Wichita State Basketball: Breaking down the 2018 recruiting class

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: The Wichita State Shockers mascot gestures in the second half against the Marshall Thundering Herd during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 19: Head coach Gregg Marshall of the Wichita State Shockers reacts in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

SG Erik Stevenson – Lacey, WA

With the losses of Shamet, Reaves, and Frankamp this offseason, Wichita State desperately needs more shooting for next year. This is where Erik Stevenson comes in. Ranked at No. 220 in the 2018 class, Stevenson boasts consistent perimeter shooting as his primary skill. Standing at 6-foot-4 with a quick release as well, he has no trouble getting his shot off. He is a better athlete than most give him credit for and could be an immediate starter for the Shockers as a freshman. Clearly, he brings a much-needed skill set to Wichita State.

In 29 games as a high school senior this past season, Stevenson averaged 24.7 points per game. A polished scorer all-around, he shot 57.3% (281 2PA) inside the arc and 37.4% from 3-point range (243 3PA). The likelihood of this efficiency keeping up at the college level is also rather high. Free throw shooting and large sample sizes are good indicators of how well shooting will translate. He attempted a ton of shots from all over the court last season while also shooting 80.8% (152 FTA) from the charity stripe.

Also, it is important to remember that he was consistently at the top of high school scouting reports. Despite this, he was still able to post efficient shooting numbers with high volume. He will not need to shoot as much with the Shockers next season and might therefore even see a jump in those shooting percentages. In my opinion, Stevenson dropping 10+ points per game as a freshman is not out of the question.

In addition, Stevenson is a much better athlete than he is given credit for. He may not be a walking highlight reel like some 2018 recruits but he can get up and throw down slams or keep up with athletic wing players defensively. There is no reason to believe that he should be held back in his college career by middling athleticism although that is a commonly seen “weakness” in regards to Stevenson’s game.

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