2011-2012 Season Preview: Top 25 Power Forwards

All week, we'll be breaking down the top players at each position in the college games. A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Positional Rankings: PG, SG, SF, PF, C

To browse through the rest of our Season Previews, click here.


1. Terrence Jones, So., Kentucky: Terrence Jones probably should be a first-team all-american this season. But he also should have been a first-team all-american last year based on the way he played for the first two months of the year. He's a big, physical 6'9" left-hander with three-point range and the ability to score in the post or off the dribble against a slower defender. And, for what its worth, he's in even better shape heading into this season. The issue with Jones is consistency. He tailed off at the end of last season due to losing confidence in his ability and Calipari losing confidence in him. Being a ball-hog is what did him in last year. With the amount of talent UK has on their roster, will Jones be able to accept the fact he is the most dangerous weapon on a team full of weapons?


2. Perry Jones, So., Baylor: Jones may actually be the best NBA prospect in all of college basketball. The kid's physical tools are out of this world; he's essentially a seven-foot small forward. He had a bit of an up-and-down freshman year due partly to a lack of assertiveness and partly due to the poor shot-selection and decision-making of the players in his back court. With LaceDarius Dunn out of the picture, Jones figures to shoulder a much heftier load on the offensive end of the floor. Will he be able to handle it? More importantly, how will being suspended for the first five games of the season affect his role on the team?

3. Thomas Robinson, Jr., Kansas: Every writer and every blog in the country is predicting a huge year out of Robinson in 2011-2012, and we certainly agree with that assessment. He's big, he;s physical, he's a terrific athlete and he has a terrific motor. While its unlikely that he'll be able to keep up the same rate of production playing 32+ mpg this year that he did in 15 mpg last season, Robinson still should have a shot at averaging 17 and 10 this season.

4. Anthony Davis, Fr., Kentucky: Davis has everything that you look for in a power forward prospect. He's tall with a ridiculous wingspan. He can finish around the rim and knock down a perimeter jumper. He blocks shots and rebounds the ball. There are two issues with Davis. The first is his strength -- how will he handle the physicality of the SEC? He's not an overly muscular player. The second is whether or not he will realize just how talented he is. Two years ago, he was a run-of-the-mill, 6'3" two-guard. If he finds that assertiveness and that killer instinct, he will be a nightmare to try and defend.

5. John Henson, Jr., North Carolina: Henson is no where near the offensive threat that most of the other players on this list are. His offensive repertoire consists almost entirely of catching the ball and dunking it. Thanks to his height, length and athleticism, he's quite good at that, but dunking the ball alone don't get you ranked as the fifth best power forward in the country. Henson is probably the best defender on this list, notching 3.2 bpg last year. He's also one of the best rebounders, as he averaged 10.1 boards as a sophomore. As he continues to add strength -- he's up to 220 lb from the 183 he was as a freshman -- he'll continue to climb up draft boards.


6. Alex Oriakhi, Jr., UConn: The best way to describe Oriakhi is as a hoss. He's an absolute beast on the block. Offensively, he's still developing, although he did showcase a solid jump-hook towards the end of last season. Where he does his best work is on the offensive glass and as a shot-blocker around the rim. He's terrific at getting position on missed shots and is one of the best players in the country when it comes to tipping out offensive rebounds. He also is deceptively long and athletic, challenging as many shots as he blocks.

7. Draymond Green, Sr., Michigan State: Green is one of the most unique players at this position in the country. He's a crafty defender that makes a lot of plays on that end of the floor. He's also a terrific positional rebounder. On the offensive end of the floor is where he makes his name, however. He's quite versatile, capable of knocking down threes, putting the ball on the deck and getting to the back, and scoring in the post. The most interesting aspect of his game is how good of a playmaker he is. Green averaged 4.1 apg last year, and this year he'll likely end up being the guy that Tom Izzo funnels his offense through.

8. Elias Harris, Jr., Gonzaga: Harris had a tremendously disappointing sophomore season. After playing like a potential lottery pick as a freshman, Harris saw his numbers dip across the board in his second season in Spokane. It wasn't all his fault, however. Between an offseason shoulder injury that limited his summer conditioning and an in-season achilles injury that took away his explosiveness, Harris lost the tools that made him as effective as he was as a freshman. With a summer's worth of development and working out, expect Harris to return to the form of his first season.

9. Doug McDermott, So., Creighton: McDermott was one of the biggest surprises in the country as a freshman. Coming off of a season where he averaged 14.9 ppg and 7.2 rpg for a Bluejay team that made the finals of the CBI, McDermott has shown up on a number of preseason all-american teams. He made the USA's U19 team and averaged 11.3 ppg and 6.8 rpg on the team's trip to Latvia this summer. With Creighton bringing back the majority of their roster from a season ago, the Bluejays are the favorite to win the Missouri Valley and a borderline top 25 team.

10. Arsalan Kazemi, Jr., Rice: Kazemi finished last season averaging 15.2 ppg and 11.1 rpg, numbers that probably would have been higher had he played on a team with more offensive weapons; conference opponents knew the scout and focused on taking away his touches. The native Iranian (first-ever at the D-I level) is one of the most active players in the country on the glass -- I pity the opposing big man tasked with trying to box him out.


11. Mike Scott, Sr., Virginia: Scott was averaging 15.2 ppg and 10.0 rpg last season when he went down with foot and ankle injuries that ended up keeping him out for the year. The good news is that he was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA. He's a huge reason that the Cavaliers are being projected as a sleeper in the ACC this season.

12. LeBryan Nash, Fr., Oklahoma State: Nash may end up being the most exciting player in the Big 12 to watch this year. At 6'7" and 230 lb, he's a phenomenal athlete that will assuredly have a handful of dunks that make it to POSTERIZED. He's a combo-forward, but given his still-developing perimeter skills and the style that Oklahoma State is going to play this season, he'll be a power forward this year.

13. Robbie Hummel, Sr., Purdue: Hummel will be an interesting player to keep an eye on. Obviously, its unclear just how good he is going to be coming off of back-to-back acl injuries. He's essentially missed 18 consecutive months of basketball. That's not an easy thing to come back from. What's more interesting, to me at least, will be seeing if he is capable of being a star and a go-to player. With JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore on the floor with him, Hummel excelled played the role of the sidekick.

14. Tony Mitchell, Jr., Alabama: Mitchell projects as more of a wing player at the next level than he does a power forward, but -- like Nash -- given his immense physical tools and his size and strength, he'll play a lot at the four spot this season for the Crimson Tide. He's a terrific defender and a very good rebounder that excels in transition. As his jumper and perimeter skills continue to develop, he'll be one of the tougher matchups in the SEC this year.

15. Renardo Sidney, Jr., Mississippi State: What is there to say about Renardo Sidney that hasn't already been said? He's an immense talent that can't get out of his own way. If he's truly turned a corner and has gotten himself into shape and the mindset of being a member of a team, this ranking will look silly come March. If not, it will still look silly, just for a different reason.

16. Reeves Nelson, Jr., UCLA
17. Kevin Jones, Sr., West Virginia
18. DeShaun Thomas, So., Ohio State
19. Ryan Kelly, Jr., Duke
20. Christian Watford, Jr., Indiana
21. Michael Glover, Sr., Iona
22. Ryan Pearson, Sr., George Mason
23. CJ Leslie, So., NC State
24. Royce White, So., Iowa State
25. Melsahn Besabe, So., Iowa
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2010-2011 Season Preview: Top Power Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 8th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured its about time to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am putting the freshman in a separate list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment compared to the rest of college basketball until I see them play at this level. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

By Position: PG, SG, SF, PF, C

Hit the jump for the small forwards:

1. Marcus Morris, Kansas, Jr: I had a very difficult time determining No. 1 and No. 2 on this list as I am a huge fan of both Morris and Elias Harris. I ended up picking Morris for one reason -- last season, he averaged 12.8 ppg and 6.1 rpg on the best team in the country as the fourth best player on the floor. That's impressive. As far as his skill set is concerned, there isn't much Morris cannot do offensively. He can score in the paint, he can shoot from the perimeter with range to the college three point line, he can put the ball on the floor and finish in the mid range, and he's a good ball handler with nimble feet. He's also a more-than-capable defender. Morris should put up all-american numbers in a junior season in which he will be the Jayhawk's focal point.

2. Elias Harris, Gonzaga, So: As I said earlier, I really like Harris' game. Like Morris, he has a great all-around offensive arsenal. He can score in the paint, he can drive the ball on the perimeter, and he has three point range. The difference between Harris and Morris is that the former is a much more explosive athlete. He's quicker and he's a better leaper. He doesn't quite have the polish that Morris does just yet, but that will come with time. As a player, Morris is better right now. As a pro prospect, its Harris.

3. Jon Leuer, Wisconsin, Jr: Jon Leuer is a name that you are going to be hearing a lot from this season. He really impressed people working out with Team USA over the summer. Leuer was a guard before he hit the growth spurt that sent him to 6'10", which means that he has a terrific perimeter game for someone his size. He's a confident ball-handler, a capable penetrator, and a very good shooter. He's got a finesse game in the post, utilizing good footwork and a variety of hooks and turnarounds to score. Like I said, expect to hear his name a lot this season.

4. Kevin Jones, West Virginia, Jr: Jones is one of the more interesting players on this list. He's one of the best offensive rebounders in the country, as he is long, aggressive going to the glass, and has a terrific motor. He also happens to be a deadly three-point shooter when he is given time to set his feet. He's a smart player that understands his limitations and maximizes his strengths. This season, with Devin Ebanks and Da'Sean Butler gone, Jones is going to be relied upon for much more scoring this season. The question will be how much his post game developed in the offseason.

5. Derrick Williams, Arizona, So: Williams wasn't expected to be this good, and he certainly wasn't expected to be this good this quickly. A relatively unknown recruit coming out of high school, Williams burst on the scene in Tucson, winning the freshman of the year award in the Pac-10 while averaging 15.7 ppg and 7.1 rpg. As a freshman, Williams didn't have a terrific back-to-the-basket game, but he does have a great feel. He knows how to get himself open, he has a knack for getting to the offensive glass, and he's very good at finishing around the rim and drawing fouls. Williams will be relied upon quite a bit more for scoring this season, so it will be interesting to see how his post game has developed during the offseason.

6. John Shurna, Northwestern, Jr: Shurna was one of the country's most pleasant surprises last year. When Kevin Coble went down with an injury before the season started, most believed that the Wildcats were done. And while they didn't quite reach their goal of making the NCAA Tournament in 2010, the emergence of Shurna was a major reason Northwestern won an impressive 20 games. He is also the biggest reason that the Wildcats have a shot at making the dance this season. Shurna is a perfect fit at power forward in Bill Carmody's princeton offense. He can shoot the ball, he is a good passer, and he really has a feel for the game and this system.

7. John Henson, North Carolina, So: It will be interesting to see what kind of player that Henson turns into this year. A top ten recruit in 2009, Henson struggled throughout much of his freshman campaign as he was forced to play out of position on the wing. But towards the end of the season, when he began to get more minutes in the paint, he really started to come into his own as a player. Henson has added some bulk to his (very) slender frame, but he still needs more to become a truly dominant interior player. Where he should be effective this season is as a shot blocker, a rebounder, and running the floor. A lot of people expect Henson -- who is a supremely talented kid -- to have a big sophomore season. I don't disagree.

8. Tracy Smith, NC State, Sr: NC State's season was saved when Smith, who averaged 16.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg, decided that he would return to anchor a young, but talented, Wolfpack squad. Smith's numbers will likely take a hit this season as he will have more scorers to share the offensive workload. Smith is strictly a back-to-the-basket player showing very limited perimeter skills. But he has a polished post game, complete with a number of turnaround jumpers and jump hooks. Smith is going to be the anchor for an NC State team that should be dancing come March.

9. Chris Wright, Dayton, Sr: I can't imagine what it must feel like to be a Dayton fan and watch Wright's career, because I get frustrated following it from afar. Wright has a ton of athletic talent. He's athletic and coordinated enough that, if he makes the NBA, it will likely be as a three. But the problem is that he hasn't been able to develop his skills. Last year, he had all kinds of expectations, but his jumper was still suspect and his handle was still subpar. His athletic profile alone makes him one of the best forwards in the country, but did he put in the work over the summer to take that next step?

10. Lavoy Allen, Temple, Sr: There are some things that Allen does very well on a basketball court. He moves without the ball, he rebounds extremely well on both ends, and he's an excellent shot blocker. He also has a couple of solid post moves, although he needs to improve his ability to finish around the rim. But perhaps Allen's best attribute is that he is unselfish offensively, understanding the role he plays in Temple's offense.

11. Marshawn Powell, Arkansas, So.
12. JaMychal Green, Alabama, Jr.
13. Curtis Kelly, Kansas State, Sr.
14. Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Washington, Sr.
15. Damian Saunders, Duquesne, Sr.
16. Mike Davis, Illinois, Sr.
17. Matt Howard, Butler, Sr.
18. Tai Wesley, Utah State, Sr.
19. Reeves Nelson, UCLA, So.
20. Justin Rutty, Quinnipiac, Sr.


Top Five Freshmen

1. Terrence Jones, Kentucky: Jones is a face-up four man with a versatile skill set that has drawn him comparisons to Lamar Odom. The biggest issue regarding Jones' success as a freshman is Enes Kanter. Those two would work really well together.

2. Tobias Harris, Tennessee: Harris, like Jones, is a guy that can realistically play both forward sports. He's a smart player, a guy that makes the IQ play as opposed to the SportsCenter play.

3. CJ Leslie, NC State: The 6'8" Leslie surprised a lot of people when he popped for NC State. Long, lanky, and super athletic, Leslie will be an excellent complement to Tracy Smith inside.

4. Tristan Thompson, Texas: Thompson is a big, physical power forward. He's got some post moves and plays with a great motor. He should be a focal point offensively for Texas next season.

5. DeShaun Thomas, Ohio State: Thomas is a strong, lefty combo forward that really understands how to score the ball. He's got a face-up game, but at 6'6" he's a bit short for a power forward.

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Top 10 Power Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 10th, and the BIAH live blog during ESPN's season kickoff is just two weeks away. We've given you the break out players. We've given you the teams to watch. We've given you more team previews than you could ever care about. So with just a week until actual games are played, we figured the best way to finish up our 2008-2009 season previews is to give you our Top 10 players at each position. You know how much we love a good Top 10 list here.

A few caveats. First, we're talking about how good these guys are as college players, not how well they project as a pro. Second, while it may be too much power for me, I am making the executive decision on what "position" a player is (and it may not necessarily be what he is listed as on a roster). Third, I am not putting the freshman in the list. As much as I've read about these guys and as many Youtube clips as I have watched, I have yet to see many of them play a real game (the all-star games don't count), and I don't think that I could give an accurate assessment until I see them play. Lastly, I love me a good argument, so if you think someone is too low or too high or the wrong position, leave a comment and let me hear about it.

Top 10 Point Guards
Top 10 Two-Guards
Top 10 Small Forwards
Here are the Power Forwards

Best Freshman

• Samardo Samuels, Louisville
• Greg Monroe, Georgetown
• Luke Babbitt, Nevada
• Delvon Roe, Michigan State
• Jamychal Green, Alabama

Best of the Rest

• Jeff Pendergraph, Arizona State
• Connor Atchley, Texas
• Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga
• Robert Dozier, Memphis
• Trevor Booker, Clemson

Top 10

• 10. MARQUS BLAKELY, Vermont - Blakely is just 6'5", but would be a top five pick in a college basketball fantasy league. He averaged 19.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, and 2.7 bpg for the Catamounts. His length and athleticism make him one of the more exciting players to watch in the country.
• 9. COLE ALDRICH, Kansas - Aldrich had a coming out party against UNC and Tyler Hansbrough in the Final Four. The former Mickey D's all american, who was plastered to the bench as a freshman playing behind Darrel Arthur, Darnell Jackson, and Sasha Kaun, is the only returning post for the Jayhawks.
• 8. EARL CLARK, Louisville - Clark initially entered the NBA Draft, but withdrew his name. It was probably a good decision as his potential is off the charts, but he is still quite raw. He is a good defender, mainly because he can guard either forward spot, and is great in transition, but needs to work on his offensive game. Specifically, he must be able to create his own shot, either in the post or from the wing.
• 7. JAMES JOHNSON, Wake Forest - Johnson is similar to Clark in that they are both combo forwards, but at this point in his career he, too, is still more of a post. Johnson is not as good of a defender as Clark, but he is much more skilled offensively. He is at his best when he faces up a defender. He has a jump shot that you must respect, but he also has a quick first step and can get around a slower defender.
• 6. DEJUAN BLAIR, Pitt - Blair may be the best positional player in the country. He is a load on the block (6'7", 265 lb) and uses his girth to push people around, but really understands how to box out and how to seal his man. He has long arms, great hands, and great anticipation for where a rebound is going which makes up his lack of athleticism. 
• 5. JEFF ADRIEN, UConn - Adrien is an undersized power forward, but he is an exceptional athlete with a huge wingspan. Combine those tools with a great motor and baseball gloves instead of hand, and you are looking at one of the best rebounders in the country. Adrien gets a majority of his points off of offensive putbacks and dunks off of the Huskies guards penetrating, but he has a decent jump shot out to 15 feet and a much improved back-to-the-basket game.
• 4. PATRICK PATTERSON, Kentucky - Patterson is coming off a great freshman season, which ended prematurely after a stress fracture in his ankle caused him to miss the season's last five games. He is healthy now, and ready to carry the torch for the Wildcats. You can't ask for a better specimen down low - he's big, he's strong, he's athletic, he's aggressive, and he has some decent moves when he catches on the block.
• 3. BLAKE GRIFFIN, Oklahoma - Griffin has much more NBA potential that either of the top two, and looks like he will be going #1 come June. Griffin has a great motor, is a fantastic athlete, and managed to put up 15 and 9 while battling knee problems all year. After his well-documented off-season workouts, expect Griffin to come back ready to win Big XII POY honors.
• 2. LUKE HARANGODY, Notre Dame - With all the hype that another white power forward receives, can you believe that 'Gody is actually more productive that a certain psycho down Chapel Hill way? Looks at the numbers: 22.6 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 33 mpg for Hansbrough vs. 20.4 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 29 mpg for Luke. Harangody is the reigning Big East player of the year playing on a team that is expected to contend for the league crown and a Final Four berth.
• 1. TYLER HANSBROUGH, UNC - Psycho T is the pre-season player of the year, so clearly he is going to top this list. What can I say about him that hasn't already been said? I'll leave it at this: you may hate Hansbrough. You may be sick of hearing about how good he is. You may gag every time you see one of his ridiculous celebrations. But isn't he what college basketball "purists" wish for? He was the college basketball player of the year last season, and he turned down NBA millions (you can argue how good of a pro he will be, but face it - he's going to be a 1st rounder) to return to campus simply because he loves college and the college game. Like it or not, he will go down as one of the NCAA's all-time greats.

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