The newest member of the Atlanta Hawks is already making a strong impression. In his latest G League outing, recent two-way signing Daeqwon Plowden exploded for 23 points and six 3-pointers in the College Park Skyhawks’ December 30 win.
Atlanta’s G League squad featured Plowden as he played a team-high 40 minutes. The 6-foot-6 wing showcased his floor-spacing abilities, shooting 6-of-12 from beyond the arc and 8-of-16 overall. Plowden could fit like a glove with a Hawks bench that shoots 39.7% from three.
Plowden also put his defensive upside on display, posting two steals and two blocks for the Skyhawks. He brings a level of rim protection at the wing position that is hard to come by, and he made his presence felt with some highlight rejections.
Plowden getting UP for the block ‼️ pic.twitter.com/arUq2LVJ2h
— College Park Skyhawks (@CPSkyhawks) December 31, 2024
SWATTED by DP 😤 pic.twitter.com/OzZd4kJTnK
— College Park Skyhawks (@CPSkyhawks) December 31, 2024
Kevin Chouinard of Hawks.com gave an astute analysis of Plowden’s performance with a postgame tweet.
“Good example of what Daeqwon Plowden (23 points, 6 threes, 2 blocks, 2 steals) brings to the table,” Chouinard wrote. “For a 6-6 wing, you never have to worry about him being the weakside help because he will protect the rim.”
Plowden has been using his athleticism to thrive on defense since his college days. The former MAC All-Defensive star averaged 1.2 blocks and 0.9 steals in his final year at Bowling Green State. Plowden also holds the Bowling Green record for most career games played.
After five years of college hoops, Plowden continued to lean on his durability and work ethic with two seasons in the G League. He put together stints with the minor league affiliates of New Orleans and Orlando before ending up in College Park – and now Atlanta.
Plowden could give the Hawks the kind of 3-and-D production every team needs in the modern NBA, and there is no doubt he will work his tail off to do just that.
Atlanta’s G League prospects are continuing to flourish
Plowden isn’t the only one making noise in the G League. Dominick Barlow, another two-way prospect for the Hawks, has led the Skyhawks with 19.3 points per game and 8.7 boards per game. The 21-year-old forward is shooting 57.5% from the field and averaging 1.5 blocks as he dominates in the G League.
Fellow Hawks young gun Mouhamed Gueye has shown flashes of potential as well. Standing at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Gueye has averaged 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in 14 G League outings. He recorded the first two double-doubles of his career in that stretch.
Two-way standout Keaton Wallace and draft-and-stash rookie Nikola Djurisic have taken on most of the point guard duties for College Park this season. In seven G League Showcase Cup appearances, Wallace showed why he is an NBA player. He averaged 16.0 points, 7.6 assists, and 1.9 steals while shooting 47.1% from the field and 38.3% from three.
Wallace has also played 16 games for Atlanta this season, including his first-ever NBA start which came in a win over the defending champion Boston Celtics. Back in November after Wallace made the start, Barlow spoke to Soaring Down South about his teammate’s milestone moment.
“It’s great, super happy for Keaton,” Barlow said. “He deserves it. I think everybody gets their moment, and Keaton’s taking advantage of his moment … He’s doing a great job.”
Wallace has played well enough to potentially earn a standard contract with the Hawks, especially now that Kobe Bufkin’s season-ending injury has given Atlanta the option to apply for a disabled player exception.
On the other side of the point guard spectrum, Djurisic has gone through some serious growing pains. Since returning from a four-month injury layoff, the 2024 Hawks draft pick has shot below 30% from the field and below 20% from three with limited minutes off the Skyhawks bench.
Djurisic’s versatile skill set and build make him an intriguing prospect, but his early shooting woes have tarnished some of the promise he displayed in the Summer League. At just 20 years old, Djurisic still has time to develop.
All in all, the Hawks have a lot to look forward to with their young talent in the G League constantly improving. College Park’s defensive-minded culture will only help its future Hawks flourish at the NBA level.
As Plowden finds his footing as a new Hawk, Atlanta’s G League team will continue to benefit from the two-way stud’s presence. His development could become a fascinating storyline heading into the new year.