Leslie McDonald

Leslie McDonald, two point shooter.

McDonald has always been a scorer, and yet he's always been an inefficient one. A mediocre shooter with occasional hot streaks, McDonald doesn't have poor shot selection necessarily - he's just not the best shot maker. McDonald turns it over very rarely and knows his role, yet this is in part because he does not play on the ball much. Not creative, dynamic, nor good at creating looks for himself or others, McDonald's role is mainly a defensive one. Not overly quick or athletic, McDonald nevertheless stays after his man, stays in front, and competes on defense. He does not have great hands but he also does not gamble much, using his strength and guile rather than any great physical tools.

However, offensively, while his unselfishness and understanding of his limitations is a virtue, his limitations themselves are a problem. McDonald is a shooter and was the only shooter really on this year's incarnation of the Tar Heels, but he just isn't that good of one, both inside or outside the arc (and especially from the foul line, where he rarely gets anyway). A poor finisher at the rim on the rare occasions that he gets there, McDonald cannot create his own, cannot create for others, plays off the ball but without being a particularly good shooter off the catch or the curl, and generally had to assume a bigger offensive role as an upperclassman that he was fit for. Considering this offensive role was not that big, this is something of a concern.

With a better jump shot and a higher volume, McDonald's prognosis is different. But the time for that is now.

[...] At guard, UNC can give multiple looks. Dexter Strickland is a very athletic sophomore and an absolute dynamo in the open floor, who has improved his ability to get to the basket in the half court, and who also does an acceptable job of masquerading as the backup to Marshall now that Drew has stomped off. Strickland lacks for an outside shot, but he's athletic and fearless, and plays decent defense as well. The shooting role goes to fellow sophomore Leslie McDonald, who does little else but shoot threes at this juncture, and who does so at 41%. (Freshman Reggie Bullock was formerly a key part of the rotation, a comparable shooter to McDonald, and with a better mid-range game, reminiscent of a younger Terrico White. But he is injured and will miss the tournament.)