George Washington University Athletics
Ready For Their Shot
11/19/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Seymour, Battle & Jack offer Colonials proven long-range firepower
Raised in upstate New York, Sloan Seymour honed his jump shot on outdoor courts, committing to get in the reps necessary to forge a reliable stroke in spite of the cold, wind and even rain.
The memories of brisk conditions and unforgiving double-rims became reality once again while at home last spring amid the COVID-19 pandemic when the only place to work on his craft was the local park. Every day, the GW forward would grab his brother Sean and go get shots up, determined to stay on track any way that he could.
“My dad always told me if I could shoot amongst the elements that it wouldn’t be that challenging to shoot in a gym,” said Seymour, who sat out last season per NCAA transfer rules after setting a Siena freshman record in 2018-19 with 94 3-pointers playing under Head Coach Jamion Christian. “He’d always say, ‘You could be the greatest in the world at this if you can master it out here.’ That’s something I really took serious.”
Throughout an unprecedented offseason, Seymour could look ahead to his debut in Buff and Blue – whenever it might arrive – for a steady source of motivation.
As the new season begins, the sweet-shooting transfer whom Lindy’s tabbed as the top outside marksman in the Atlantic 10 will finally get the opportunity to showcase the results of his continued hard work as part of a group with as much proven long-range firepower as any in program history.
“I always have this saying in the back of my head: Iron sharpens iron,” Seymour said. “To me, that means when you have other great players around you, you’re all going to push each other and help each other play to the best of your abilities. I think that’s really evident here.”
It’s an exciting prospect for Christian, a seasoned tactician who prizes the ability to stretch out a defense with capable outside shooting.
In the coach’s debut campaign in Foggy Bottom, Jamison Battle and Maceo Jack became the first A-10 teammates to finish 1-2 in made triples since Temple’s Mike Vreeswyk and Nate Blackwell in 1986-87.
Seymour joins the mix as part of a much-improved Buff and Blue squad that is poised to take Christian’s MAYHEM attack to the next level in his second season.
“They’re all natural fits for what we do,” Christian said. “It’s just a really interesting group of guys that I believe we can really space you out and play fast and make it hard for people to find us when we’re playing on the offensive end of the floor.”
Christian’s preferred offensive game plan came into focus last season.
When the Colonials were at their best, such as their Revolutionary Rivalry win over George Mason last January in front of 3,089 tri-corn wearing fans at Smith Center, all their points were coming on 3-pointers, layups and free throws.
Christian and his staff dig deep into the analytics to fine-tune the details each night out, but the offense is fundamentally built around a straight-forward concept: The defense must decide whether to defend the perimeter and risk opening up driving lanes or pack the paint and give the shooters room to operate.
“When we’re all clicking and hitting on all cylinders, it’s a very fun style of play,” said Jack, who hit at least four 3s in a game 12 times last season.
Crunching the numbers from a season’s worth of offense, Christian believes GW was largely on the right track in year one as far as hunting the proper shots. Yet, the Colonials’ 3-point percentage dipped while their turnover rate jumped down the stretch, a frustrating recipe for a rough finish.
Christian is optimistic lessons learned from that experience, especially for youngsters Battle, Jameer Nelson Jr. and Chase Paar, will pay dividends moving forward, and he’s encouraged by the way the new pieces, led by high-major transfers James Bishop (LSU) and Matthew Moyer (Vanderbilt), help fill out the roster puzzle.
“Looking at all the different lineups, we’re really excited about it,” Christian said. “When you look at playing great basketball, it’s all about how you complement one another. I really believe we have guys with games that complement one another who can really shine out for one another.”
Battle and Jack are ready to keep firing away. The pair flourished in 2019-20, taking advantage of the freedom within the system to knock down a combined 172 triples.
Battle showed remarkable consistency en route to a GW rookie record 89 3s, hitting at least one long ball in all 32 games. The Minnesota native’s offensive arsenal continued to expand as the season went on, and he’s looking forward to continuing that growth after dropping 15 pounds over the summer.
“There aren’t a lot of coaches who believe as much as he believes in his guys to execute the offense and to do what he asks you to do,” said Battle, who was tabbed to the A-10 All-Rookie Team after averaging 11.8 points per game. “I think it’s just the type of coach he is – always confident, always giving confidence to his guys and always putting trust in us.”
Jack has made steady progress on both ends over his time in Buff and Blue, his increase in 3s from 11 to 64 to 83 offering just one indication of that growth. While continuing to hone his physical skills, the senior guard spent much of the time at home in New York during quarantine focused on the mental side of the game.
By now, Jack is comfortable with the type of shots he’s going to get in Christian’s offense, and he’s put in the time to know that he can make them. He wants to draw confidence from his preparation, taking cues from elite athletes he’s studied like LeBron James and Mike Tyson.
“Being a leader, I have to come in every single day and produce,” Jack said. “There can’t be an off-game where I just say, ‘Ah, I’m not feeling it.’ Every day, the team expects me to lead by example, whether it’s making my 3s, scoring or playing defense. I have to be ready.”
Seymour is eager to take his place in the lineup alongside them, presenting a matchup nightmare as a 6-foot-9 forward with a 6-11 reach.
Seymour was headed to prep school before Christian convinced the hometown kid he’d be a perfect fit in this system at Siena. He still believed it when he committed to join the Buff and Blue as a transfer after hitting 37 percent from deep during his tremendous rookie campaign.
“Coach Christian is going to put you in position to play to your strengths,” Seymour said. “I just felt like I was improving a lot under him. That’s why I wanted to play for him again.”
Last season, Seymour made an impression on his new teammates as a member of the scout team, showcasing the ability to put the ball on the floor and score around the rim. He wants to be known as more than a shooter, and he made a concerted effort, both in the weight room and via extra skill sessions with assistant Graham Bousley, to add to his game.
“We really challenged him,” Christian said. “He took that year sitting out seriously, and he’s come out of it a better player.”
Who’s the best shooter in the gym? All agree it depends on the day, and Bishop, a prolific scorer in his AAU days, is definitely in the mix, too.
For now, they’ll all continue to work behind the scenes, savoring the competitive atmosphere and chance to bring out the best in each other in the countdown to the season opener.
“We all bring something special to the table,” Jack said. “It’s going to be fun with all of us on the court, for sure.”
For Seymour, it’s meaningful to be back in the Smith Center after months on the neighborhood blacktop with his return to game action in sight. And not just because of the more forgiving rims.
“Personally, I know I’ve cherished the game more than I ever have before,” Seymour said. “With the pandemic and the questions around the season, it’s made everybody in college basketball, I feel like, appreciate everything that much more.”