Overview

In just two seasons at Eastern Washington, Stuckey firmly entrenched his name in the Schooland Big Sky Conference record books. A sensational perimeter shorter with cat-like agility and quickness, only once in his 59-game career was he held to under 10 points.

He holds the Schoolcareer-record for free throws made (386), ranks second in free-throw attempts (479), fifth in field goals made (477) and attempts (1,011), fifth in 3-point shots made (309), fifth in steals (137), fifth in free-throw percentage (.806) and first in scoring average (24.4 ppg). His 24.4 points per game rank third on the Big Sky Conference career-record list behind the Idaho State duo of Willie Humes (31.5 ppg, 1969-71) and Lawrence Butler (26.9 ppg, 1977-79).

Stuckey also established new single-season records in 2005-06 with 250 field goals made on 510 attempts and 726 points scored (fifth-best on the conference season chart). He set EWU season-records during the 2006-07 campaign with 215 free throws made on 254 attempts and a 24.6-point scoring average, while his 712 points scored and 501 field-goal attempts rank second on the school's annual record chart. His 71 steals as a sophomore rank third on the Eagles' annual record-list while his 160 assists rank seventh.

At Kentwood High School, Stuckey earned first-team All-State honors from the Seattle Times, the Tacoma News Tribune and Associated Press after leading Kentwood to the State 4A title in 2004. Kentwood finished 26-2 his senior season, as Stuckey was also the co-MVP of the South Puget Sound League North Division and was named to the Seattle Times Star Times All-Area team.

In addition, he earned first team All-SPSL North Division honors for the third-straight year as he led Kentwood to a collective 71-12 record (76 percent) with no home losses. He averaged 26.3 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists as a senior. He scored at least 20 points in all but three games, and had at least 30 in eight with a high of 36 on two occasions. In four tournament games, he had 95 points on 50-percent shooting from the field, 36 rebounds, 16 assists and 13 steals.

Stuckey was a first-team All-State and all-state tournament pick in 2003 by Associated Press. In leading Kentwood to a 26-3 record, he averaged 19.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.9 steals as a junior. The Conquerers won the South Puget Sound League North Division title and finished third in the State 4A Tournament.

Stuckey was a first-team all-tournament pick after averaging 21.3 points in four tourney games. He was also MVP of the district tournament, scoring 38 points in an 82-43 win over Olympia that clinched a state tournament berth. Kentwood was 19-7 his sophomore season and came one victory from a state tourney berth.

Stuckey enrolled at Eastern Washington, but was ruled academically ineligible to play during the 2004-05 season (improved his academic standings the last two years to a 3.34 grade-point average).

Playing for a team with just one senior, Stuckey burst onto the scene with one of the best seasons by a freshman in NCAA Division I history in 2005-06. Among his many awards was being honored as Collegeinsider.com Freshman of the Year after a record-breaking season. He set seven Schoolrecords, including a 24.2-scoring average that set a Big Sky record for a freshman and is the seventh-best in the history of the league.

His average ranked eighth in NCAA Division I and his 726 total points is fifth-best in league history, the most in the conference in nearly 30 years (since 1978-79) and the most-ever by a freshman in the BSC. Stuckey became just the 36th player in NCAA Division I to lead his conference in scoring as a freshman. He won league MVP and Freshman of the Year honors, and in the process, became the first player in Big Sky history and the 12th in Division I history to earn league MVP honors as a freshman.

Stuckey's other accolades included Associated Press All-American honorable mention; he was Eastern's second-ever selection to that elite squad. He added mid-major All-American recognition from Collegeinsider.com; freshman All-American second-team by Rivals.com; National Freshman of the Week accolades by CBS SportsLine.com and Rivals.com; Big Sky Conference All-Tournament; and four Big Sky Conference Player of the Week awards.

He was Eastern's first member of the NABC All-District XIII squad, and was honored on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII squad for accumulating a 3.34 grade-point average through five quarters at EWU. Stuckey was selected to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic team, won Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors four times and led the Eagles in scoring in the final 27 games of the season.

Stuckey finished his first season with the Eagles with a 24.2-point scoring average and added 144 rebounds (4.8 rpg), 123 assists (4.1 apg) and 66 steals to go along with eight blocked shots. He turned the ball over 105 times and was called for 75 fouls while he was on the court for an average of 33 minutes per game.

In 2006-07, Stuckey was a member of The NBA Draft Report and Collegeinsider.com All-American teams, on which his company included Arron Afflalo, Kevin Durant, Nick Fazekas, Tyler Hansbrough, Joakim Noah and Greg Oden. He added Associated Press All-American honorable mention, as he ranked seventh in the nation in scoring average (24.6 per game). He was a third-team Academic All-American pick by ESPN and was also a member of the Academic All-District XIII squad.

Stuckey added NABC All-District XIII and USBWA All-District IX accolades and was a unanimous All-Big Sky Conference selection. He earned Big Sky player of the week honors three times and scored at least 30 points nine times. He made 84.6 percent of his free throws (215 of 254) and 227 of 501 field goals (45.3 percent), dished out 160 assists, grabbed 135 rebounds, had 71 steals and blocked nine shots. He led the team in scoring in 24 of 29 games and in assists 19 times. Stuckey also led the team in steals 17 times.

Stuckey declared for the 2007 NBA Draft, but will not hire an agent, leaving open the option to withdraw his name from the draft and return to EWU next fall. Currently taking classes and on track to graduate in June 2008, Stuckey stated, "It is a good option. It's the best thing for me to do and get feedback with where I would be in the draft. I just think it's the best thing for me to do and I just want to see where I am out there. I still have the option to come back to school, but it's still a good thing to hear what people have to say."

Stuckey said his family was a factor in making this decision. Even if he elects to pursue an NBA career, he vows to return to Schooland get his degree. "It's really important," he said. "I'll be the first person to graduate from college in my family. That would be a good accomplishment. Secondly, I always promised my mom that no matter what happens I will get my degree. In case basketball doesn't go the way it is supposed to go I will have something else to fall back on."

In 59 games at Eastern Washington, Stuckey scored in double figures 58 times. He led the team in scoring 51 times. He connected on 477 of 1,011 field goals (47.2 percent), including 98 of 309 (31.7 percent) from 3-point range. He made 386 of 479 free throws (80.6 percent) and scored 1,438 points, the fourth-best total in Schoolhistory. His average of 24.4 points per game is a Schoolcareer-record and ranks third in Big Sky Conference annals.

Stuckey grabbed 279 rebounds, including 67 off the offensive boards for an average of 4.7 per game. He accounted for 17 blocked shots and 137 steals, adding 283 assists (4.8 apg). He was charged with 143 fouls and had 205 turnovers (3.5 pg).

Scouting Report

Positives: Is slightly undersized at scoring guard, but makes up for a lack of ideal height with very quick feet and excellent strength to drive to the basket almost at will...Has the court vision and ball-handling skills to play a portion of his time at the point, showing deft ball-handling skills and the ability to needle the ball to the open man and past double teams...Draws a lot of contact driving to the rim and drastically improved his free-throw shooting as a sophomore, adding another offensive weapon to his game...Knows he is the focus of the defense due to his offensive array of skills, but relishes operating with the ball in his hands...Has good strength driving to the hoop and is a precise passer with elusive moves to slash past his opponent on the perimeter...Dominates the opposition, as he is simply unstoppable when creating his shot off the dribble...Gets up and down the court with great ease and seems to get stronger as the game wears on...Very smooth open court runner with an amazing feel for the game...When his stroke is on, he can torch the opponent from anywhere on the court...Gets good elevation on his intermediate jumper...Has that explosive first step to his man off the dribble...Passes the ball very well for a shooting guard and makes good decisions...Loves to shoot but he won't force his shot, especially when he can locate the open man...His terrific speed on the court lets him gain instant separation from the defender in the open...Has improved his defense (still just adequate), as he demonstrates the lateral slide and foot agility to stay in front of his man while keeping his hands active in attempts to alter the shot...Can fly-by small forwards or muscle guards to pull up and shoot the jumper...Does a good job of absorbing contact and drawing fouls while driving the lane...Unselfish dishing out the ball when needed on the point...Displays classic form and good elevation when firing off long-range shots and, once he spots a crease, he has the power to drive through double-team defense...Best when passing on the move, but also has confidence to pull up and fire from mid-range when the defense is clogging the lane...Does a good job of impeding the forward progress of smaller guards in passing lanes...Very good at crashing the boards for the rebound, showing a power forward's mentality on the glass.

Negatives: Has good long-range ability, but needs to get a higher release point when firing from the 3-point range...Scores points in bunches, but rarely faced NBA-caliber competition...Plays bigger than his size indicates due to his long arms and leaping ability, but while he is built more like a point guard, he doesn't have the innate intelligence for that position and is best shooting the ball...Good ball defender, but sometimes gets too confident in his speed and will lunge at the ball, allowing the perimeter shooter to slip past...Showed better ball-distribution skills as a sophomore, but still plays with that "shoot first" mentality when he gets into a rhythm...Tends to rush his 3-point shots and, while he is a creative scorer, lots of his turnovers come when he dribbles high and keeps the ball on the floor too long.

Compares To: GILBERT ARENAS, Washington. Stuckey reminds me of the great combo guards in the NBA -- Arenas and Dwyane Wade. He is a very strong shooter going to the basket and with his free-throw shooting touch, drawing contact allows him to get lots of points from the charity line. He has good mid-range scoring ability, but surprisingly, his 3-point shot is lacking. He is a good ball handler, but does get a lot of turnovers when he keeps the ball on the ground too long. He is possibly the best shooter in this draft and an ideal fit for an established team looking for a combo guard to come off the bench and spark the offense.

High School

Attended Kentwood (Kent, Wash.) High School, earning first-team All-State honors from the Seattle Times, the Tacoma News-Tribune and Associated Press after leading Kentwood to the State 4A title in 2004...The team finished 26-2 his senior season, as Stuckey was also the co-MVP of the South Puget Sound League North Division and was named to the Seattle Times Star Times All-Area team...Earned first team All-SPSL North Division honors for the third-straight year as he led Kentwood to a collective 71-12 record (76 percent) with no home losses...Averaged 26.3 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists as a senior...Scored at least 20 points in all but three games, and had at least 30 in eight with a high of 36 on two occasions...In four tournament games, he had 95 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, 36 rebounds, 16 assists and 13 steals...First-team All-State and All-State Tournament pick in 2003 by Associated Press...In leading Kentwood to a 26-3 record, he averaged 19.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.9 steals per game as a junior...The Conquerers won the South Puget Sound League North Division title and finished third in the State 4A Tournament...First team all-tournament pick after averaging 21.3 points in four tourney games...Was also MVP of the district tournament, scoring 38 points in an 82-43 win over Olympia that clinched a state tournament berth...Kentwood was 19-7 his sophomore season and came one victory from a state tourney berth...Rodney's brother, Laron, was a teammate at Kentwood High.

Personal

Interdisciplinary studies major, twice earning Academic All-District and All-American honors with a 3.34 grade-point average...Son of Faye Stuckey and Diane and Brent McElhinney...Brother, Laron Stuckey, was a teammate at Kentwood High and played basketball for part of the 2005-06 season at Big Bend Community College...Born 4/21/86... Resides in Kent, Washington.

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