Gopher Basketball
Keep in mind, many of these names are highly regarded talents and to those who follow college basketball closely, you may wonder how they made the list. Fifteen of the twenty five are actually on the Wooden Watch List for this preseason and several are projected to be drafted by the NBA at some point. I compiled a list of twenty-five who I think generally fly under the radar, whether its because they have a higher profile teammate, because they play in a small conference with limited exposure, or players I expect to make a leap into the college basketball nation’s conscious this year. Hopefully they are also players who you’ll be able to find on the dial without too much effort sometime during the season (for those whose television time will be sparse, I’ve noted some games where they might find themselves onto the national airwaves). There’s no rankings to this list, and I know I could come up with another twenty-five worthy candidates if I chose to. All I’m saying is this-if you hear this player’s team is going to be on the telly, tune in, and keep an eye out, you likely won’t be disappointed.
A.J. Abrams, Texas-During Abrams freshman year, he came off the bench as a three point specialist on a team that featured LaMarcus Aldridge, P.J. Tucker, Daniel Gibson, and Brad Buckman. He entered his sophomore year as the leading returning scorer for Texas, but the Kevin Durant show overwhelmed everyone else in Austin. This year, D.J. Augustin is sure to garner the most attention among those casting an eye towards Longhorns basketball. Abrams shouldn’t be overlooked though. A silky smooth outside threat, he’s actually the top returning scorer for the Longhorns at 15.5 per game, 42% beyond the arc. While he’s sure to garner more attention with Durant gone, he shouldn’t suffer too much as Augustin’s frequent forays to the hoop should cause defenses to sag off of him, at extreme risk.
Patrick Beverley, Arkansas-The best treat that Stan Heath left for John Pelphrey in the Razorback cupboard is this 6’1″ sophomore shooting guard from Chicago, the leading returning scorer for Arkansas. Beverley can get his points on drives and from the perimeter and he was impressive for USA Basketball’s Under-19 silver medal team, leading the squad in scoring and crushing the record for USA Basketball in steals. Pelphrey has mentioned that he’s looking to up the tempo with the Razorbacks, so expect Beverley to continue his ascension towards stardom.
Jon Brockman, Washington-Every team wishes they had an athletic,physical presence like Brockman. While the Huskies struggled last year, the blame could not be pinned upon Brockman. Playing alongside 7′ center Spencer Hawes, the 6’7″ Brockman led the team in rebounds with 9.6 per game and also checked in as their second leading scorer behind Hawes. Even at a burly 245 pounds, Brockman runs the court extremely well and seems content to do the dirty work others shy away from.
Jaycee Carroll, Utah State-Never seen Carroll play? Neither have I, and I think I’ve been missing quite a show. Carroll steps into his senior season with over 1,700 career points, just 391 shy of Utah State’s all-time scoring record. He averaged 21.5 points per game as a junior, highlighted by a 44 point effort against New Mexico State where he nailed 10 three pointers. He’s lead the WAC in three point shooting for three consecutive years (a career average of 45%, which is tops in the nation) and can also shoot free throws pretty well, leading the WAC last season at 88%. Looking for a shooter? Check out Carroll.
Best chances for air time: November 23rd at Vanderbilt; January 5th at Nevada
Sherron Collins, Kansas-The Jayhawks seem to have McDonald’s All-Americans as student managers, and Collins is no exception. On this deep team where minutes and shots are divvied up, I think Collins was overshadowed as a freshman, particularly as he worked to shed pounds and get himself in shape for Bill Self. Watching Collins play makes me believe he holds the key for Self’s attempts to advance to a Final Four with Kansas, if not this year then soon in the future. Collins is one of those fearless point guards who gets into the lane adeptly and can also hit from beyond the arc. He also thrives on clutch situations in big games, seemingly unafraid to take the big shots when the opportunity is presented. If Collins can keep his weight in check, he will earn more time in a crowded backcourt and that is a good thing for the Jayhawk fanbase.
Brandon Costner, N.C. State-On an overlooked team in the state of North Carolina, Costner lead the Wolfpack in scoring, rebounding, and three point shooting as a redshirt freshman. This lefty got himself some attention by scoring 30 points in an ACC tournament upset over Duke, and he steps into this season as the go to guy on a talented, intriguing N.C. State team. I’m zeroing in on the UNC-N.C. State games myself, to see Costner take on Hansbrough.
Stephen Curry, Davidson-Do you think Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenburg is regretting not finding a scholarship for Stephen, the son of Hokies legend Dell Curry? The younger Curry elected to take the scholarship offer from Davidson and went on to star for the Wildcats, leading them in scoring as a freshman with 21 points per game, setting the freshman record with 112 three pointers made in the process. This summer Curry was a key contributor for the USA Basketball Under-19 team and also grew two inches so he now stands at 6’3″ (as if he needed any more help getting his shot off). Davidson returns all five starters from last season’s 29-5 squad and they play a challenging non-conference schedule, so you can expect to see and hear a lot about the young sharpshooter.
Best chances for air time: November 14th at North Carolina; December 1st at Duke; December 8th at UCLA; December 21st at N.C. State
Devan Downey, South Carolina-Two years ago, Bobby Huggins was abruptly forced out by the Cincinnati president in late August, propelling Andy Kennedy into the head coach position and the Bearcats basketball program into what promised to be sure chaos. That chaos was delayed one year due to Kennedy, senior post Eric Hicks, and a waterbug freshman point guard Devan Downey. Downey burst onto the scene and provided a steadying influence on a Bearcat team that was short on scholarship players to begin the season, and was hit hard by injuries as the season wore on. Cincinnati just missed the NCAA tournament that season, aided in large part by their fast-breaking, pressure defense playing point guard who made the All-Big East rookie team. When Kennedy was not hired after his interim stint, Downey elected to transfer to his home state university, and now will be aiding another coach in a tumultuous situation, Dave Odom. If Odom can stave off those calling for his job, it likely will be in large part due to Downey.
Randal Falker, Southern Illinois-Over the last several years, the Salukis have increasingly found their way onto our television screens as their basketball team has achieved a steady excellence and presence nationally. The typical Saluki has a close-cropped haircut, stands between 6’2″ and 6’8″, and seems almost like an automaton on the court, programmed to apply stifling defense and judicious shot selection. Falker is the pink shirt in a sea of white button downs. With his stringy dreadlocks and even stringier 6’7″ frame, Falker has positioned himself on the low block and reeked havoc on both ends of the court for the past three years. It seems like he has been around forever, but this is his senior year so Missouri Valley crowds, who love to razz Falker, might feel a little sentimental at the end of this era.
Shan Foster, Vanderbilt-Last year the Commodores were a surprise entry into the Sweet Sixteen and came close to being a bigger story with a one point loss to eventual Final Four participant Georgetown. Their success was based largely on their two high scoring wings, Derrick Byars and Foster. Byars was the leading scorer and SEC Player of the Year, but he has graduated, which puts Foster in the spotlight to keep Vandy among the nation’s elite. I believe this 6’6″ wing, who averaged 15 points per game and shot 35% from behind the arc, is up for the challenge. Freshman center Andrew Oglivie will likely demand much attention from the defense, so things should open up nicely for Foster, who should finish the year as Vanderbilt’s all time leading scorer. I have tabbed Vandy as my sleeper team for the ’07-08 year and that is due in large part to Foster’s talent.
Taj Gibson, USC-More attention than ever will be focused on Trojans basketball this season, and perhaps Gibson will gain some national appreciation in the corners of the O.J. Mayo media circus. The lithe sophomore power forward burst onto the scene last year, averaging 12 points and almost 9 rebounds per game and serving as the lone post presence on a team featuring NBA first round draft picks Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt. Gibson will surely be overshadowed again this year, but any success the Trojans experience will be in due part to Gibson, who has been hobbled by an ankle sprain this preseason.
Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State-Gordon reminds me of an old blues folk story, about a sublime talent located deep in Mississippi, known mostly to the locals. Gordon is that modern day blues legend, except he plies his trade with a basketball in hand rather than a guitar from Starksville. Gordon is regarded as one of the best guards in the nation, and he’ll have to put the Bulldogs on his back to emerge from the SEC West and into the NCAA tournament. For a guy who averaged 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game as a sophomore, it doesn’t seem that far fetched. Hopefully then we can catch a glimpse of this unknown talent.
Best chances for air time: November 15, Clemson; December 29, Missouri; several SEC games
Mike Green, Butler-A.J. Graves may be the face of this Butler squad, but Green is one of those talents who seem to flourish on the mid-major level as a jack of all trades. The 6’1″ point guard poured in nearly 14 points a game, while also averaging 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game. In addition, the transfer from Towson set a school record with 196 made free throws which tells us two things: he can shoot free throws and he takes the ball to the rim. There should be several opportunities to watch Butler this year and while the accolades will be flowing towards Graves, keep an eye on the do-everything Green.
Chris Kramer, Purdue-As the Boilermakers transition from a veteran team to a team featuring several freshman, one has to think Kramer will serve as a steadying influence for the newcomers from his point guard spot. Kramer impressed last year on a surprise NCAA team, providing solid, determined play mostly coming off the bench. I doubt that his stats will be staggering, but I do think he holds the key to how well the Purdue freshman adjust to the college game and subsequently how successful Purdue is this season.
Derrick Low, Washington State-No one saw the Cougar Express emerging last year, but when Tony Bennett’s boys did, they were lead by Low, a senior recruited to the main land from Hawaii. With his shaggy shoulder length hair, Low is easily identifiable on the court, and he possesses a game that reminds me a bit of Andre Miller when he was at Utah. Low played this summer on the U.S. Pan-American squad and was a key contributor on the team. Washington State won’t be surprising anyone this season, and Low will likely be garnering much of the attention, both from the opposing team and the nation’s media.
Eric Maynor, VCU-Would Maynor be on anyone’s radar if he hadn’t hit that jump shot from the free throw line to defeat Duke in the opening round this past NCAA tournament? Certainly not on the level that will vault him into the March Madness archives with the likes of Bryce Drew, James Forrest, and Tyus Edney, but Maynor is no one trick pony. He seized my attention a week before that when he destroyed George Mason in the final minutes of the Colonial Athletic championship game creating steals, turning them into baskets, and catapulting the Rams into the NCAA tournament. The frenetic style that Anthony Grant brought to VCU fits Maynor like the proverbial glove, and I think we can expect the junior point guard to continue to force his way into our consciousness.
Best chance for air time: December 2nd, at Maryland
Jerel McNeal, Marquette-McNeal is one-third of the highly touted guard trio that arrived three years ago on campus, and while the other two (Dominic James and Wes Matthews Jr.) grabbed the attention early, McNeal emerged last season as Marquette’s steadiest player whose absence due to injury at the end of the year hamstrung any chances for NCAA success. Matched up against taller competition much of the time in the rugged Big East, McNeal won the Big East defensive player of the year award, creating havoc everywhere on the court. The 6’3″ junior scored nearly 15 per game, grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing 4 assists per game last year. Fully recovered from the broken thumb, McNeal promises once again to be a disruptive force for the opposition while entertaining the Marquette fan base with his all out style of play.
Jodie Meeks, Kentucky-While Big Blue fans may lament Tubby Smith’s recruiting prowess, he left Billy Gillispie quite a nice player in sophomore Jodie Meeks, who came off the bench last season and showed he has the ability to become a notable player in Kentucky history if he can continue to mature. Averaging 8.5 points a game, Meeks continued to earn playing time as the season progressed, and ended the year with eight consecutive double-digit scoring efforts. I think Meeks will make the leap into consistent double figure scorer this year, and provide a valuable piece to Gillispie as he transitions Kentucky from the Tubby era.
DeMarcus Nelson, Duke-I know, it’s hard to fathom that any Dukie can be under the radar, but Nelson falls into this category. In fact, he reminds me a lot of Chris Carrawell, who provided a steadying influence to the Blue Devils in the late ’90s. Nelson seems cut from a similar cloth, unspectacular in his play, but a steady player who you can almost always count on tallying double digits in points, providing solid to great defense, and keeping things on the court calm. He has been nicked by the injury bug the past couple seasons, which has hurt Coach K’s squad. Duke has several freshman expected to be key contributors this season, and combining that with shaky point guard Greg Paulus, the Dukies will need Nelson more than ever.
Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga-When I think of Gonzaga’s emergence as a national power over the last decade, athleticism is not my first thought. Skilled players, rugged big men, good shooters all emerge, but not guys who fly baseline to baseline or live above the rim. Pargo is a different type of Gonzaga player in this regard, as the junior point guard can jet all over the court, isn’t afraid to take the ball inside or mix it up for rebounds, and adds some jaw dropping athleticism on occasion. Like Nelson, he was hit with some nagging injuries last year, which contributed to Gonzaga struggling a bit more than usual in the regular season. If Pargo’s healthy, expect Gonzaga to be a top flight team again this year.
Josh Shipp, UCLA-Two years ago, when UCLA reemerged as a national championship contender, we would often hear commentators state that UCLA’s best player might be on the sideline, referring to Shipp who was redshirting because of a left hip injury. He came back last year to contribute 13 points a game to the Bruins’ Final Four squad, and after the season ended, he once again underwent surgery on the left hip, which was deemed successful. He is the top returning scorer for UCLA and he’ll likely slide into the shooting guard role vacated by Aaron Afflalo. With defenses forced to contend with point guard Darren Collison and post Kevin Love, Shipp should have plenty of opportunities to make opponents pay if they overlook him.
Edgar Sosa, Louisville-I’m not sold on Louisville as one of the nation’s elite teams yet, but if Sosa is fully recovered from an ankle sprain suffered over the summer, I will have some more faith in the Cardinals’ chances. Sosa was up and down as the freshman starting point guard last season, but he finished his season with a flourish, hitting for 16 points in their opening round NCAA game versus Stanford and then exploding for 31 points against Texas A&M, one of the top defensive teams in the country. Watching Sosa get into the lane at will against the Aggies made me realize that he’s the type of player that could put a team on his back as he emerges. It could be as early as this year.
Marreese Speights, Florida-This 6’10″ sophomore didn’t garner many minutes last year, but that shouldn’t be too surprising considering that the three players ahead of him are now all employed in the NBA. Speights is being counted upon as one of the building blocks for the Gators this season as much of the new freshman talent arrives in the backcourt. If Florida returns to the NCAA tournament, it will be in large part because Speights was able to step in ably at the post position for Billy Donovan.
Bryce Taylor, Oregon-On a team of prolific scorers, Taylor may be the best of them all, even though he’s been overshadowed by teammate Malik Hairston since they arrived on campus together, and the cache of 5’6″ scoring machine Tajuan Porter will steal attention away from Taylor also. No matter, as the underrated Taylor will continue to pour points into the basket, as this year’s top returning scorer for the Ducks. Checking in at 14 points a game last year, Taylor also hurled a perfect game against Southern Cal, hitting 11 for 11 on field goals (7 for 7 on three pointers) and 3 for 3 on free throws to finish with 32 points. I don’t know if Taylor can reach perfection again this year, but he will be a key cog in Oregon’s march through the Pac-10 and into the NCAA tournament.
Kyle Weaver, Washington State-Weaver joins teammate Low as the only teammates to get onto this list, which is apropos since Weaver and Low were the only college teammates to make the U.S. Pan-American team this summer. Somehow Weaver snuck out of Beloit under the watchful eyes of Bo Ryan and Tom Crean and emerged last season as a 6’6″ do everything point guard, becoming the first Pac 10 player to post 300 points, 125 rebounds, 125 assists, 50 steals and 35 blocks in a season. Starting alongside Low in the Cougars’ backcourt, Weaver should provide the Washington State fans with another memorable year.
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