Texas A&M Basketball: DJ Hogg to play for Pelicans in NBA Summer League
By Jeff Shull
Former Texas A&M basketball wing DJ Hogg got an invite to play for the New Orleans Pelicans in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League.
Texas A&M basketball is experiencing yet another tough year for roster turnover. Much like after their previous Sweet 16 run, where Alex Caruso, Danuel House and Jalen Jones went on to make NBA rosters, the Aggies again lost arguably their three best players from the 2017-18 team that advanced to the Sweet 16.
Robert Williams, Tyler Davis and DJ Hogg had dreams of playing in the NBA and all three hired agents, losing their amateur status and ability to return. Williams got selected No. 27 overall by the Boston Celtics, but Davis and Hogg went undrafted.
Leading up to the 2018 NBA Draft, there was some small amount of speculation from media outlets that Hogg could get selected late in the second round.
Most viewed him as a low-risk, high-reward player that fits the mold of the ideal NBA wing. However, Hogg’s dream of being drafted was not realized. There were just too many athletically gifted players with similar skill sets that teams thought higher of.
The NBA door is not shot for Hogg, however, as the New Orleans Pelicans invited Hogg to play for their squad in the upcoming Las Vegas NBA Summer League.
Hogg will have a chance to showcase the shooting ability that made him such a highly recruited player coming out of Plano, TX in 2015. It’s by far his best asset, but he possesses underrated playmaking skills that teams will need to see if he wants to make an NBA roster full time.
The former Ag averaged 11.1 points on 42/38/72 shooting percentages with 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 blocks and 0.8 steals per game as a junior. His help defense is solid when he puts in the effort, but he will struggle at times to stay in front of quicker ball handlers. One-on-one defense and getting better at creating his own shot will have to be Hogg’s focus points in adjusting to the NBA game.
Hogg is a streaky shooter and wasn’t reliable from night to night in his final season. Off-the-court incidents could have also played a factor in his not being drafted; he was suspended multiple times, which seemed to throw off his rhythm after a hot start in non-conference play. The Aggies lost their first five conference games, two of which Hogg missed due to the suspension.
But Hogg could develop into a perfect “3-and-D” wing at the next level if he works on the defense. His jump shot is pretty and he let fly from all over the court in college, including NBA range. There’s a good chance he makes a NBA career for himself if he brings it night in and night out.
Next: Top 10 Robert Williams highlights from 2018
Stay tuned for updates on Hogg as he competes for a roster spot in the NBA.
Jeff Shull is the Site Expert for the Gig Em Gazette on FanSided. Follow him on Twitter, and be sure to follow the Gig Em Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.