Talented combo guard with excellent NBA potential ... Prolific scorer, (over 25 ppg) ... Has a quick first step and a killer crossover allowing him to blow by defenders and get into the paint ... Does a good job of creating baskets for himself and others ... Has precision passes for ally oops even from well beyond the three point arc ... drives exceptionally well, with defenses collapsing on him ... Has a great shot off the dribble, and is able to hit it going straight up or fading away ... Has a terrific body for a point guard with size, length and strength ... Can put points up in a hurry. Advanced mid-range game ... Shows excellent vision and passing ability ... A great defender. A bigtime ball hawk, fourth in the nation in steals ... Shows great anticipation and his quick hands and feet make him a tremendous on ball defender ... Gets good lift on his shot and shows a solid shooting form ... An excellent shooter with 3-point range and consistency on his shot. Shoots threes at a high volume and great efficiency ... His form and strength should allow him to step back 5 feet and hit the pro three with consistency in time ... His body strength allows him to finish after contact, play physical and also helps his range ... Knocks down free throws at a high percentage >80% ... Solid rebounder for his position. Plays bigger than 6-3 with his long wing span ... Unlike many prolific scorers, Hudson is unselfish getting teammates involved offensively, creating easy baskets for them ... Clutch player who comes up with big shots when his team needs them ... Highly competitive ..
Sounds really good. Actually, he sounds just like a Rajon Rondo but with a shot.
Here is what they list as his weaknesses:
Has not played at a high level of basketball, with just one season of Div 1 under his belt at UT Martin ... Playing in the Ohio Valley Conference, his exploits are questioned ... It's tougher to project him for the next level playing against lesser players ... Ends up playing off the ball a bit because hes so effective scoring ... He shows quality passing and ball handling ability, but can he run a team? ...Must develop his point guard instincts, controlling tempo and overall PG duties ... Still needs to prove himself as a floor general. Very creative passing the ball, but will need to cut down on turnovers ... Not incredibly explosive. He's a strong athlete without question but is quicker and stronger than he is explosive ... Will turn 24 in August, which diminishes his intrigue some ... His long road to Div 1 basketball is a story of perseverance, but also leaves scouts with cause for concern ... Having lacked structure and discipline for a few years following high school, Hudson appears to be a changed man with a new found maturity ..
Here is a video of Hudson in action:
We can find the story about Hudson's resolve and perseverance in a 2008 story on ESPN. Hudson came out of one of the roughest neighborhoods in Memphis. Hudson didn't go to school often, and even when he did, he didn't always go to class. Most of the time he'd find his way to the gymnasium, which was his sanctuary. He played only one year of high school basketball and was walking the halls when Central High coach Andre Applewhite found him. Applewhite took an interest in Hudson.
Hudson starred on Central's team as a junior, averaging double figures in points and rebounds. But he had already repeated one grade by then and turned 19 that summer, making him ineligible to play as a senior. He remained in school, but his academic struggles continued -- especially with basketball being taken away. He left Central without his high school diploma and seemingly without much of a future.
Applewhite, who played at Southwest Tennessee Community College, was able to convince his alma mater to take a look at Hudson in a tryout of sorts. Hudson spent the next two years playing at Southwest, and earned his high school GED his first semester there. He excelled on the court and also maintained a 2.5 GPA. But he came up short on the necessary core requirements and failed to graduate from junior college.
Several Division I schools had shown interest in Hudson, but most of those backed off when it became apparent that he wasn't going to receive his junior college degree. The one school that stuck with him was UT-Martin. Once again Hudson's resolve was tested. Because he didn't graduate from junior college, the only way he would be eligible to play at UT-Martin was to sit out his first year and pay his own way through school. Hudson took out a student loan and applied for every bit of financial aid he could find.
On those days Hudson felt himself wavering, he thought back to his childhood, one that saw him bounce around to different family members in different housing projects. He thought back to the harrowing shootouts he witnessed, the gangs that ran the streets, the drugs that infested his neighborhood, and all those people he grew up with who weren't fortunate enough to make it out. His desire and drive got him through 4 years of college and now a chance to prove himself to the Boston Celtics.
Three games into his UT-Martin career,, Hudson became the first men's player in Division I history to record a quadruple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in a 116-74 win over Division II Central Baptist College.
I love players who overcome the odds with heart and drive and work ethic to make it. I'm pulling for Lester to make it! Welcome to the Boston Celtics.
