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A Job Of His Own
James Powell will likely enter his sophomore season as UCSB's starter at the off-guard position. He entered his freshman season in the same role, but in reality, he was keeping the spot warm for senior Cecil Brown, who was recovering from an injury. When Brown came back, Powell remained in the starting lineup for a while, but after starting the first 16 games of the season, he was moved into a reserve role. Barring injuries in 2007-08, that same scenario should not repeat itself.
An Honorable Freshman
As a freshman, Powell averaged 8.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He also made 38 three-point baskets, the second most on the team. Following the year, Powell, along with Justin Joyner, was selected to the Big West's All-Freshman Team. It marked the first time since 2000-01, when Branduinn Fullove and Nick Jones were chosen, that UCSB had placed a pair of players on the league's all-freshman team.
Mr. Big Shots
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. In the win over UNLV, Powell scored 17 points, including a trio of three-point baskets, but it was his 5-for-6 free throw performance in the final minute that put the Gauchos over the top and gave the Runnin' Rebels a 79-76 loss, their only home loss of the 2006-07 season. Powell scored his season-high of 18 points in UCSB's double-overtime win at Pepperdine. In the process, he made all five of his free throws, four of which came in the overtimes. Finally, Powell's 17-point outing, which included a 4-of-5 effort from three-point range, was pivotal in the Gauchos come-from-behind win at Portland.
A Game Of Streaks
Powell went for quite a rollercoaster ride in his freshman season. In his first seven games, he scored in double-figures six times and averaged 14.7 points per game. He then went a stretch of seven in a row in which he averaged just 4.6 points and never scored more than nine. In fact, he scored 10 in a game at UC Irvine and it was his only double-figure scoring total over a 13 game span. Powell's coaster then went on the upswing to end the season when he scored 10 or more in four straight and five times in the last nine games.
No Freshman Jitters
In his first season after sitting out the 2005-06 season as a redshirt, Powell certainly wasn't rusty from the free throw line. Not only did he make several key free throws throughout the season, he led the team by making 81.8% from the charity stripe. After starting the season by making just two of his first five free throw attempts, Powell made 52 of his next 59, 88.1%. At one point, he made 23 in a row.
A Season Of Lists
Statistically, Powell's 2006-07 season put him on several of UCSB's all-time top-10 lists for freshmen. He entered the lists for points (eighth), scoring average (eighth), field goals (10th), free throws (seventh), free throw percentage (second), three-point field goals (second), three-point field goal percentage (seventh), assists (seventh) and steals (fourth).
2007-08
Sophomore James Powell is expected to start at the off guard position for the 2007-08 Gauchos...Possibly the best long-range shooter on the team, he will join Alex Harris to give UCSB one of the best one-two three-point punches in the Big West...Powell is also a decent playmaker who could see some playing time at the point guard spot.
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...His playing time diminished with the return of a healthy Cecil Brown.
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...Although he is an undeclared major, he hopes to become a salesman.
