New York Knicks: Myles Powell was the perfect signing

Former Seton Hall All-American Myles Powell was snubbed during Wednesday’s NBA Draft. The New York Knicks made a great move by signing him as a free agent.

Myles Powell’s illustrious Seton Hall career can be summed up in one chilling vintage Gus Johnson call:

“WHAT TRENTON MAKES, THE WORLD TAKES!!!”

If you’ve ever been to Trenton, New Jersey, you’re well aware of the prideful slogan that represents the city’s insatiable work ethic and never-say-die attitude.

The reputable catchphrase hangs emboldened over a Delaware River bridge in bright bold red letters to garner the attention of all who venture towards North Jersey. If you do happen to miss out on the bedazzling eye-catcher, you’re unlikely to escape the city without one of its residents boastfully gracing your ears with some rendition of the homegrown calling card.

It’s nearly inevitable, but an earned tagline nonetheless.

Trenton has long been the embodiment of grit and grind, serving as one of the Garden State’s quintessential representatives of its storied blue-collar history.

And Myles Powell encapsulates the ideal Trentonian to a tee. He’s been a tireless worker ever since initially stepping foot on Seton Hall University’s South Orange campus.

“Earned, not given” is the consummate description for a man who penned an unrivaled autobiography of ascension during his years as a Pirate.

Nicknamed “cheese” for his love of the diverse dairy product, Powell was visibly heavier as a 4-star high school prospect than he is now. At one point, his weight was said to have eclipsed 215 pounds.

He wasn’t the most highly touted recruit (in fact, Seton Hall was his most attractive offer in terms of program prominence), but former Pirate assistant Shaheen Holloway saw an “it-factor” quality that encompassed much more than his questionable athleticism.

And his Trenton breeding had a little something to do with that.

What Holloway noticed couldn’t be calculated in measurable, film, or statistical production. It was simply the attitude that caught his eye

2,252 career points (good for third in SHU hoops history), a Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year tabbing, Big-East Player of the Year award, and several First-Team All-America’s later for Powell, it’s safe to say that Holloway bet correctly.

Powell’s rise was unprecedented. He transformed from unheralded signee to arguably the greatest player to ever don the Pirate blue and white.

He didn’t see substantially quantitative minutes during his freshman season and was a tertiary scoring option behind stalwarts like Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez during his sophomore campaign. Still, No. 13 was carving out an irreplaceable niche for himself as a reliable bucket-getter, and fiery 3-point option.

2018-19 was a catapult year for Powell. He upped his averages in every facet, easily sliding into head coach Kevin Willard’s alpha option slot and willing his team to a second-round NCAA tournament berth while posting 23.1 points and 2.1 steals per game.

And his gaudy senior tilt speaks for itself. All the while, the South Kent school alum was transforming his body into a stout and compact 195-pound frame, one firmly ripe for NBA conditioning.

And yet the beloved sharpshooter was not among the 60 names called in Wednesday’s draft, which was a development that came much to the chagrin of a good majority of the basketball world.

But stacked odds have never swayed his confidence nor his moxie, and when the New York Knicks came calling the following day, Powell marked himself primed and ready for incumbent MSG loyalists.

When it comes to being ready, Powell was born as such.

He’s always rose to basketball’s most extrusive stages, and some of his best highlight montages have come at the world’s greatest arena. It takes certain wherewithal to perform at the Garden, and Powell unquestionably has it.

That, coupled with his catch-and-shoot capabilities, one-on-one explosiveness and shot savvy, makes him the quintessential target for a squad that was sheerly arid in the department.

The Knicks finished 29th in the league in terms of average scoring output, and Powell provides an immediate turnaround solution to their woes. Plus, he’s got a tailor-made lionhearted approach that vaults him to peak performance when the lights are brightest.

He may not be the biggest, nor fastest, nor most athletic player on the court. But one piece of his game is inarguable: he scores points. And that makes him an immaculate signing for the Knicks and their current shortcomings.