What is Creighton Getting in Wes Enis?
"We had to consider the load he was putting on his body. This is a non-stop, relentless worker."
When Wes Enis entered the transfer portal after a terrific season at South Florida it was widely assumed he would join Bryan Hodgson at Providence.
That assumption never became reality, however, as the Friars added just one former Bull this spring (freshman point guard Gavin Hightower), while Enis committed to Alan Huss at Creighton after talks with the Friars and Kansas.
The son of one of the great running backs in Penn State history (Curtis), Enis (pronounced: Eee-nis) had one of the more unique journeys to high major basketball in the country.
As a young player, he struggled with his jump shot, so in eighth grade his father had him switch from shooting righty to left-handed. Still, success wasn’t imminent.
Enis didn’t make some of the bigger AAU teams in his native Ohio and was a zero star recruit coming out of high school. He eventually made his way to Division II Lincoln Memorial where he became a DII All-American following a sophomore season in which he averaged 20.3 points per game on 41% shooting from deep.
For all of his offensive exploits, Enis was also named conference Defensive Player of the Year while at Lincoln Memorial.
Hodgson and his staff quickly discovered they had a worker after Enis enrolled at South Florida last year.
“We had to scale him back,” Hodgson said last season. “We had to consider the load he was putting on his body. This is a non-stop, relentless worker. He had a foot injury, where some other guys would’ve shut it down until it got better, but he fought through some pain. He got sick on the road (at Temple), but got himself to the point where he could play. Wes just has a phenomenal will to succeed.”
That will to succeed led to a huge junior season both personally and for the Bulls last year — as they returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly 15 years.
Let’s dig deeper into Wes Enis:
Player Comp: Mark Sears, Tyler Perkins.
Enis is a 6’2 guard with a pretty left-handed jumper. He’s willing to let it rip from deep, scores in waves, and possesses the ability to get into the paint off the bounce.
Shot Profile:
Enis shot 39% from the floor last season — a number that might raise some eyebrows, but upon further inspection, one that makes sense considering his shot diet.
He put up 13.4 field goal attempts per game as a Bull, with 9.4 of them coming beyond the arc. He shot 35% from three on a very high volume, making 107 triples last year.
Enis is the definition of the modern game, taking just nine of his 304 field goal attempts from the mid-range. He was an absolute killer from the right corner (47% on 34 attempts) and consistent from the wings and the top of the key.
His efficiency dipped at the rim, where Enis saw more mixed results (54.3% shooting).
On the Defensive End:
As noted, Enis was Defensive Player of the Year in his conference at the D2 level and his numbers were solid at USF. He ranked in the 68th percentile nationally in points per possession against, 94th in defending off screens, 93rd against isolation scorers, and 60th when covering pick and roll ball handlers.
Numbers to Know:
Enis can heat up in a hurry. He hit eight 3-pointers in the first half alone at Tulsa and made ten 3-pointers in a game twice last year.
When he was on the floor, USF had a 44.8% Three Point Attempt Rate.
Enis ranked in the 97th percentile in the country in terms of scoring in the final four seconds of the shot clock. Meanwhile, he ranked in the 84th percentile in spot-up opportunities.
He made 38% of his catch-and-shoot attempts and buried 47% of his open jumpers.
He ranked in the 19th percentile in shooting at the rim and shot just 29% from the field as a pick and roll scorer.
Enis averaged only 1.6 turnovers in 34 minutes per game.
A Look at the Tape:
In digging into the tape, our staff won’t only show you the highlights of every newcomer to the league, but mix in misses and turnovers as well in an effort to set realistic expectations.
With that said, here is a six-minute clip of an assortment of makes, misses, and turnovers from last season:
A Standout Performance: 36 Points vs. UAB
But we also like to have fun in this space, so here’s a look back at his season-high 36-point performance against UAB on Jan. 4:
Apparently, UAB missed the memo on leaving him open on right corner threes.
The Final Verdict
Enis should carry a significant offensive load for the Jays next season, as he and San Diego State transfer BJ Davis should be one of the best backcourts in the Big East. Both can get after it defensively.
Enis will certainly let it go from deep, but it’s important to note that he mainly plays off the ball. The expectation here is that Davis will play more of a lead guard role alongside him.
Enis had his worst game of the season at the most inopportune time, when he shot 2-15 from the field and 0-11 beyond the arc against Louisville in the NCAA Tournament. However, he had big games against Alabama (20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) and Oklahoma State (20 points, 5 rebounds).
Enis was a First Team All-American Athletic Conference honoree last season and serves as an important addition for Huss as Creighton enters the post-Greg McDermott era.
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