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A Definitive Role
James Powell entered the 2007-08 season as the team's "likely" starter at the off-guard position. It didn't take long for him to establish himself in that spot. In 2008-09, his junior year, there is nothing "likely" about his spot as a starter. He is the definitive starter at off-guard. One of the finest perimeter shooters in the Big West Conference - and for that matter in UCSB history - Powell will be a primary focus of opposing defenses this season, but if he can make the same progress as he did between his freshman and sophomore seasons, he should be fine.
The Honorable One
Following his junior season, Powell was named Honorable Mention All-Big West. After averaging 12.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, the Pomona, Calif., native joined three of his teammates in earning all-league recognition. Additionally, Powell was one of two Gaucho players to earn Big West Player of the Week honors during the 2007-08 season. In 2006-07, he was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
Mr. Big Shot, Season Two
In his first season, Powell didn't waste any time making his impact felt. He hit a number of key shots in early road wins over UNLV, Pepperdine and Portland. Last year he hit some important shots too, but one stood out from all the rest. In a home game against UNLV, Powell and UCSB struggled through a sluggish first half. He was scoreless, missing all five of his field goal attempts, and the team trailed 26-16. In the second half, both heated up in a big way. As a team, the Gauchos scored 47 points, led by Powell, who made 5-of-6 shots, all from three-point range, and finished with 15 points. His final three-pointer was one of the most dramatic shots in recent program history. Tied 60-60 with the clock running down, Powell launched a long three from above the top of the key. As he fell backward to the floor, the ball went through the hoop with less than a second to play, giving Santa Barbara a 63-60 win. In addition to giving the Gauchos the win, the shot also gave Powell the number two Play of the Day on that night's ESPN Sportscenter.
Like A Broken Record
Powell broke a couple of UCSB records in 2007-08. Not surprisingly, both records involved three-point shooting. Most significantly, he broke the record for three-point field goal percentage in a single season. Powell made 79 out of 169 attempts from outside the three-point arc, 46.7. He really started hitting the mark later in the season. In the last 19 games of the season, 16 of which were Big West Conference games, he made 55 out of 111 attempts, 49.5%. Over that span, he averaged 2.9 three-point baskets per game as compared to 1.8, the figure he averaged in 13 games prior to league competition. The other record set by Powell was three-point field goal percentage in a single game. In UCSB's final home game of the season, a win over UC Riverside, he made 7-of-8 shots from outside the three-point line, 87.5%.
Three-Point Bunches
Powell was pretty consistent over the final 19 games of the 2007-08 season, but his three-point baskets did tend to come in bunches. He had a couple explosions early in the season, making five, all in the second half, of a big comeback win over UNLV, and four in a home victory over Cal Poly Pomona. But it was in the final 12 games of the season when Powell really hit his stride. First, in a win at UC Riverside, he made 6-of-9 three-pointers. A couple weeks later, in a Bracketbusters game at Utah State, he made 6-of-10. In the regular season home finale, Powell made 7-of-8. The seven threes were the most by a Gaucho player since 2005. Finally, in the final game of the season, a National Invitation Tournament match-up at Mississippi, he made six out of 10 from beyond the arc. By making six or more three-pointers in four games, Powell set another school record.
Notes
2008-09
Junior guard James Powell is one of the top returning off-guards in the Big West Conference...A prolific outside shooter, Powell is the Gauhcos' top threat from the expanded three-point range...For the second straight year, he should see his playing time exclusively at on the wing.
2007-08
Powell tied for second on the team in scoring as a sophomore, pouring in 12.3 points per game...Also averaged 2.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game...Averaged 13.4 points per game in Big West play...Earned Honorable Mentiton All-Big West recognition...In 2007-08, Powell set a UCSB record by making 46.7% of his three-point field goal attempts, narrowly breaking the old record of 46.6%...Made 79 out of 169 attempts from outside the arc...Made 7-of-8 three-point attempts and scored 24 points in a home win over UC Riverside, and hit 6-of-9, scoring a career-high 25, in a road win over the Highlanders...Had 20 points, including six three-pointers, at Utah State, and 18 points, on six three-pointers, at Mississippi...Had 24 points against Cal Poly Pomona...In all, Powell had 20 or more points six times, and 15 or more 11 times...Made five three-point baskets, including the game-winner in the final second, as UCSB defeated UNLV...Hit at least one three-point basket in 29 games, including the final 19...Made two or more three-pointers 23 times and three or more 11 times...His 79 three-point baskets were the second most in school history and his two-year total of 117 ranks 10th all-time...Powell tied his career-high with six assists against Cal State Northridge...Had five assists in games against Loyola Marymount, Cal Poly, and Cal State Fullerton...Tied his career-high with six rebounds in games against Loyola Marymount and Long Beach State...Produced four or more rebounds nine times...Powell's 37 steals ranked second on the team...Tied his career-high with three steals against Pacific, Long Beach State, and Cal Poly...Had two or more steals 12 times...He was one of three UCSB players to start all 32 games.
2006-07
Powell was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team following the 2006-07 season...Played in all 29 games for UCSB, starting 17 times...Powell started the first 16 games of the season and then one more late in the season...Averaged 8.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game...His 256 points ranked as the eighth most by a freshman in school history...Powell had 38 three-point baskets, the second most on the team and the second most by a freshman ever...Powell scored in double-figures 12 times as a freshman, including six times in his first seven games...Was averaging 14.7 points per game after the first seven...After the first seven games, however, he scored 10 or more just once in 13 games...Finished the season by scoring 10 or more five times in the final nine games...Scored a season-high 18 in a double overtime win at Pepperdine...Had a pair of 17 point games in wins at UNLV and Portland...In the game at Portland, Powell made 4-of-5 three-point attempts...He was a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range when he scored 14 points in a late-season win over Pacific...Made two or more three-point baskets 11 times and three or more five times...Had his highest assist totals of five and six respectively in consecutive wins over Portland and Fresno State...Had four or more assists nine times...His 64 total assists ranked third on the team and seventh all-time among freshmen...Powell had a season-high six rebounds in wins at Pepperdine and against Vanguard...Ranked third on the team with 26 steals and had a season-high three against Eastern Washington...Had two or more nine times...His 26 steals ranked tied for fifth on the all-time UCSB freshman list...Powell averaged 22.9 minutes per game for the season, but just 18.9 per game in Big West games...Played 30 or more minutes four times, all in the season's first seven games...While he played 20 or more 19 times, he did so in each of the first 16 games and then just three times in the final 13.
2005-06
Powell redshirted his first year at UCSB.
High School
Powell attended Glendora High School...He had a tremendous senior campaign, leading Glendora to the third round of the CIF Tournament...Averaged 20.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game...Powell shot 45.0% overall from the floor and 33.0% from three-point range...He also shot 56.0% from two-point range...Made 86 three-point baskets...Shot 83.0% from the free throw line...Scored a career-high 53 points in a game against Ayala HS...In the game against Ayala, Powell made a career-best 12 three-point baskets in 18 attempts...Scored 39 points, including six three-point baskets, in a game against Claremont HS...In all, he had four games of 30 or more points during his senior campaign and 16 games of 20 or more points...Had a season-high nine assists in a game against Colony HS and Downey HS, but his career-high of 14 came against Arroyo Valley during his junior season...Powell produced high-games of nine rebounds against Diamond Bar HS and six steals against Chino Hills HS...Set or tied three single-game school records at Glendora...His 12 three-point baskets were a record as were the 19 free throws he made against Norco HS...His 14-assist performance tied a school mark...Powell was chosen First Team All San Gabriel Valley League three times, First Team All-CIF twice and twice he was named All-Area by the Los Angeles Times...He was also selected the Most Valuable Player of the Southern California Prep Classic All-Star Game...Paced Glendora to three San Gabriel Valley League titles and four CIF appearances...As a junior he averaged 16 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds per game and as a sophomore he chipped-in 15 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds...Coached by Mike Leduc.
Personal
James Steven Powell, Jr., was born January 27, 1987 in Los Angeles...The son of Charmaine and James Powell...His most memorable sports moment was when he scored 53 points in a high school game during his senior season...His favorite novels include 1984 and Lord of the Flies..."The Family Guy" is his favorite television show...Roots for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Francisco 49ers..."Fade to Black" and "He Got Game" are his favorite movies...Powell enjoys video games...Majoring in sociology.
