Commentary | Cardinal Mooney's Ryan McMahon is a valuable asset for Louisville head coach Rick Pitino
Everybody seems to be talking about how fortunate Ryan McMahon is to get a scholarship to play basketball for the University of Louisville and Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
But, hey, let's back this up a little.
McMahon is a valuable asset for Pitino.
This is a two-way street. There is no charity involved here.
In college basketball today, there are not a lot of consistent 3-point shooters who are court savvy, can put the ball on the floor and are not afraid to take the big shot.
The Cardinal Mooney ace is a fearless shooter, which is a trait that cannot be understated.
This kid never stops working and passed a lot of players recruiting sites had ranked ahead of him.
McMahon committed to Louisville on Friday about 12 hours after he received an offer from Pitino.
Some might see this as an unlikely scenario spiked by Dick Vitale's influence. But the facts tell a different story.
McMahon has an impressive pull-up jumper. He is averaging 27 points and has launched a lot of his 113 three-pointers from NBA range and with hands in his face.
It has been said the 6-foot-1, 175-pound McMahon reminds Pitino of Mark Price, a 6-foot point guard who played 12 years in the NBA and was a four-time All-Star. He was a member of that 50-40-90 club reserved for the very few who shoot at least 50 percent from the field, 40 percent on treys and 90 percent on free throws.
McMahon is shooting 63 percent on 2-point field goals, 51 percent on treys and 83 percent from the foul line.
They don't measure clutch free throws, but the other night in a region quarterfinal win when every point mattered, McMahon was 13-of-14 from the line.
Nicknames are starting surface.
One that might catch on is "Bombino" -- an Irish kid who was found by two Italians, Vitale and Pitino. Only in America.
McMahon is a gym rat so dedicated you can see the scrape marks on his knees.
As a sophomore, he was a nice player who came off the bench and supplied some timely long-range shooting. There was no jumper, but if you looked close enough you had to think about keeping an eye on this kid.
Last season, McMahon added some elevation to his jumper and averaged 16.2 points. His 87 assists and 89 steals demonstrated his court savvy. He shot 36 percent from beyond the arc.
During the offseason, it was back to the empty, lonely gym, where the only sound you hear is the bouncing ball and swish when the ball goes through the net. There is no glamour, but it's where the great ones elevate their games.
There are no miracles, says Cardinal Mooney head basketball coach Stefan Gates.
"Ryan has talent, but he is also a very hard worker. That is the message here," Gates said.
Pitino said he will not waste a redshirt season on McMahon and sees him as a point guard. He has a vision and you've got to believe it involves his deadly 3 point shooting opening up the paint and creating driving lanes for his teammates.
In Louisville's signing class of 2015, McMahon joins three players who are rated five-star prospects. The trio includes guard Donovan Mitchell, who scouting reports say is strong around the rim, but needs to improve his shooting. It seems McMahon is a perfect complement.
ESPN recently rated McMahon a four-star recruit after Vitale unlocked the secret. In the end, this humble kid might add to Pitino's reputation as a basketball genius
Alan Dell, Herald sports writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him on Twitter @ADellSports.
This story was originally published February 15, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Commentary | Cardinal Mooney's Ryan McMahon is a valuable asset for Louisville head coach Rick Pitino ."