The Sport Count

ESPN is calling it a wake up call, but The Sport Count is calling it a coming out party.

19-year old Australian back-up point guard Patrick Mills was an absolute firecracker in the backcourt in Team USA’s pre-Olympic hit-out against  The Boomers, managing to blow past the likes of Kobe and CP3 on offense, and stay in front of the best guards in the NBA on the defensive end.

Patrick Mills: USA Slayer

Mills impressed with a couple of coast to coasts, highlighting a real weakness in Team USA’s otherwise indomitable defensive structure: a true reluctance to get back on defense after they’ve set up on offense.

But enough about Team USA’s shortcomings. Let’s talk about Patrick Mills, a member of the new breed of Indigenous ballers coming up the ranks in the Australian scene, alongside the recently drafted Nathan Jawai. A quick demography lesson for all of you Stateside Count reader: Indigenous Australian’s represent about 2.5% of Australia’s population, so they’re pretty well represented on the ball front.

Mills is currently doing his daily balling at St. Mary’s in Division 1, where he dropped 37 against his Oregon rivals in his first season. That freshman campaign saw him average 14.4 and 1.8 steals, along with 3.7 assists, so look for those averages to bump in 08/09.

Patty Mills: Baller Par Excellence

Watching the game with fellow Count editor Anton Trees, we agreed that Mills’ performance last night – along with his solid output as a freshman for St. Mary’s last season — will send him into the last first round or early second round for a team with a need at guard.

Mills will flat out torch second units. With his quickness and offensive awareness, he has the tools he needs to carve out a niche in the NBA.

You need to watch this Patrick. The man has skills.

Posted by: James