn meniscus in his left knee, will get turns on Parker, as will big men Kammeon Holsey and Daniel Miller.
“He’s good with the ball,” Carter said. “He’s just a talented offensive player, he’s got a lot of moves and stuff that he can do. He’s impressive.”
While he fills the power forward spot and sometimes even acts as the center, Parker plays mostly on the perimeter, which won’t be the most comfortable territory for post defenders Carter, Holsey and Miller. Pulling any of those three out of the paint also limits their ability to rebound and challenge shots as help defenders.
Nevertheless, the return of Carter, who wasn’t available for Tech’s first game against Duke, will help. Even if Parker can beat Carter one-on-one on the wing, either Holsey or Miller will likely be waiting to meet him in the lane. When Carter was out, Gregory didn’t always have the option to play two big men at a time.
“It’s a team coverage,” Carter said.
Tech can also exploit Duke when it uses Parker as its center. Sometimes matched up against Parker, Miller shot 7-for-11 against Duke.
Said Carter, “I want to play against him, see what it’s about.”
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