POSTERIZED: Georgia freshman is the Pope of Posterization

Georgia freshman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has put together an impressive start to his college career. He was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, and chose to stay close to home instead of signing with a traditional hoops powerhouse. Because of this, his name isn't mentioned as much as other freshman, like Baylor's Deuce Bello, Arizona's Josiah Turner or Texas' Myck Kabongo.

But unlike Bello, Turner and Kabongo, the Georgia freshman is the leading scorer for his team. Caldwell-Pope's 13.5ppg are the most of any Bulldog player, and while the team has just four wins and five losses, the young freshman has been showing off his talent on a nightly basis.

The most recent example came on Wednesday night during the annual Peach State rivalry game between Georgia and Georgia Tech. The Jackets ended up winning the contest 68-56, which was the school's first road victory against Georgia in 35 year.

Unless you are from Georgia the game itself was a non-event. Well, except for the monstrous "Dunk of the Year" candidate that was hand-crafted by Caldwell Pope. Even non-Georgians can enjoy a one-handed mean-mugging.




As you may notice, Kentavious took a pretty nasty spill after throwing down the jam. He went to the bench for a few minutes but later returned to the game.

As for the poor defender, that's Glen Rice Jr.

If you have any Sarah Palin jokes, now is the time to get them in.


But was it as good as these?

Vander Blue, Marquette vs. Washington, 12/6
Terrence Ross, Washington vs. Marquette, 12/6
Deville Smith, Mississippi State vs. West Virginia, 12/3
Terrence Jones, Kentucky vs. North Carolina, 12/3
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Georgetown, 12/1
Anthony Marshall, UNLV vs. UNC, 11/26
Michael Kidd-Glichrist, Kentucky vs. Portland, 11/26/11 (DotY Candidate)
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/25
Rodney Williams, Minnesota vs. DePaul, 11/24
Thomas Robinson, Kansas vs. Duke, 11/23
Stan Okoye, VMI vs. Ohio State, 11/23
Kyisean Reed, Utah State vs. Southern Utah, 11/19
Ra'Shad James, Iona vs. Western Michigan, 11/18
Alandise Harris, Houston vs. Arkansas, 11/18
Sam Thompson, Ohio State vs. Jackson State, 11/18
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Wichita State, 11/18
Eric Griffin, Campbell vs. North Carolina A&T, 11/18 (DotY Candidate)
Olek Czyz, Nevada vs. Pacific, 11/17
Chris Watson, Pikeville vs. Mountain State, 11/16
Ray Willis, North Carolina Central vs. Wagner, 11/16
Mike James, Lamar vs. Ohio, 11/15 (DotY Candidate)
Quincy Acy, Baylor vs. San Diego State, 11/15
Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia vs. Kent State, 11/15
Chris Evans, Kent State vs. West Virginia, 11/15
Tony Mitchell, Alabama vs. Oakland, 11/14
Isaiah Brown, East Tennessee State vs. Virginia Tech, 11/12
Michael Lyons, Air Force vs. Army, 11/11
Dezmine Wells, Xavier vs. Morgan State, 11/11
Jeremy Lamb, UConn vs. Columbia, 11/11 (DotY Candidate)
Andre Drummond, UConn vs. CW Post, 11/4
Moe Harkless, St. John's vs. CW Post, 10/26












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NBA Draft Profiles: Travis Leslie, Georgia

Bjorn Zetterberg of SwishScout.com will be helping us out with all of our NBA Draft Profiles this year. You can follow him on twitter @swishscout.

To browse through the latest prospect profiles, click here. To see a complete list of the players we have profiled, click here.

Stats: 14.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg,, 3.2 off, 1.2 spg, 2.9 apg, 30.2% 3PT

Age: 21, junior

Size:

• Listed: 6'4", 205 lb
• Official: 6'3" (no shoes), 6'4/25" (with shoes), 6'11" (wingspan), 8'7" (reach), 205 lb

Strengths: What makes Leslie such an intriguing prospect is his overall physical profile. Simply put, he is a specimen. He is the best athlete in this draft class, an explosive leaper that could very well win an NBA dunk contest at some point down the road. He has an almost seven foot wingspan, which combined with his strength makes him a superb finisher around -- and well above -- the rim. He's an active player that excels at getting to the offensive glass and scores quite a few cuts off of cuts to the rim and by getting out on the wing in transition. While is ability on the offensive end of the floor is limited, Leslie has the potential to be a terror on the defensive end of the floor at the next level. He is a bit under sized for a two guard, but he has the wingspan to make up for it and the athleticism to defend any of the three perimeter positions.

Weaknesses: The most obvious weakness in Leslie's game is his limited offensive repertoire. While he shot 30.2% from beyond the arc this season, that came on a very limited number of attempts. Leslie is not a skilled ball-handler, either. He is able to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim in straight line drives, but he is not a player that you want bringing the ball up court and is not effective changing directions when attacking the basket. While he is one of the best guards finishing around the rim, Leslie's mid-range game, pull-up jumper, and floaters need quite a bit of work as well. Leslie is, more or less, a power forward in an under-sized shooting guards body. There is also concern about the amount of time he has spent defending on the perimeter. There were quite a few times this past season where he defended an opponent's power forward.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Tony Allen (before injury). Before the devastating knee injury in 2007, Allen was an uber athletic forward who was as explosive an athlete there was in the league. Neither are great at creating
  their own shot or shooting the ball, but Leslie is an outstanding athlete, an absolute ball hawk, and plays hard on both ends of the floor in the mold of a young Allen who did early in his Celtics career. Tony Allen post-injury has been a serious contributor for Memphis the last few years.


• Worst Case Scenario: More athletic Keith Bogans. Bogans has embraced his role with the Bulls as being a predominant defender, and Leslie has the natural gifts to be that in league. His offensive arsenal is limited and far from refined, and if Travis can’t get a better grip on his handles or learn to shoot the ball, he probably becomes a player in the mold of Bogans.

Outlook: Leslie is a unique prospect given his physical gifts. There aren't many players out there with his combination of athleticism, strength, and length. At the very worst, he is a player that will be able to contribute defensively and on the glass at both ends of the floor. He seems like the kind of player that will be able to embrace the role of junkyard dog at the next level. The x-factor here is that Leslie has a tremendous amount of room to grow. Right now, there is not much that he does on the offensive end of the floor at an NBA level beyond finishing around the basket. If he puts in the work on his jump shot and his ball handling ability, he has a chance to be a very effective player. There is a reason that guys like DeShawn Stevenson, Tony Allen, and James Posey always seem to work there way into the starting lineups of quality basketball teams. You need a defensive stopper. You need someone that can hold their own against the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Derrick Rose. The guys that stick around the longest in those roles are the guys that are also able to function on the offensive end of the floor. If there is a red flag with Leslie, its that this was the exact same scouting report on him after his sophomore season, but there wasn't a significant improvement in his game as a junior. Is he willing to put in the work required to improve?

Draft Range: Late 1st to Early 2nd Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "An amazing athlete and perhaps the best leaper in college basketball, Leslie could compete in an NBA dunk contest. But is he an NBA player? His lack of a jump shot and lack of size for his position have scouts worried. If he was two inches taller and could stroke the ball, he'd be a lottery pick. As it stands now, he's on the first-round bubble. "


• Draft Express: "Able to play significantly bigger than his 6'4 height, Leslie's most notable development this season lies in the way he's able to score inside the arc. Often struggling to get all the way to the rim as freshman, but doing a much better job going up strong around the basket last season, the Georgia native has developed an improved comfort level and slightly better touch in the paint this season. According to Synergy Sports Technology, he's shooting 58% in finishing situations this season. Accounting for more than half of his shots both this and last season, that's a significant improvement over the 50% he shot last year. At this point, he's backing up his one or two highlight reel dunks every game with rock solid efficiency, even if he's not getting to the free throw line quite as often as he did in the past."


• Swish Scout: "Extremely athletic guard who is active on both ends of the court, rebounds at a high rate, and possesses raw NBA talent. Leslie isn’t a very good shooter or ball handler, but he as an absolute ballhawk that has a game adaptable for league play with some work."

Highlights:




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NBA Draft Profiles: Trey Thompkins, Georgia

Bjorn Zetterberg of SwishScout.com will be helping us out with all of our NBA Draft Profiles this year. You can follow him on twitter @swishscout.

To browse through the latest prospect profiles, click here. To see a complete list of the players we have profiled, click here.

Stats: 16.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.7 bpg, 1.1 spg, 31.1 3PT%

Age: 21, junior

Size:

• Listed: 6'10", 240 lb
• Official: 6'8.5" (no shoes), 6'9.75" (with shoes), 7'1" (wingspan), 8'11.5" (reach), 239 lb

Strengths: Thompkins is an intriguing prospect due to his size and versatility. He's just a shade under 6'10" in shoes with a wingspan over seven feet. He has a solid, if developing, back-to-the-basket game and a soft touch around the basket, but what makes him unique is his ability to step out on the perimeter and knock down a perimeter jumper. Thompkins also is a threat as a face-up four man with a decent mid-range game. There is a lot to like about his potential as a scorer at the next level.

Weaknesses: Thompkins is, at best, an average athlete by NBA standards. He lacks vertical explosiveness and isn't going to beat anyone with his quickness. While he can make up for that offensively with his good footwork and ability to shoot from the perimeter, that lack of elite athleticism is a bigger concern on the defensive end. He will struggle to defend on the perimeter and also seems to be a bit apathetic battling in the post. He gives up position inside, something you don't like to see out of a kid with his size, and he doesn't project as a shot-blocking threat. Thompkins is also turnover prone, which, when combined with the season-long shooting slump he had in 2010-2011, makes Thompkins even more of a question mark. Conditioning is another issue, although some of that can be blamed on injuries that he battled.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Ryan Anderson. Two players with size, physical play, great range, and limited athleticism. Very similar type games stylistically, which bodes well for Trey. He should fit in on a team that’s willing to let him play immediately like the Magic have done with Anderson. Troy Murphy is another comparison I've seen that seems to fit.


• Worst Case Scenario: Brian Cook. While Thompkins had a bit of a disappointing season shooting the ball, the shot is still there. That ability to step out on the perimeter and stretch the defense is what is going to get him drafted. But if the rest of his game doesn't come along, Thompkins is going to have a tough time finding a permanent role in the league.

Outlook: Thompkins had a stellar sophomore season, one that had him mentioned as a potential Preseason Player of the Year in the SEC and projected as a mid-first rounder, possibly even a lottery pick. But a high-ankle sprain late in the preseason forced him to miss the first three games of the year and may have bothered him for much of the first half of the season. As a result, his production, his efficiency, and (most importantly) his shooting percentages all dropped from his sophomore to junior season, and thus the hype that Thompkins had coming into the season dulled. There are a myriad of question marks surrounding Thompkins, but two really stand out. The biggest issue is going to be his conditioning and, to steal a phrase from Jimmy Dykes, his 'want-to'. Throughout his collegiate career, Thompkins had some pudge on him. Dropping 10 pounds and streamlining his body likely wouldn't hurt him from a strength standpoint, but it could help his explosiveness and athleticism, an area that he is lacking. Getting into better shape might allow him to play harder during the course of a game, as he seemed to tire during the season, at times catching his breath on the defensive end of the floor. The other issue is that Thompkins does a lot well, but he doesn't have a singular, NBA ready talent. The one skill that was arguable -- his perimeter shooting -- took a major hit this year.

Draft Range: Late 1st to Early 2nd

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "A smooth, versatile forward who can play both inside and out, Thompkins never quite bounced back from an offseason injury -- his numbers were down across the board. If he did one thing at an elite level, he'd be a lottery pick. More likely, he goes late in the first round."


• Draft Express: "Overall, Thompkins still has some intriguing qualities with his high skill level for a big man and his potential as a scorer on the block. His shooting woes have been disappointing though, and he'll need to prove through the end of the season or in workouts that he's a much better shooter than what we've seen from his so far this season. Big men with his feel, touch, and skill level aren't easy to come by, but the questions about his motor and consistency will have to be looked into deeper by teams to find out whether or not he's a guy who will ever reach his full potential."


• Swish Scout: "Developing post player with a legit inside-out game and instinctive defensive playmaking skills with his solid size and length. Thompkins is limited by athleticism, a raw back to basket game, and turnover problems prevent him from being an elite prospect."

Highlights:


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Expect to see more players like Travis Leslie and Malcolm Lee stay in the draft

Georgia's Travis Leslie and UCLA's Malcolm Lee are the latest underclassmen to make a decision on their basketball playing future.

But unlike lottery locks Perry Jones and Jared Sullinger, Leslie and Lee, both juniors, signed with agents on Tuesday. They are, for better or for worse, no longer college basketball players.

"After talking it over with my family, I have decided that I will forgo my senior year and enter into the NBA Draft," Leslie said in a statement. "I would like to thank UGA for giving me the opportunity, as well as Coach Fox and the staff in helping me to improve my game. Last but not least, I'd like to thank the Georgia fans for their support over the past three years."

The 6'4" wing forward, who averaged 14.4 ppg and 7.2 rpg as a junior, is currently considered a borderline first round pick. He's one of the best athletes in the draft, but he's a bit undersized for his natural position as a small forward and he lacks the perimeter skills to be a two-guard.

Lee's statement was much of the same: "After speaking to my family, I have carefully weighed all of my options, and at this time, I have decided to hire an agent and withdraw from my classes. My three years at UCLA were the best time of my life. I will miss my teammates, coaches, faculty, friends and all of the great fans at UCLA. I have had a lot of fun being a Bruin and I appreciate everything Coach [Ben] Howland has done for me. I am very proud to be a Bruin and I will always call this place home. My dream has always been to play in the NBA and I think that this is the best time for me to try and make that a reality."

The difference, however, lies in Lee's potential as a professional.

He's an excellent defensive player and has the size (6'5") and the frame (210 lb) to matchup with NBA two-guards and the quickness to defend point guards. The questions lie is his skill set and understanding of the game. He can score, but he's not an NBA level penetrator or spot-up shooter. Lee lacks a position on the offensive end of the floor, and his lack of production doesn't bode well. (To be fair, those were the same knocks that Jrue Holiday and Russell Westbrook had coming out of UCLA.)

Leslie's decision to hire an agent was much less of a surprise than Lee's, and as such, Lee's decision was questioned by folks on twitter.

And while we can all question the intelligence in squandering a final year of collegiate eligibility to chase an NBA dream, we should get used to it. Because over the coming two weeks, there will likely be a number of other "questionable" draft decisions.

The 2011 draft is one of the weakest in recent memory, especially when looking at the players coming from the college ranks. Five of the top ten in the Draft Express mock draft never played any college basketball. With the number of lottery picks and first rounders that are returning to school, it only strengthens what already appeared to be a loaded 2012 draft class.

For prospects that have borderline first round pick kind of talent, leaving this year ends up being the better option. While they may get a chunk of their 2011 guaranteed salary eaten up by the NBA's lockout, at least they will have that guaranteed contract. That may not be the case next season.

A strong draft means more talent will be available late in the first round and into the second round. But it also means that kids that would have had a chance to make some guaranteed money if they left this season will be stuck trying to play their way onto a team.

You can question the decisions that Leslie and Lee made if you like.

But be prepared to see more "questionable" decisions made before the May 8th deadline to withdraw from the draft.
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VIDEO: Timeout may cost Georgia a tournament bid

Georgia has blown an 11 point lead with four minutes left in the game.

When Trevor Releford scored on a layup with four second left on the clock, it capped a 15-4 run, tying the game at 53 and giving Alabama's NCAA Tournament hopes new life, albeit it briefly. Dustin Ware took the inbounds and sprinted the length of the court, throwing up a 25 foot runner that banked in.

GEORGIA WINS! THEY'RE IN THE TOURNAMENT! BUZZER BEATERS! GUS JOHNSON JOKES!

Unfortunately, that was not the case:



Mark Fox, the Georgia head coach, inexplicably called a timeout with 0.8 seconds left on the clock, mere tenths of a second before Ware shot what would have been the game winner.

In the overtime, Tony Mitchell hit a tiebreaking three with just over a minute left, and Alabama held Georgia scoreless the rest of the way, winning 65-59. With this game billed as a play-out game, it puts Fox in an incredibly awkward spot -- his ill-advised timeout may end up costing Georgia an NCAA Tournament bid.

The Bulldogs still have a chance to dance, obviously. But they have just five top 100 wins (including Ole Miss) and finished the year just 9-7 in the SEC and 21-11 overall. Georgia's profile is thoroughly mediocre, which means that they will be stuck playing the dreaded "wait and see" game.

"If I don't call a timeout and that ball goes in, you're not asking that question. That's how close it is," Fox said after the game.

Alabama is close, but they certainly should not feel comfortable enough to consider themselves a lock. Not when you lost to the teams they lost to in the non-conference portion of your schedule. Not when your RPI is in the 80's. I'd advise Anthony Grant's team to beat the winner of Kentucky and Ole Miss tomorrow afternoon.
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POSTERIZED: Travis Leslie does it again

At the end of Saturday, 144 games will have taken place. Needless to say, there also will have been a severe lack of big-time dunks.

But it certainly won't be because of Travis Leslie.

Because the dude did the damn thing. Again.



But was it as good as one of these?:

POSTERIZED - Matt Dickey, UNC-Asheville
POSTERIZED - Jeff Robinson, Xavier
POSTERIZED - Nyika Williams
POSTERIZED - Jawanza Poland, South Florida
POSTERIZED - Brady Jardine, Utah State
POSTERIZED - Tony Mitchell, Alabama
POSTERIZED - John Williams, UNC-Asheville
POSTERIZED - Peyton Siva, Louisville
POSTERIZED - E'Twaun Moore, Purdue
POSTERIZED - DJ Newbill, Southern Mississippi
POSTERIZED - Scotty Hopson, Tennessee
POSTERIZED - Justin Brownlee, St. John's
POSTERIZED - Tyrone Johnson
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Terrence Ross, Washington
POSTERIZED - Justin Tubbs, East Tennessee State
POSTERIZED - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
POSTERIZED - Andre Roberson, Colorado
POSTERIZED - Durrell Summers, Michigan State
POSTERIZED - Phillip McDonald, New Mexico
POSTERIZED - Kyle Kuric, Louisville
POSTERIZED - Anthony Nelson, Niagara
POSTERIZED - Cory Joseph, Texas
POSTERIZED - Will Sheehey, Indiana
POSTERIZED - Tom Pritchard, Indiana
POSTERIZED - Shay Shine, High Point
POSTERIZED - John Holland, Boston
POSTERIZED - Keith Gabriel, VMI
POSTERIZED - Travis McKie, Wake Forest
POSTERIZED - Jefferson Mason, Minnesota State (D-II)
POSTERIZED - Tyler Johnson, Fresno State
POSTERIZED - John Williams, UNC-Asheville
POSTERIZED - Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Hollis Thompson, Georgetown
POSTERIZED - Darnell Wilks, Cincinnati
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette
POSTERIZED - Darrius Garrett, Richmond
POSTERIZED - Travis Cohn, Jacksonville
POSTERIZED - Ramon Galloway, South Carolina
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Justin Tubbs, East Tennessee State
POSTERIZED - John Williams, UNC-Asheville
POSTERIZED - Kevin Smith, Richmond
POSTERIZED - Mitchell Watt, Buffalo
POSTERIZED - Chandler Parsons, Florida
POSTERIZED - Kenny Gabriel, Auburn
POSTERIZED - Paris Horne, St. John's
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Laurence Bowers, Missouri
POSTERIZED - Drew Gordon, New Mexico
POSTERIZED - Tony Mitchell, Alabama
POSTERIZED - Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt
POSTERIZED - LaMarcus Reed, UT-Arlington
POSTERIZED - Marcus Morris, Kansas
POSTERIZED - Jared Cunningham, Oregon State
POSTERIZED - Langston Morris-Walker
POSTERIZED - Chris Wright and Juwan Staten, Dayton
POSTERIZED - D.J Stephens, Memphis
POSTERIZED - Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Reeves Nelson, UCLA
POSTERIZED - Kendall Marshall and John Henson, UNC
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Joe Jackson, Memphis
POSTERIZED - Shay Shine, High Point
POSTERIZED - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
POSTERIZED - Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion
POSTERIZED - CJ Fair, Syracuse
POSTERIZED - LeBryan Nash
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Marcus Jordan, Central Florida
POSTERIZED - Lorenzo Brown, NC State
POSTERIZED - Tai Wesley, Utah State
POSTERIZED - Trent Lockett, Arizona State, and Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Brandon Paul, Illinois
POSTERIZED - Jordan Hamilton, Texas
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POSTERIZED: Travis Leslie, need I say more?

Best dunker in the country?

I certainly think so.

Leslie's 2011 resume already includes this and this. Plus I don't think anybody will be forgetting this

Yesterday, he added this to his ever-growing dunk repertoire:



I'm starting to think that the only way you can stop Travis Leslie from dunking on your face is to tackle him as soon as he get's the ball. But I'm not sure if that's legal.

But was it as good as one of these?:

POSTERIZED - Terrence Ross, Washington
POSTERIZED - Justin Tubbs, East Tennessee State
POSTERIZED - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
POSTERIZED - Andre Roberson, Colorado
POSTERIZED - Durrell Summers, Michigan State
POSTERIZED - Phillip McDonald, New Mexico
POSTERIZED - Kyle Kuric, Louisville
POSTERIZED - Anthony Nelson, Niagara
POSTERIZED - Cory Joseph, Texas
POSTERIZED - Will Sheehey, Indiana
POSTERIZED - Tom Pritchard, Indiana
POSTERIZED - Shay Shine, High Point
POSTERIZED - John Holland, Boston
POSTERIZED - Keith Gabriel, VMI
POSTERIZED - Travis McKie, Wake Forest
POSTERIZED - Jefferson Mason, Minnesota State (D-II)
POSTERIZED - Tyler Johnson, Fresno State
POSTERIZED - Justin Williams, UNC-Ashville
POSTERIZED - Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Hollis Thompson, Georgetown
POSTERIZED - Darnell Wilks, Cincinnati
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette
POSTERIZED - Darrius Garrett, Richmond
POSTERIZED - Travis Cohn, Jacksonville
POSTERIZED - Ramon Galloway, South Carolina
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Justin Tubbs, East Tennessee State
POSTERIZED - John Williams, UNC-Ashville
POSTERIZED - Kevin Smith, Richmond
POSTERIZED - Mitchell Watt, Buffalo
POSTERIZED - Chandler Parsons, Florida
POSTERIZED - Kenny Gabriel, Auburn
POSTERIZED - Paris Horne, St. John's
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Laurence Bowers, Missouri
POSTERIZED - Drew Gordon, New Mexico
POSTERIZED - Tony Mitchell, Alabama
POSTERIZED - Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt
POSTERIZED - LaMarcus Reed, UT-Arlington
POSTERIZED - Marcus Morris, Kansas
POSTERIZED - Jared Cunningham, Oregon State
POSTERIZED - Langston Morris-Walker
POSTERIZED - Chris Wright and Juwan Staten, Dayton
POSTERIZED - D.J Stephens, Memphis
POSTERIZED - Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Reeves Nelson, UCLA
POSTERIZED - Kendall Marshall and John Henson, UNC
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Joe Jackson, Memphis
POSTERIZED - Shay Shine, High Point
POSTERIZED - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
POSTERIZED - Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion
POSTERIZED - CJ Fair, Syracuse
POSTERIZED - LeBryan Nash
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Marcus Jordan, Central Florida
POSTERIZED - Lorenzo Brown, NC State
POSTERIZED - Tai Wesley, Utah State
POSTERIZED - Trent Lockett, Arizona State, and Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Brandon Paul, Illinois
POSTERIZED - Jordan Hamilton, Texas
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POSTERIZED: Travis Leslie tip-dunks his own missed three

From the time we are kids all the way to the professional level, one of the most heard sayings by a coach is to follow your shot.

Why?

As the shooter, you have the best feel of where the ball is going to miss. More importantly however, if you are a good shooter, you generally miss either long or shot and not off to the side. And if your shot is aligned right but too long or too short, then the rebound is more than likely going to come right back in the direction that it was shot from, i.e. to the shooter.

Travis Leslie has obviously paid attention to his coaches growing up:



This isn't the first time that Leslie has made a name for himself with a dunk. He windmilled in a game against Notre Dame this season, and who can forget his vicious facial on DeMarcus Cousins.

But was it as good as one of these?:

POSTERIZED - Laurence Bowers, Missouri
POSTERIZED - Drew Gordon, New Mexico
POSTERIZED - Tony Mitchell, Alabama
POSTERIZED - Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt
POSTERIZED - LaMarcus Reed, UT-Arlington
POSTERIZED - Marcus Morris, Kansas
POSTERIZED - Jared Cunningham, Oregon State
POSTERIZED - Langston Morris-Walker
POSTERIZED - Chris Wright and Juwan Staten, Dayton
POSTERIZED - D.J Stephens, Memphis
POSTERIZED - Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Reeves Nelson, UCLA
POSTERIZED - Kendall Marshall and John Henson, UNC
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Joe Jackson, Memphis
POSTERIZED - Shay Shine, High Point
POSTERIZED - Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
POSTERIZED - Kent Bazemore, Old Dominion
POSTERIZED - CJ Fair, Syracuse
POSTERIZED - LeBryan Nash
POSTERIZED - Rodney Williams, Minnesota
POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie, Georgia
POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Marcus Jordan, Central Florida
POSTERIZED - Lorenzo Brown, NC State
POSTERIZED - Tai Wesley, Utah State
POSTERIZED - Trent Lockett, Arizona State, and Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Brandon Paul, Illinois
POSTERIZED - Jordan Hamilton, Texas
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Tennessee beats Georgia on a buzzer beater from Brian Williams

Tennessee's wild season continues.

Just three days after coming back from 17 points down to beat Vanderbilt at home, Tennessee went into Stegeman Coliseum and knocked off Georgia 59-57. And boy, did they do it in exciting fashion:


Here's a view from the student section:



Now I pose to you this question, oh loyal reader: can you figure the Vols out?

They had lost six of nine to a bevy of mediocre competition -- Oakland, Charlotte, Arkansas, Charleston, USC, and Florida. Prior to that, they knocked off both Pitt and Villanova, and since they have beaten Vanderbilt after being down 17 and now have won at a place that Kentucky lost.

Granted, this was a bit of a lucky win. The Vols got bailed out on a Josh Bone jumper with two minutes left that came after the shot clock had expired to put them up 55-54. On the next possession, Melvin Goins left his feet and threw a prayer to Brian Williams that somehow ended up in the big man's hands for a layup that extended the lead to 57-54. And after Dustin Ware tied the game with a three, Williams' game-winner came on a rebound where he looked very close to being over-the-back.

At the end of the day, this Vols team has talent. When he is being aggressive and slashing to the basket, Scotty Hopson is one of the best players in the conference. They have a number of guys that can get out and defend on the perimeter. John Fields and Williams proved just how good they are as interior defenders by holding Trey Thompkins, who has been playing excellent basketball of late, to just 13 points on 4-13 shooting and four rebounds.

The question is whether or not they are going to show up to play. When they do, they can compete when anyone. When they don't, they can lose to anyone.

If you're a gambler, I'd suggest avoiding the Vols this season.

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Conference Play Primer: The SEC

Favorite: Kentucky Wildcats

Its hard to believe it, but the Wildcats may actually be a better team this season than they were last year, and last year they were a No. 1 seed, reached the Elite 8, and sent five players to the first round of the NBA Draft. While some will say it is a result of Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, and particularly Terrence Jones living up to the hype they had coming in, the real reason that Kentucky is morphing into a legitimate contender for a No. 1 seed again this March is the play of Josh Harrellson and DeAndre Liggins. Harrellson is turning into this year's Brian Zoubek, an unheralded senior center that develops into a monster on the glass and around the rim defensively. He's already averaging 9.4 rpg (4.0 offensively and a 17.0 OR%) and 1.6 bpg, and the past three games he's scored in double figures. Liggins has become a stopper defensively, capable of guarding multiple positions on the floor. Calipari's rotation really only goes about seven deep at most, but those six or seven guys know there roles and understand where their shots are supposed to come from, which is why they are playing as well as anyone in the country right now.


Player of the Year: Brandon Knight, Kentucky

If its not Brandon Knight, its probably Terrence Jones. But seeing as I've already waxed poetic about Kentucky, let's talk about Trey Thompkins here. Thompkins is flying a bit under the radar right now considering he is averaging 17.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg. Why? Because they aren't exactly the numbers we expected this season. That, in large part, is due to the ankle injury Thompkins suffered before the season even started. He missed the first three games of the season, then labored through the Old Spice Classic, scoring just 13 points against both Notre Dame (in double overtime) and Temple. Since that trip to Orlando, however, Thompkins has played well against Georgia's best competition. He had 20 points and 9 boards in a two point win over UAB. He had 21 points and 6 boards (and a very strong second half) in a 73-72 win at Georgia Tech. More recently, on New Year's Eve, Thompkins had his best game of the season with 26 points and 7 boards. Next up? Kentucky. On Saturday. I think this young man is ready for league play.

All-Conference Team:

• G: Erving Walker, Florida: 13.9 ppg, 3.1 apg, 45.1% 3PT
  
• G: John Jenkins, Vanderbilt: 17.8 ppg, 37.5% 3PT
  
• F: Tobias Harris, Tennessee: 15.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg
  
• F: Terrence Jones, Kentucky: 17.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg
  
• C: Trey Thompkins, Georgia: 17.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg

Biggest Surprise: Tennessee Volunteers

This is what we call hitting both ends of the spectrum. The Vols started out the season so well, picking up wins against Villanova and Pitt and climbing all the way up to No. 7 in the polls. Then something happened. Depending on where you look or who you ask, the Vols stopped playing defense the way then can, they stopped getting the ball inside, they stopped attacking the basket, and/or Scotty Hopson stopped being a leader. Whatever the case, Tennessee has been terrible lately, losing four of their last six (to Oakland, Charlotte, USC, and Charleston) while barely hanging on to beat Belmont and UT-Martin. With the SEC season looming and Bruce Pear's suspension coming up, we may not have hit bottom yet. I can't remember the last time I saw a swing this drastic happen this quickly.


Biggest Disappointment: The SEC West

Its a joke. It really is. Alabama (Alabama?!?) is the highest rated team in Kenpom's projections. They are 8-6. The team that was supposed to be the favorite, Mississippi State, is losing players left and right and just sold any ounce of good will they had left nationally when rick Stansbury decided to allow Renardo Sidney back on the team. Ole Miss had that happen over the summer, when Murphy Holloway and Eniel Polynice both packed their bags. Overall, the division's record is 52-32. As of this moment, Kenpom is predicting the SEC West to go 6-30 against the SEC East this season. Just for fun, here's a list of some of the team's that a member of SEC West has lost to this season:

UNC-Asheville, Samford, Campbell, Jacksonville, Presbyterian, St. Peter's, Nicholl's State, Coastal Carolina, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, East Tennessee State, Rice, Wichita State, Hawaii, Colorado State, UAB, Iowa, Miami FL, UVa, Rutgers, South Florida

That is nothing short of atrocious.

Teams to keep an eye on:

• Florida: The Gators were my pick to win the conference in the preseason. And while I'm not quite ready to jump back onto that bandwagon, I think this team is a bit better than they are being given credit for right now. Sure, the loss to Jacksonville is ugly and Kenny Boynton and Alex Tyus have disappointed. But Erving Walker looks like he may finally be on the verge of grasping what it means to be a point guard and what a good shot is. Chandler Parsons, Vernon Macklin, and Scottie Wilbekin are all above average SEC players. Coming off of impressive wins at Xavier and over Rhode Island at home, the Gators may have flipped the switch.
• Vanderbilt: I like Vanderbilt. They have bigger, more physical, and more athletic than they were last season. Jeff Taylor and John Jenkins are both special talents. The problem with the Commodores is that they don't have a creator. Taylor is still an athlete more than a basketball player, Jenkins relies too heavily on his jump shot being created for him, and their big guys aren't really much more than big, strong, athletes. How good Brad Tinsley is this season will be the deciding factor on whether Vandy is a tournament team, or a team that is a threat to make a run.
  

Teams to write off:

• South Carolina: I have really like what I have seen from Bruce Ellington. He has a chance to be a special player. The rest of this group? Ehh. Not so much.
• Everyone else: Seriously.
  

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POSTERIZED - Travis Leslie proves Troy right

Travis Leslie is playing in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, FL. Apparently, he thinks he is Vince Carter, because the Bulldogs junior put on a dunking show on Thanksgiving.

The first was an alley-oop that Leslie caught, reaching behind his body with one hand to make the catch. There is no video up of this dunk yet, but there will be. And when there is, it will be here. Trust.

The second was a windmill. A full windmill. Take a look:



Troy's been arguing Travis Leslie is the best dunker in the country since the summer. It looks like the Trizzle is right.

POSTERIZED - Terrence Jones, Kentucky
POSTERIZED - Marcus Jordan, Central Florida
POSTERIZED - Lorenzo Brown, NC State
POSTERIZED - Tai Wesley, Utah State
POSTERIZED - Trent Lockett, Arizona State, and Derrick Williams, Arizona
POSTERIZED - Brandon Paul, Illinois
POSTERIZED - Jordan Hamilton, Texas
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Derek Kellogg is cleaning up the SEC's mess

Derek Kellogg has not had the best start to his head coaching career.

In 2008-2009, his Minutemen struggled through a 12-18 season, although they did knock off then-defending champion Kansas. Last season wasn't much better, as UMass finished just 12-20. And while UMass brings back the majority of their rotation, they will be conspicuously without Ricky Harris, who was just seven points shy of averaging 20 ppg on the season.

But the good people of Amherst do have something to look forward too. Kellogg is proving to be a serious recruiter. His 2009 class was impressive, as top 100 recruit Terrell Vinson headlined a five-man class where each player received at least a three-star rating by Rivals (Vinson was a four-star).

Derek Kellogg has been doing a great job on the recruiting trail.
(photo credit: NCAABBS)

This season, Kellogg brings in three more three-star recruits, with 5'8" spark plug Daryl Traynham, who cracked the Rivals top 150 list, leading the way.

With second leading scorer Anthony Gurley also coming back, UMass has talent on their roster this season. I doubt I'm the only one that thinks this team could be a sleeper in the Atlantic 10 this season.

But wait.

There's more.

Cady Lalanne is an 6'7" forward that showed enough potential to draw interest from a number of major college programs before committing to Georgia last October. But Lalanne couldn't get academically eligible at Georgia, and as the SEC does not allow Prop-48 players (Prop-48 requires incoming student-athletes to reach certain academic standards, and if they aren't met, the athlete can become eligible if they have a 2.0 GPA after their freshman year), Lalanne needed to find a different school.

Along came Kellogg, who scooped up Lalanne two weeks ago.

But wait.

There's more.

Luke Cothron has as much potential as just about any power forward in the class of 2010. He's big, he's athletic, and he has the skills to be a face up forward. But he also has attitude and effort problems, and after bouncing around during high school, Cothron committed to, then de-committed from, NC State before signing with Auburn. But like Lalanne, Cothron was not cleared academically. And like Lalanne, Cothron is expected to go from the SEC to UMass.

Now, neither Cothron or Lalanne (Cothron and Lalanne ... has a nice ring to it, no?) will be eligible until 2011. And there's something to be said about the potential of a recruit that is unable to get eligible in college -- especially one with the red flags of a kid like Cothron. But talent is talent. Kellogg is a protoge of John Calipari, who has seemingly perfected the art of coaching questionable characters with talent.

With a roster that will lose just one significant piece this year (Gurley), and a full year for Kellogg to bring in another recruit of two, the future looks bright for the Minutemen.

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University of Georgia lands Georgia's Mr. Basketball

Mark Fox was hired to replace Dennis Felton at UGa in an attempt to turn around the Bulldog's basketball program, and he appears to be well on his way to doing just that.

Fox will get back four of his top five scorers from last season, including big man Trey Thompkins and the uber-athletic Travis Leslie, both of whom considered entering the NBA Draft.

But perhaps the most important off-season happening came yesterday, when Marcus Thornton, a 6'7", 225 lb workhorse and 2010's Mr. Basketball is Georgia, committed to play for the Bulldogs. Now, Marcus Thornton is not Terrence Jones. He isn't a top ten recruit, he didn't have every school in the country knocking down his door, and there wasn't a large contingent of the country following his every move during this recruitment.

But Thornton is still a big get for Fox simply because he hails from Georgia.

The state of Georgia puts out a ton of talent on a yearly basis. In the class of 2010, there are 17 players that Rivals ranks as at least a three-star recruit. Six of those 17 are four or five star recruits. Those six are head to NC State, Memphis, Miami, UConn, and two are going to Tennessee.

If Mark Fox is going to build the Georgia program up to a point that it can compete with teams like Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky, he is going to have to compete on the recruiting trail in his own state. While keeping five star recruits like Jelan Kendrick and Ryan Harrow in-state would be ideal, landing a former Clemson-signee and the state's Mr. Basketball isn't a bad was to start.


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