The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorns spotlight: A.J. Abrams
02.17.2008 | Men's Basketball
Before this year, everything about A.J. Abrams said he was a three-point specialist. Coming into his junior season, he ranked second in school history in career three-point field goal percentage (.413) and started on a streak of 38 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer. He even picked the number three as his jersey number.
The 2007-2008 season has been a different story, however. Although he has kept the number, he has changed his approach.
With the loss of 25.8 points per game from last season's National Player of the Year Kevin Durant, Abrams knew he would be called upon to help make up some of the offensive production and it would require him to expand his game inside three-point arc.
"I knew I couldn't just stand outside the three-point line this year," Abrams said. "The coaches told me that this year I would be a marked guy, so it was a conscious decision to change my game."
"A.J. made it a priority to add something to his game in the off-season," followed assistant coach Russell Springmann. "The focus became having more of a mid-range game, because you knew as well as he shoots that people were really going to try to hug up on him."
Springmann noted that by putting the ball on the floor and creating, it has not only helped Abrams' mid-range game, but also allowed him take advantage of his tremendous vision and become a better passer.
"When he penetrates or when he comes off a screen, as soon as he sees somebody showing, he distributes the ball," Springmann said.
Such a big alteration to one's playing style never comes without a lot of work. Abrams spent a good part of the summer developing his game with Toronto Raptors point guard T.J. Ford. He has followed that with many hours with the coaching staff after practice once the season started.
"T.J. really helped me work on penetrating and finding the open guy and getting the ball to him as quickly as you can," Abrams said. "He also really helped me with the mental aspect and taught me how to think about the game."
Besides the natural leadership that comes with being an upperclassman, it is Abrams' basketball I.Q. that Springmann says his teammates respect and makes his leadership that much more effective, along with several valuable personality traits.
"I think the biggest thing A.J. brings is his toughness," Springmann said. "No matter what's going on in the game, he maintains his composure and his demeanor. You don't know whether you're up or down by looking at A.J. He's just playing."
And at no time does it show more than when a critical shot is needed.
"When we're down, we're looking for him to score," Springmann said. "Everybody in the building knows we're looking to him. He wants to be in that position. I think that automatically puts him in a leadership role, along with his understanding of the game."
"I learned from A.J. my freshman year," added teammate D.J. Augustin. "He's one of the reasons I've been able to grow into a leader. He's like another coach on the floor. He's very smart and understands the game."
Just as he has for Augustin, as one of only four upperclassmen on the team this year, he has taken a lead in providing an example for the younger players.
"I just try to help the younger guys get through it," Abrams said. "I've been where they are the past couple of years, and I just try to help them know what to expect. It is easy for me now because I know what to tell them, and they listen."
It is all a reflection of Abrams learning to play more like his role model and number sake, Allen Iverson. Though he is still a huge threat outside the arc with his lightning quick release, he has gotten more open looks by driving into the lane and looking for a shot or finding an open teammate.
So far this season, Abrams is the Longhorns' second-leading scorer, averaging 17.5 points per game. While last year he shot 35 percent from two-point range, this year, Abrams' two-point field goal percentage has risen to 55 percent.
"A.J. worked hard this summer making different shots and just getting around big men and shooting over them," Augustin said. "He's small like me. We've got to be able to shoot tough shots and make them. He worked so hard this summer. It's paying off right now."
