Former Walk-On Josiah Lake II Has Big Role to Play in 2024-25
Oregon State guard Josiah Lake II began his career unlike most other players in Division-I college basketball: without a scholarship to his name. Despite this, the Tualatin, OR native managed to play 15 minutes per game on last year's Beavers squad, averaging 3.5 points, 1.3 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game in his time on the floor.
What was impressive about Lake II was his overall efficiency – though he had limited volume, he hit 29 of his 55 field goal attempts on the year, including eight of his 21 attempts from beyond the arc, good for an overall effective field goal rate of 61.0%.
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As a player, Lake II likes to drive the lane and attempt to score in traffic. He's got a good handle and decent burst off the bounce, meaning he can get downhill for easy layups. 53.7% of his field goal attempts were at the rim according to Synergy Sports, and for someone who stands at just 6-foot-2 and weighs 175 pounds, his 1.31 points per shot ranked him in the 82nd percentile in this category.
Again, these numbers must be taken into context – he attempted just 27 total shots at the rim, but of these shots, he hit 17 of them. It should also be noted that many of his minutes were not against the other team's starters, as he was a (a) a walk-on and (b) a member of a team that was routinely out of games in the second half.
Still the production in small spurts can't be ignored. There is a reason he earned a scholarship this summer, and with the multiple back court departures experienced by the Beavers, it's likely Lake II will have to step up into a much larger role in his sophomore season in Corvallis, a role that he's ready to take on with his step up in experience.
KEENAN WOMACK
Keenan Womack is a sportswriter native to Dallas, Texas, who has spent the last 12 years in Austin, the home of his alma mater, the University of Texas. Keenan has covered sports for SB Nation, Bleacher Report, Rivals/Orangebloods, a host of his own sites and now, Fan Nation. Focusing on basketball, Keenan was on the beat for the Longhorns hoops team for the last two-and-a-half years before moving on to pursue other opportunities. He is married and lives with his wife close to the Moody Center, so they can continue to catch games together.