The difference between a 44% shooter and a 37% shooter is very substantial. Can't believe that is even being debated. If you shoot lower than 37%, you will not have a spot in D1 basketball.
The third leading scorer in Saint John's history shot 37 percent from the floor as a freshman, 39 percent as a sophomore and 38 percent as a junior. They managed to find a place in D1 for him.
Phil Greene shot 36 and 37 percent his first two years.
Daryl Hill shot 38 percent as a freshman.
Cedric Jackson shot 33 and 36 percent his first two years, they found a spot for him in the NBA.
Thus do facts refute conjecture.
The difference between a career 37 percent shooter and a career 44 percent shooter might be substantial, depending on the circumstances. The difference between two freshmen shooting those percentages is meaningless.