Quisenberry to have a Strong Junior Campaign!
The greatest thing about the game of basketball is that there are talented players all around. No matter what conference or division a player plays in, they want to make noise that will benefit their team and themselves as individuals. Darius Quisenberry has been a player that has flown under the radar the past two years. He’s had a productive collegiate career and looks to continue to do so. Looking to put Youngstown State on the map, Quisenberry will look to elevate his play to set the one for the team.
Believe it or not, Quisenberry is an NBA pro in the making. The kid plays with a lot of heart and it shows by the effort he puts out on a nightly basis. His leadership and style of play awarded him his name on the Horizon League First Team. The Youngstown State Penguins had the third best record in the conference standing at 18–15 on the season. It was a huge improvement after finishing the previous season 12–20. The program understands that they can make noise in the Horizon League as the best team in the conference. It will be up to the dynamic of Quisenberry to lead the pact for the team.
Quisenberry is a point guard that any coach would want. He has the ability to control the pace of the game when he is the floor general. Quisenberry has shown the agility to knock down three point shots and split through the defense in dribble penetration to the rim. He can also be unselfish on the floor and find his open teammates in tough situations. As the defense can be occupied on Quisenberry, he seems to have a trust in his teammates to knock down shots and carry the offense when things aren’t going right for him. Quisenberry’s impact was felt last season for the Penguins all last season. Without his presence of being the floor general, it would be interesting to watch how this team would have managed to become successful.
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Quisenberry averaged 16.6 points on 42% from the field. It was without question that he was the #1 scoring option for the Penguins this past season. Quisenberry developed into a more confident shooter, compared to his freshman season, and stayed in attack mode throughout the year. Coach Jerrod Calhoun kept his trust in his team leader to keep the bar high and Quisenberry did everything he could do. The confidence that Quisenberry plays with is unmatched and it’s the right mindset to have as a leader.
In comparison to an NBA great, Quisenberry shows similarities in his game to Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. Both Lillard and Quisenberry have a string frame as they use their size to overpower their opponents when penetrating. Lillard also has the reputation of being one the NBA’s best deep three point shooter. On several occasions, Quisenberry can step out deep when he gets space to drain long threes and show off his range.
The connection with both of these players is that they both have attended small schools. Lillard went to school at Weber State and was ranked number 48 at his position. As Lillard continued to stick with his attack mentality, he finally received the recognition that was well deserved. Quisenberry shows NBA capabilities that many scouts and insiders are unaware of. As long as he continues to put in work throughout the season, those recognitions will come soon.
There are two challenges for Quisenberry going into his junior season. The first one is to become a more efficient shooter. While Quisenberry has improved his shooting percentage throughout the years, there can still be room for improvement. Quisenberry should improve his percentage to at least 45% on the season. There have been many opportunities where he has taken ill advised shots and could have found a better opportunity for himself or a teammate. It is up to Quisenberry to figure what shots to take and what to pass up on.
The second challenge is to become a better defender. If Quisenberry as the leader can set the tone on defense, it will only elevate Youngstown State’s play in many ways. Poor defense was what cost the Penguins a lot of close games last season and it needs to be an adjustment. It will be interesting to watch how Quisenberry makes the adjustments on defense for the better of his team.
It is a new opportunity ahead of Darius Quisenberry and the Youngstown State Penguins. They can go into this season with a mindset of being the best in the Horizon League and put the conference on notice. Quisenberry may not get the national attention that many would want, but winning a championship is where his mindset is at. As long as he plays at the highest level, this season for Quisenberry will be filled with nothing but success.
