Sophomore guard Nelly Perry of Clemson is having a breakout season. Photo cred – @ClemsonWBB/Twitter
Coach Audra Smith and her staff are working hard to rebuild the Clemson program into an ACC competitor. Smith came to Clemson from the University Alabama-Birmingham where she led the program to the most successful three-year period in school history. Here is a look at how Smith is trying to replicate that success at Clemson.
By: @JLHemingwayPSB
The Program
In the midst of a rebuilding process, the Tigers have picked up a few important victories this season. That includes a 18 point victory on the road at Tennessee Tech. Naismith Player of the Year Award Selector, Brandon Clay, had a chance to visit the Clemson staff this year. He says, “Coach Audra Smith is in the process of rebuilding Clemson’s foundation brick by brick. From a roster chock full of underclass talent to a complete renovation of Littlejohn Coliseum that be ready this fall, the Tigers are setting the deck for what is to come. If the success that Smith and her staff had at UAB is any indication, their bright future will become the perfect present sooner than later.”
Player Feature
A bright spot on this year’s roster is sophomore guard Nelly Perry who is currently averaging 15.3 points per game. She has taken the role as the lead play-maker for the Tigers this year. The growth that she is showing between her freshman and sophomore year is notable and worthy of optimism for Smith’s staff. She ranks as one of the top ten scorers in the ACC Conference.
Play Breakdown
After viewing a few of the Tigers games this season, we noticed that Perry is the featured play-maker in the half-court. Assistant coach Daryl Oliver, who took over as the offensive coordinator this season, has done a great job of putting Perry in positions to get her shots. Here is a look at one of their go-to sets for Perry.
Frame 1: Perry sets the Ball Screen for the PG. This is a unique alignment, because the Tigers have the 4 player in the corner for their horns set. This allows Perry to operate near the top of the key.
Frame 2: Perry immediate turns and sets a cross screen for the post. This is good, because it prevents an easy switch: 1. because Perry is going to be guarded by a perimeter defender 2. If Perry’s defender hedges hard on the ball screen, it will take them out of the play all together.
Frame 3 & 4: Perry catches at the top of the key and looks to go hi-lo with the post player. This is an added option within the play
Frame 5: Perry rips to the left side of the lane to create downhill. This puts her in an ideal situation to get a scoring opportunity quickly.
Jonathan Hemingway is the Assistant Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com International Scouting Report, is on the Naismith Trophy Board of Selectors and owns CoachHemi.com, the go-to source for coaches for X’s and O’s. He is the floor director of #TeamEBA camps, a site director for #TeamPSB tournaments and can be reached at jonathanhemingway@peachstatebasketball.com.
