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Overview

Despite becoming just the sixth player in school history to record more than 500 points and 100 assists in a career, many scouting experts were surprised when Curry announced that he would forgo his senior year to enter the 2007 NBA Draft. He became the 14th player in OSU annals to log more than 3,000 minutes in a career, setting the school single-season record by averaging 37.0 minutes of action per game in 2006-07.

Curry also became the 13th player in Cowboys history to register more than 300 assists in an OSU uniform, as his 356 assists rank eighth on the school all-time record list. Known as a perimeter shooter, he ranks eighth in school history with a three-point shooting percentage of .404. His 197 three-point shots made rank third in OSU annals and he ranks seventh on the school's career record chart with 73 consecutive starts.

Curry lettered four years in basketball at Eastern Alamance High School, as he set the all-time state of North Carolina prep scoring record with 3,307 points, breaking the previous record held by Lawrence "Cotton" Clayton, who scored 2,758 points for Kittrell Zeb Vance from 1956-59. He averaged 40.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and six assists per game his senior season. He scored a career-high 65 points vs. Southern Guilford, connecting on 25-of-39 shots from the floor, including 9-of-16 shots from three-point range, as he also had a season-high 11 rebounds in that contest.

The two-time first-team All-State selection by the Associated Press was considered one of the top combo guards in the country his senior year. He ranked as the ninth-best point guard in the nation according to RivalsHoops.com, and was ranked the 16th-best shooting guard in the country by TheInsiderHoops.com. He was rated as one of the top 75 players overall in the nation by both services. For the season, he shot 53.8 percent from the field, including 40.4 percent from beyond the three-point arc, and 83.8 percent from the free-throw line.

In early February, 2004, Curry's career almost came to an end. He had originally signed a letter of intent with North Carolina during the early signing period, but was released from that commitment and later signed with Oklahoma State, when he was arrested February 4, one day after scoring 47 points vs. Graham High for his Eastern Alamance High team.

Curry was among 49 area students arrested and received six drug-related felony charges, according to Alamance County Sheriff's Department records.

Curry was placed on three years probation and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. North Carolina, then coached by Matt Doherty, revoked its scholarship offer to Curry, who grew up a Tar Heels fan while living in his family's Mebane, N.C., mobile home. Oklahoma State's former head coach, Eddie Sutton then called, offering Curry a second chance with a scholarship to attend OSU.

In 2004-05, Curry burst onto the Big 12 Conference scene midway through the season, averaging 9.4 points and 2.8 assists per game. He came off the bench the first 17 games of the season, averaging 5.8 points in 18 minutes per contest, but went on to start 15 of OSU's final 16 contests. In those final 16 games, his minutes per game rose to 31.8, and his point production increased to 13.3 per contest. He shot 47.4 percent from the floor, including 43.3 percent from three-point range.

In the summer of 2005, Curry was selected to participate in the USA Basketball Under 21 Team Trials in July, but was forced to pull out due to injury before the trials were completed. In 2005-06, he was second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per contest. He led the squad in assists (132) and three-pointers made (64) and became just the ninth player in school history to record multiple games with 10 or more assists in his career.

Curry also became just the seventh player in school history to record multiple double-doubles in assists and points. His 132 assists on the season rank in the top 20 in OSU's single-season record book and that total was the third-most by a Cowboy sophomore in school history. He also connected on 63 three pointers, tying for the 10th most in a single season in school history.

As a junior, Curry was named to the all-tournament team at the All-College Classic. He started all 35 games, averaging 17.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His 607 points rank ninth on the school's single-season record list, as he shot .452 from the field and .793 from the free throw line. The first-team All-District XII choice and finalist for the Naismith Trophy, he led the team in assists with 131 and was also the team's most prolific long-range shooter, connecting on 88-of-214 shots from beyond the three-point arc.

Curry then announced that he would leave OSU to test his wares in the NBA, applying for the 2007 draft. "I've decided to leave my name in the draft," said Curry. "It was a difficult decision, because I'm so grateful for the opportunity that Coach (Eddie) Sutton and Coach Sean (Sutton) gave me. I appreciate my teammates, all the OSU Cowboy fans and the community. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA, and now is the time for me to pursue that dream. This is an opportunity that I just can't pass up. I'm ready for a new chapter in my life."

For his career, Curry played in 101 games. He scored 1,363 points (13th in school history), as he hit on 472-of-1,081 field goals (43.7%), including 197-of-488 three-pointers (40.4%) and 222-of-293 free throws (75.8%). His 197 three-pointers rank third on the school all-time record list. He finished eighth on the career record charts with 356 assists and had 99 steals. He blocked 24 shots and snared 289 rebounds. However, he also was charged with 204 Personal fouls and had 284 turnovers (2.8 tpg).

Scouting Report

Positives: : Efficient scorer from three-point range, also showing the quickness and balance needed to attack and slash to the basket...Has a good wingspan to apply pressure defense at the perimeter and shows good stamina and foot speed moving up and down the court...Shows the ability to create his own shot and is a dangerous penetrator due to his ability to adjust his body and slip past contact...Comfortable playing in transition and while his passing skills are still a work in progress, he can dribble and shoot with either hand, especially when firing from behind the arc...Might be a better fit coming off the bench, as he scores in bunches, especially when he gets into a rhythm firing his spot-up jumper...Gets very good elevation and length in his attempts, consistently getting the ball up and over the taller defenders...Keeps the opponent constantly on his toes, as Curry shows the feet to stop instantly and fire the ball from mid-range...Glides to the basket with an explosive burst, doing a decent job of drawing contact...His quickness is evident by his ability to get down court on the fast break...Uses his reach efficiently to alter shots when taking on the smaller point guards...Has the loose hips and slippery moves to easily separate from the defender to attack the basket or pull up and execute the soft jumper.

Negatives: : Lacks the size you look for in a shooting guard, but does not have the ball-handling skills or vision to execute the passing needed to distribute the ball well as a point guard...Can weave through traffic well without the ball, but lots of his turnovers are the result when he keeps the ball on the floor too long (tends to dribble high and lacks ball security)...Gets pushed around quite a bit working in the paint, seeming reluctant to combat for the rebound...Needs to add bulk and strength to his frame to prevent the opponent from forcing him out of the lanes...Rhythm shooter, but will go through stretches where his shot will suddenly fail (low release point), but rather than feed an open teammate, he will continue to put the ball up, hoping to eventually come out of his slump at the cost of the offense...Adequate free throw shooter, but needs to shoot with a quicker release...Concentration lapses are evident when he is not involved in the play...Poor passer who just seems to lack the vision to get the ball to the open outlet (too many no-look and one-bounce passes in double team activity)...Needs to develop a more consistent competitive nature (goes through the motions vs. lesser competition)...Shows too much confidence in his shooting ability (will not hesitate to take the difficult shot, even with a defender right in his face)...Has been a good teammate and model student, but does have past off-field issues.

Compares to: ...QUINCY DOUBY-Sacramento...While Curry's scoring touch is more like that of the Knicks' Jamal Crawford, he is built more in the lines of Douby and both are shooting guards trapped in point guards bodies. Curry is too reliant on his perimeter shot and will constantly fire, even with a defender in his face. He is a mediocre ball handler who piles up a large amount of turnovers by keeping the ball on the floor too long or trying to feed the ball out slowly past double team activity. With his lack of ideal size and strength for his position, Curry might quickly regret his decision to leave school early.

High School

Attended Eastern Alamance (Mebane, N.C.) High School, lettering four years in basketball for head coach John Moon...Two-time first-team All-State selection by the Associated Press...Considered one of the top combo guards in the country his senior year...Ranked as the ninth-best point guard in the nation according to RivalsHoops.com, and was ranked the 16th-best shooting guard in the country by TheInsiderHoops.com...Rated as one of the top-75 players overall in the nation by both services...Set the all-time state of North Carolina prep scoring record with 3,307 points, breaking the previous record held by Lawrence "Cotton" Clayton, who scored 2,758 points for Kittrell Zeb Vance High School from 1956-59...Averaged 40.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and six assists per game his senior season...For the season, he shot 53.8 percent from the field, including 40.4 percent from beyond the three-point arc, and 83.8 percent from the free-throw line...Scored a career-high 65 points vs. Southern Guilford High, connecting on 25-of-39 shots from the floor, including 9-of-16 shots from three-point range, as he also had a season-high 11 rebounds in that contest.

Personal:

General Studies major...Son of Connie and Leon Curry...Born 1/07/86...Resides in Pleasant Grove, North Carolina.