Cameron Ridley (6’9″ 285 lbs. #55 Center)
Highlights of Cameron Ridley:
Outlook:
Cameron Ridley is the best player on the Texas basketball team. His presence on the blocks gives the Longhorns the key puzzle piece they were lacking in recent years. His shot blocking ability and strength in taking the ball to the basket is almost unmatched in the Big 12, and rivals any elite post player in the entire NCAA.
Every season Ridley has made substantial improvements to his game – after being a below average rebounder, Ridley became the best rebounder on the team; he went from a liability on the free throw line to one of the best free throw shooters on the team; and, perhaps most importantly, Ridley went from a flabby freshmen to a toned junior. His commitment to this program and to his game is only matched by Jonathan Holmes on this squad.
A major key for Texas this season is to see how Ridley has improved his game. Ideally that jump will come in the junior’s consistency and his distribution of the ball. Ridley averaged less than half an assist per game in 2013-14. That means that when the big fella got the ball down low, he rarely kicked it back outside.
I don’t expect that to change significantly, but I do expect the options he can pass the ball to be much better. Isaiah Taylor should be more confident as a shooter, and the addition of Myles Turner as another capable offensive player down low, should result in Ridley not feeling like he has to be the one always going in for a layups (or dunk).
From a team growth standpoint, the biggest improvement Ridley could make is to develop a jumpshot. He doesn’t have to be a sharpshooter, but if Ridley was at least a threat to step away from the paint and knock down a shot, the other Texas post players get more room to work.
