Below you can find links to the student submissions we have received for each challenge. We encourage you to leave comments on the submissions, especially constructive feedback for the students on how to take their thinking to the next level.
These submissions are just examples, not blueprints of the amount or quality of work that is required to submit. We encourage submissions of all styles and levels.
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Challenge #1: Who was the best offensive player in the NBA during the 2011-2012 regular season?
- Zach – 15 years old – New York, NY
Zach makes an excellent argument for LeBron James, comparing him to several other top NBA players and taking into account shooting efficiency as well as several other offensive contributions. - David – 16 years old – Barcelona, Spain
David has created an original mathematical model to measure the best offensive player in the league, arriving at Kevin Love as the answer. His model adjusts for position, relies heavily on shooting efficiency but also takes into account other offensive contributions.
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Challenge #2: Choose an NBA team. Think about the team’s strengths and weaknesses during the 2011-12 season. What needs do you think the team should be addressing in free agency?
- Nick – 14 years old – St. Louis, MO
Nick focuses on the Oklahoma City Thunder and how they can address some of the difficulties they had in the Finals against the Miami Heat. - David – 16 years old – Barcelona, Spain
David focuses on the Denver Nuggets comparing some of their team statistics from last season to the league average. He identifies several categories as targets for improvement, prioritizes the targets, then hones in on a free agent point guard that he thinks could have made a big difference if the Nuggets had signed him.
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Challenge #3: Who will win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award for the 2012-2013 season?
- James – 16 years old – Albertson, NY
James argues that one of last year’s candidates for the Most Improved Player Award, Ersan Ilyasova, is just scratching the surface of his talent. He’s of the opinion that Ilyasova will continue to improve and should take home the award he missed out on last season. - David – 17 years old – Barcelona, Spain
David researched some historical winners of this award to identify some trends. A combination of those trends and his own statistical predictions led him to the Utah Jazz’s Alec Burks.
