After a successful season at Utah State, guard Steven Ashworth brings his skills and talent to Creighton. They lost Ryan Nembhard to Gonzaga in the transfer portal, so they needed a point guard to replace his production. Ashworth is qualified to do just that and looks to keep Creighton afloat in the Big East. Here is an analysis of his skills and fit with the Blue Jays.
Steven Ashworth Keeps Creighton Relevant in Big East
Ashworth’s Strengths
Shooting
Ashworth is a sharpshooter. He shot 43.4% from the three-point line and 87.8% from the free-throw line. He has great range, producing 15 threes from more than 25 feet. His excellent floor spacing and perimeter scoring are beneficial for Creighton. Especially for a team that runs ball screens consistently, spacing the court opens up more opportunities for the roll man to get easy buckets at the rim. The defending big man has to hard hedge instead of playing in a drop coverage defensive set, freeing up opportunities for him to get easy looks at the basket.
Ashworth excels in catch-and-shoot opportunities as he has an effective field goal percentage of 61%, in the 93rd percentile. His quick release allows him to get his shot up when there is little space to shoot. His shooting is a plus for the Blue Jays.
Passing
Additionally, Ashworth is an excellent facilitator. He produced a 25.6% assist rate and averaged 4.5 assists. Even more exciting, he only surrendered 1.7 turnovers a game. As a great shooter, he will be trapped and pressured in ball screens and hand-offs. Therefore, his passing allows players to get the ball in good scoring positions. Especially with teams running zoom actions, DHOs, and ball screens, Ashworth fits well in those sets because of his passing.
Experience
Like with most transfers, Ashworth is a veteran guard. He played three years at Utah State and got the Aggies to an NCAA Tournament appearance this season. Nembhard had experience and chemistry with this current Blue Jays group, but Ashworth is an intelligent, seasoned point guard and will mesh well with the Creighton players. He understands players’ offensive tendencies and how to fit into a culture and make it successful. Players with little experience struggle with this because they do not know all the details of successful college team cultures. Ashworth’s experience keeps the thriving culture of Creighton rolling into the next season.
Weaknesses
Size and Athleticism
Ashworth is not the tallest or quickest guard out there. His handle, shooting, and vision make up for that. Nevertheless, he will go against quick and athletic guards. Nembhard was fast and athletic. His athleticism allowed him to excel in transition on offense, and he did an excellent job on defense because of his quickness. Ashworth must produce on the defensive end because Creighton is a solid defensive team. Ashworth needs to stay in front of the top guards in the Big East to maximize his value for the Blue Jays.
However, his lack of size and speed also applies to his offense. Ashworth loves to shoot from the perimeter. Nevertheless, in the NCAA Tournament, he got pressured and had to attack the basket. While he played well, there were times he could not burst by his man and get to the basket. Nembhard excelled at attacking his man in one-on-one situations by getting into the paint. Hopefully, Ashworth figures out how to balance his offensive attack.
The Last Word on Ashworth
Steven Ashworth is an incredible guard and puts Creighton into contention to win the Big East this upcoming season. His IQ, shooting, and valuable experience prove essential for the Blue Jays. While he may not be the tallest or quickest guard, his handle and patience still make him a tough guard for anyone around the country. Creighton fans should find excitement in Ashworth.
