Demarcus Bandy
AIR JORDAN 13 ‘OBSIDIAN’
Some may think it’s hard to be a shorter guard but don’t say that around rising junior Demarcus Bandy — he’ll break down every reason you’re wrong.
“You’re definitely quicker than everyone else, especially when you get a mismatch with someone who’s like 6-foot-6, you can always beat them off the dribble,” he said. “You can get your assists, too, like Markquis Nowell, one game had 20 points and 19 assists, so as a small guard there’s a lot you can do.”
Bandy, standing at 5-foot-11, is already taller than Nowell and the same height as another college standout, Jordan “Jelly” Walker. He’s also just one inch behind Chris Paul, Allen Iverson and Kyle Lowry, and while the lists of some of the greatest guards to grace the pine could go on, the real point is, all of them, including Bandy, use their height to their advantage. Granted, he’s just a sophomore, so he could hit a growth spurt at any moment, but, for now, it’s part of his signature style.
“I’m quick and have a quick first step, and most people can’t keep up so I use that to my advantage,” he said. “And if I don’t have the shot I’ll kick out to one of my shooters, and we have a bunch of those on this team.”
Sophomore
Point Guard
University HS
WV Gold
Another part of that style? Being fearless.
“I’m just not scared,” Bandy said. “I have the mindset that we can beat (anybody) and that you can’t be scared of nobody. If you’re trying to go to the college level, you can’t be scared, you have to play your best all the time.”
That team Bandy spoke of a moment ago is WV Gold, his travel team based in Morgantown, W.Va., just across town from his high school, University High. Though WV Gold is an umbrella of different teams, Bandy is part of the core three-team group that plays in New Balance’s national circuit. Of note, his 16U team, coached by former professional and college player Juwan Staten, is currently in the top 5 with a 12-4 record. And though he’s shown off his handles with Gold on numerous occasions, Bandy’s true focus, he noted, comes on defense.
“I try to do whatever I can on the defensive end,” he said. “I care about defense more than anything. Defense leads to offense, that’s what my dad tells me all the time and that’s what motivates me on the court.”
He did share his thoughts on his offense, too, and it likely isn’t a surprise he likes to play a tough game.
“Guards I look up to, they drive to the bucket and that’s what I try to do every time. If I have a 3-point shot, I’ll take it, but I’ll always look to drive, take the contact, try to get the and-1.”
The Kicks
Air Jordan 13 ‘Obsidian’
Mastermind / Tinker Hatfield
Release / 1997
Fun fact / Incorporated a holographic circle on the upper that resembled a cat’s eye. Also had paw designs on the outsole.
As Bandy sat in the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, nearly empty with the low rumbles — and grumbles — of the WV Gold players and others at Gate 7 in the background after they found out their flight to Dallas was delayed, he took a moment to kick his feet up and look out at the landscape that surrounded ICT. Truly, the only beautiful thing about the scene was his pair of Air Jordan 13 Retros, fitted in the Obsidian colorway.
With a rich navy blue paneled over a crisp tumbled white leather, adorned with dark powder blue accents through the Jumpman logo on the tongue and outsole, Bandy’s kicks popped in the late-afternoon Midwest sun. In many ways, the shoes scream ‘The University of North Carolina,’ albeit the colors are slightly off. But Bandy, a longtime fan of the blue-blood program, doesn’t mind.
“I’ve always liked the UNC,” he said. “That’s where I want to go when I get to that point. I’ve always liked their team and the franchise, dating back to Michael Jordan and with guys like James Worthy, Danny Green, Marcus Paige, you’ve got all those great players.”
Although far in the future, when asked about his dream school, UNC was the answer. And although he would like to further his basketball career wherever he goes to college, playing for the Heels is the ultimate goal.
“It would mean a lot,” he said. “I’ve been wanting to go to that school for a while and I’ve been watching their guards. They’re shifty, not really ‘pure’ shooters, they always drive, pull up for the mid-range shot and I think it would be a great experience for me. And it would help me further my career (after college).
“I’ve been to campus one time (and) I like it. I just like North Carolina; I’ve got cousins who live down there and always loved going there.”
For now, though, the rising junior will continue to work on the goals he’s set for himself for the next year. Though WV Gold is on a break, they return to action in the PRO 16 national tournament in Houston to ring in July. Bandy hopes that he’s been able to showcase his talents to some scouts and that Houston will provide that opportunity as well.
“I definitely want to get myself out there, get some interest. And then that leads into high school, get my schedule out to some coaches so they can come to watch me at University. Let’s get some interest that transfers over to high school and go from there.”
