Bouyea's Back in the Bay Area and Balling at a High Level
January 12, 2023 - NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release
SANTA CRUZ, CA - Growing up just 25 minutes away from Santa Cruz, in Salinas, CA, this week feels like a homecoming for Skyforce guard Jamaree Bouyea.
"Being back so close to home and playing in front of friends and family is very special to me," he said of the upcoming back-to-back against the Santa Cruz Warriors. "Not a lot of people get to experience this. Even though it is a business trip, I will look back and cherish this moment.
Playing in this gym (Kaiser Permanente Arena) brings back a lot of childhood memories. It's special to be back in this gym at a professional level with family and friends to support me."
Not only did he grow up here, but he helped the University of San Fransisco Dons reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998 last year. He finished his five-year playing career in the top-five of the majority of statistical categories, but also is atop the list for the most wins in franchise history (98).
In his final two seasons in a Dons' jersey, he averaged over 17.0 points per game and over 47 percent shooting. Bouyea added 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists to his stat line as a senior in 2021-22, showing flashes of what he has become so far as a pro.
Skyforce Head Coach Kasib Powell has been around Bouyea since NBA Summer League, which ironically started in San Fransisco for the HEAT this past summer and raved about how his work ethic and understanding of the game is paying off.
"He has shown so much growth since then," Powell said. "He does a lot in the community and his growth on-and-off the court is showing with his play. He does things the right way and works really hard, and that is starting to show at the professional level."
He feels that sentiment, as well, and feels his current situation with the Skyforce is playing off, as well.
"Being consistent and gaining confidence has paid off," Bouyea said. "A lot of work has been put in since Summer League to get to this point. Keeping in mind that I want to reach the NBA and that motivation is what keeps me going."
Bouyea consistently flirts with triple doubles each and every game, as he's averaging 22.8 points on 53.4 percent shooting, 7.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists in the regular season. He is one of just four players in the NBA G League to average 22-plus points, seven-plus rebounds and five-plus assists per game and is the only player to do so that has played in more than two games this season. Not to mention, his 15.9 player impact estimate (measures a player's all-around contribution to the game) ranks sixth in the G League for players with six-plus games played.
"I try to play every game with the mindset it could be my last," Bouyea noted. "I want to compete night in, and night out within my role for this team."
He's fresh off a career-high 34-point on 11-21 FGA, six-rebound and six-assist performance, in which he was the catalyst in turning a 15-point deficit into the team's fifth-straight victory and third on the road.
"His impact on this team is through the roof," Powell said. "Jamaree is a great playmaker, but he gets his teammates involved and makes them better. That is the sign of a true professional."
Simply put, Bouyea is blossoming into an NBA caliber guard right before our eyes, and there's no better place to do that than back home.
"Playing on this team is a lot of fun," Bouyea said. "We have a great group of guys that are talented and selfless. It is exciting to see everyone success and even better when we win games. I definitely love being a part of this team and I hope we can continue to win and stay as connected throughout the remainder of the season."
Bouyea and the Skyforce wraps up a back-to-back with the Warriors on Thursday and Friday at 9:00 PM CST and returns to the Sanford Pentagon on Sunday at 3:00 PM to face Raptors 905.
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