Three college stars will be keeping their names in the NBA Draft pool

News leaked yesterday that three players will be keeping their names in the NBA Draft pool. One made the right decision, one was easy to predict, and one leaves us college folks scratching our heads.


Avery Bradley, Texas, G: Bradley probably made the right decision here, as reports have him signing with agent Dan Fegan. A consensus top five recruit coming out of Findlay Prep in Nevada, Bradley didn't exactly have the type of freshman season that would make people think he was a potential one-and-done kind of player. He averaged 11.6 ppg, but was inconsistent offensively and, at just 6'2", its unclear if he will ever be able to play point guard.

Avery Bradley's best attribute is his defensive ability.
(photo credit: Flickr)

But there is no questioning his talent. There are few that get after it on the defensive end like Bradley does, as he has quick feet and is a strong and athletic kid. Offensively is where the issue lies. Like the rest of his Texas teammates, he was inconsistent to a fault this past season. He went for 20 five times, but there were also games where he was a complete non-factor on the offensive end. But for a freshman on a team with as big of a question mark at the point as Texas had this past season, isn't that to be expected?

Right now, Bradley still has some potential that he can capitalize on, but if he came back for his sophomore season and had the same problems, his stock might drop. He looks like he will be a late first rounder, possibly sneaking into the back end of the lottery, which isn't bad for an undersized two guard that isn't a big time scorer. He likely won't ever be a star at the next level, but if he can land in the right situation -- i.e. playing alongside a big playmaker (Brandon Roy, Tyreke Evans, Dwayne Wade) that can defend the two, he should have a solid career in the pros.


Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F: We've already touched on the problems with Ebanks as a pro prospect. He has some intriguing tools, but right now there is more talk about his weaknesses than hype about his strengths.

Ebanks is long and fairly athletic. He can rebound the ball, is developing as a scorer, and has the tools to make him a decent defender. But it seems as if Ebanks has a long way to go towards understanding how to play basketball. Everyone in the NBA has tools. Length and athleticism will only get you so far. To be honest, I'd be surprised if a team used a first round pick on Ebanks, which is saying a lot considering that he was a potential lottery pick coming into the season.

Ebanks could have benefited from another season of learning the game, but sometimes a player just wants to go pro.


Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F: This is the decision that leaves me scratching my head. Simply put, Samuels is not a great pro prospect. His skill set is that of a center. He is a strong post player with a nice back-to-the-basket that understands how to use his body to hold a seal and create angles in the paint.

The problem is that he just doesn't have the size to be an NBA center, as Samuels is listed at just 6'8". Players his size have had success in recent drafts -- Paul Millsap ad DeJuan Blair immediately come to mind -- but Samuels doesn't have near the athleticism of Millsap and is not a rebounding machine or nearly as strong and aggressive as Blair (Blair also has the wingspan of a pterodactyl).

Samuels could have come back and been a favorite to win Big East player of the year. But even with a season of averaging 20 and 10, I doubt his draft stock would improve all that much. I wouldn't be surprised if he went undrafted this year.

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2010 NBA Draft Early Entrants: Who helps themselves the most by returning to school

The NBA Draft's Early Entry deadline came and went on Sunday. Today, we will provide you with a bit of fodder over how some of this year's decisions could sway the 2010-11 college basketball season. For a complete list of this year's crop of early entrants, click here.

I am not opposed to early entry into the NBA Draft. In fact, I often support the decision of many of these kids to enter the professional ranks. When the opportunity to become a first round pick presents itself, there is no reason for me to protest against a kid pursuing his dream and making a (substantial) living. If you are blessed enough to be an NBA-worthy talent, there is no reason not to cash-in on your ability.

The issue I have is with the kids that stay in the draft when it would suit them best to go back to school for a year. I understand that this season is unique, with a potential NBA lockout looming, but there are still players who may be able to move up draft boards -- and possibly earn themselves a guaranteed contract -- by returning to school.

While it is a less-than-ideal format this year (and believe me, that is putting it lightly, but that is another post for another day), the ability to test the waters is great for these kind of players. In a perfect world, they can work out for NBA scouts, see where they stand in terms of the NBA Draft, and either continue on with their efforts to lock up a guaranteed contract or return to school and work on the specific aspects of their game that need improvement to up their stock as a draft pick.

Which players should pull their name out of the draft? Note that we are only considering guys that we deem potential first rounders one day. There are a lot of players with their names in the draft that clearly need to head back to school, or simply tested the waters because they are a junior.


Chris Wright, Dayton, junior: Wright has always been a sensational athlete. You don't get the nickname "Top Flight" easily. Wright is 6'8", strong, athletic, and built in the mold of the power wing/combo forward that has become a trend in today's NBA. As a junior, Wright finally started to show some flashes of a developed perimeter game, which he will need in order to become an NBA player. Every player in the NBA is an elite athlete. To warrant a first round pick, you need to bring something else to the table.

Chris Wright, if he's smart, will return to Dayton and get up a lot of jumpers this summer.
(photo credit: Dayton Daily News)

But Wright isn't quite there yet. He jump shot, ball-handling skills, and instincts on the perimeter still need some work. If he can put in the work this summer, and develop himself like, say, Quincy Pondexter did this year, he should be able to work his way into next year's first round. This season, it is very likely that he will fall into the second round.


JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, Purdue, juniors: Moore is the obvious one here. While he is a very good player at the college level, he lacks the ideal size and athleticism of an NBA two guard, and he isn't a point guard. Simply put, I'm not sure if the NBA is in Moore's future.

Johnson, on the other hand, has the potential to be a first round pick if he comes back. 6'10" and athletic with a soft touch on the perimeter will catch a lot of eyes. But Johnson's issue is his strength. He's just a slender guy, weighing right around 215 lb with a frame that doesn't exactly look like it can add a lot of size.

Johnson isn't a first rounder this year. If he decides to stay in the draft, he will be in that mix of guys looking to steal one of the last 10 picks of the draft. Given his limitations and the quality of talent in the 20-45 range, odds are good that he slips into the second round. But if he spends a summer in the weight room and showcases a better low post game next season for what should be a very good Purdue team, he would likely be a first round pick in 2011. Johnson has gone from the JV for his high school team as a junior to a potential NBA pick in four years. He clearly works hard and is willing to put in the effort to make himself better. The NBA can wait another year.


Keith Benson, Oakland, junior: Benson, like Johnson, is a borderline first round pick this year. Like Johnson, he is tall, long, and athletic with a soft touch on the perimeter. And like Johnson, Benson lacks the strength that is required to be a post player in the NBA.

The talent is there for Keith Benson.
(photo credit: The Oakland Press)

Benson averaged 17 ppg this past season, but too much of that came from the perimeter. While he does have a foundation that should lead people to believe he can improve -- he has excellent footwork, for example -- he needs to get stronger and tougher. In a lot of cases, he is forced to be a perimeter shooter and a face-up big man not for a lack of post moves, but because he lacks the strength and the toughness to hold position on the block and finish those post moves. The strength and toughness issue shows through on the defensive end as well. Benson has first round potential, but he is much more likely to realize that potential if he waits for the 2011 draft.


Samardo Samuels, Louisville, sophomore: Samuels was a top five recruit coming out of high school, and certainly hasn't failed to be a very good player for Rick Pitino. I don't think anyone can complain when they are getting 15 and 7 out of a sophomore.

The problem is that Samuels doesn't really project as an NBA player. He is only 6'8" (and that may be generous) and is comparatively an underwhelming athlete -- he isn't overly quick or explosive. Samuels can survive at the collegiate level because he is strong, understands how to hold position, and has some effective post moves. But with his lack of a perimeter/face-up game, a 6'8" low post player is a long shot at getting picked in the first round, if at all. If Samuels decides to return to Louisville, he could very well be the best post player in the conference, if not the Big East player of the year.


Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, sophomore: Ebanks is a bit of an enigma. Standing 6'9", he is long and pretty athletic. But the issues with Ebanks aren't his tools, it is how he uses them. At times, he looked like he was capable of taking over games this season, but there were also times he looked absolutely lost.

I don't think Ebanks really understands how to play basketball. There were a number of times late in the season where he simply lost track of how much time was left on the clock, or looked completely lost on the offensive end. There is also the issue of an early season suspension and a perimeter game that is really lacking. Ebanks came into the season as a potential lottery pick, and his stock only dropped during the year. Leaving now, he may even end up in the second round. If he can come back and get people talking about his strengths, not his weaknesses, then he may boost himself back into the lottery next season, especially with the likelihood that his role will be expanded without Da'Sean Butler.

Other notable names who could benefit from an extra year in school:

• Avery Bradley, Texas, freshman: Everyone knows how good Bradley can be defensively, but he had an up and down season on the offensive end. With Damion James and Dexter Pittman graduating, Bradley would have the chance to be the focal point offensively. Its a double edged sword, because another inconsistent year could end up the label of strictly a defender.
• Terrico White, Ole Miss, sophomore: There is a lot to like about White. He has two guard size and athleticism, and has shown the ability to play the point (as a freshman, when Chris Warren was injured). He's a potential late first rounder this season, but could move up into the lottery if he goes back to school and has another good year.
• Manny Harris, Michigan, junior: Harris has first round talent, but it is tough to warrant using a first round pick on a guy that couldn't lead his college team to many wins, especially when the late first round is so loaded. Harris has a variety of skills, ut is still maturing as a player and a person as well as learning the game.
• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State, junior: I really like Faried's game. He's 6'8", he's athletic, he's energetic, he plays hard, he attacks the glass. He's the kind of blue-collar player that is going leave everything he has on the floor. Faried is probably never going to be a go-to scorer, but he doesn't need to be to find a spot in the league. He may not improve his stock all that much if he comes back, but he would likely go higher in the draft next year simply because there won't be as many people in front of him on draft boards.
  

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Jan Vesely will not be entering the NBA Draft

I know what your first thought was after reading the title to that post: who the hell is Jan Vesely?

Vesely is a 6'11", 20 year old from the Czech Republic that currently plays for BC Partizan in Serbia. He is also one of the top NBA prospects in Europe. Incredibly mobile and athletic for his size, Vesely is still quite raw, but has all the tools that would make him an ideal for the NBA. He is a combo-forward through and through, with the size of a four but the physical gifts of a three. At 6'11", he plays at the top of his team's press, can knock down a three, and has enough handle to go coast to coast. (Read Draft Express's scouting reports on him for much more thorough and knowledgeable analysis.)

Most outlets had Vesely projected has a possible top ten pick, and many considered him a lock for the draft. In comparison, this would be like Greg Monroe (another guy projected in the 8-18 range in this year's draft) opting to keep his name out of the draft.

Vesely only averaged around 8 ppg this season with Partizan, but watch this mixtape and tell me he doesn't have the potential to be an impact player in the league:



Vesely currently plays professional basketball in Europe, meaning that he will never be allowed to set foot on a collegiate court, but his decision to keep his name out of the NBA Draft could send some pretty significant ripples through college basketball.

You see, Vesely would have been a certain first round pick. Without him in the mix, that means that a guaranteed contract has opened up. As a result, there will be some border line first round picks that are going to be sliding up the draft boards.

Take Devin Ebanks, for example. Ebanks and Vesely are similar prospects. Outstanding physical gifts -- height, length, athleticism -- that need to be developed. Right now, Ebanks is projected to go in the dreaded 20-45 range.

Will Devin Ebanks move up enough draft boards to force his decision?
(photo credit: WVU Sports)

But with Vesely gone, does that mean that Ebanks becomes a more coveted prospect? Ebanks has yet to sign with an agent. Does Vesely's decision influence whether or not he decides to remain in the draft? Are Ekpe Udoh and Al-Farouq Aminu now locks for the lottery? Maybe the team that would have fallen in love with Vesely instead decides to go a different route, and takes a guy like Gordon Hayward or Jordan Crawford, which results in those players deciding to keep their names in the draft.

Whatever the case ends up being, Vesely's decision not to enter the NBA Draft this season will open up a spot in the first round. After spot in the first round only makes it more likely that some of the player's that have yet to sign with an agent will keep their name in the draft.

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When will Devin Ebanks play?

Andy Katz is reporting that West Virginia forward Devin Ebanks, a potential all-american and lottery pick, is expected to be play tomorrow as West Virginia takes on Long Beach State in the 76 Classic out in Anaheim.

As John Flowers (13 points) and Joe Mazzulla (6 assists in 15 minutes) both returned to action in WVU's Tuesday night game against the Citadel, adding Ebanks to the line-up will mean that the Mountaineers are finally playing at full strength.

But is Ebanks really going to be playing against Long Beach State?

It looks like we will find out at tip-off when Devin Ebanks will suit up.
(photo credit: isports)

You see, Jeff Goodman tweeted that Ebanks is not expected to play tomorrow (Thursday), and will be suiting up for the first time on Saturday in West Virginia's second round game.

Regardless, the Mountaineers are not going to live up to their lofty preseason expectations without Ebanks.

Don't get me wrong, WVU has a good front line. Da'Sean Butler looks like he could be a first-team all-conference player while Kevin Jones, Wellington Smith, John Flowers, and Cam Thoroughman match-up well, in terms of size, strength, and ability, with anyone in the Big East.

But outside of Butler, who can create offensively in that group? Ebanks not only provides some shot blocking and defensive play making, he provides versatility and match-up nightmares on the offensive end. He isn't the most polished offensive player but he scores well off of cuts and can take a slower defender off the dribble when he plays the four.

West Virginia will not be a complete team until he is back in the line-up. Continue reading...

News and Notes: Freddy Asprilla, Devin Ebanks, and Nikola Dragovic

A couple news and notes we've come across the last couple of days that we didn't have a chance to get into a post:

• Kansas State's Frank Martin is well on his way to building one of the best front lines in college basketball. He already has UConn transfer Curtis Kelly, blue-chip freshman Wally Judge, and Jamar Samuels (hopefully) returning next season. Now he's added Freddy Asprilla, a 6'10", 280 lb, Colombian native that averaged 14.0 ppg and 9.3 rpg as a freshman at FIU. After FIU refused to release him from his scholarship, Asprilla decided to attend and play at Miami-Dade for a season as he couldn't immediately transfer to another DI school. Asprilla, who originally committed to Miami, is a product of the same AAU program as Denis Clemente and Luis Colon. If the Wildcats somehow manage to get Kelly, Judge, and Samuels back, adding Asprilla to that group could give Martin one of the best front lines in college basketball.


• UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic missed Friday's game against Cal St Bakersfield after finding out the LA district attorney was filing felony charges against him for an incident last month at a concert in LA. Initially, the office had decided not to file charges, but reserved the right to reevaluate the decision for up to a year. He is out on $30,000 bail, but his status for upcoming games is unclear.


• No word yet on whether or not Devin Ebanks will be available next week when West Virginia plays the Citadel and then travels to Anaheim for the 76 Classic. He didn't dress when the Mountaineers played Loyola (MD), and Bob Huggins hasn't provided anything near an explanation or a timeline other than Ebanks is dealing with "personal issues". No confirmation on this, but DraftExpress is reporting that Ebanks tested positive for weed a second time.
  

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Monday's Shootaround: UNC struggles again, Texas cruises, Devin Ebanks sits out, and a Harvard buzzer beater

UNC 88, Valpo 77: Sunday offered further proof that UNC is a long way from being a team that can compete for the ACC crown and a trip to the Final Four. Yes, the Heels won by 11, but they allowed to Crusaders to slowly chip away at a 24 point second half lead. If it wasn't lazy passes, it was lazy defense or lackadaisical effort on the glass. At a certain point, you have got to believe that this was a result of being unprepared to play. Reading some quotes from the post game press conference, the theme seemed to be that the Heels weren't focused; that maybe they didn't get up for a Sunday game against Valpo.

Right now, I think the biggest issue for UNC is a lack of leadership. Guys like Marcus Ginyard and Deon Thompson, veterans who have been through the battles, need to get their teammates ready to play. Do you think Tyler Hansbrough would have let UNC come out flat in a game? Ever? Moreover, the Heels need somebody to step-up as a go-to scorer. They need someone they can give the ball when an opponent makes a run, knowing they will get a basket to take the momentum back.


Texas 89, UC Irvine 42: Damion James and Dexter Pittman combined to go for 42 points and 22 rebounds on 17-20 shooting to lead Texas in a game that was never really close. But we knew the 'Horns were big inside this year. The question marks were on the perimeter. Rick Barnes started three guards, with Varez Ward, Justin Mason, and J'Covan Brown joining Pittman and James. Brown was, according to Barnes, incredibly amped for this game, and it showed early on as Barnes twice had to pull Brown due to back-to-back turnovers. But Brown looked like an excellent scoring option last night. He finished with 13 points, and knocked down 3-6 threes. We'll give Brown the benefit of the doubt in this one, as he sat on the bench all last season waiting to get eligible.

Ward and Dogus Balbay also looked solid at the point for Texas, combining for 10 assists without a turnover. But neither looked good scoring the ball, as they were a combined 2-10 from the floor. Perhaps the most promising sign was the debuts of the stud freshman class. Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton both looked like promising scorers, as they slashed their way to 10 and 12 points, respectively. Shawn Williams, the third frosh in that group, did not score but grabbed six boards in 13 minutes. All in all, its tough to learn anything about a team in a 47 point win, but the Horns definitely had promising signs.


West Virginia 83, Loyola MD 60: Playing without Devin Ebanks and Joe Mazzulla, the Mountaineers started the game slowly. They weren't playing with energy, they struggled shooting the ball (they had seven airballs in the first half) and they weren't getting it done defensively. But WVU got a huge boost from freshman big man Danny Jennings off the bench, as he came in and sparked a run in each half. Jennings finished with 9 points and 12 boards (4 offensive).

After a sluggish start, you really got what you expected out of this WVU team. They forced 18 turnovers, won the rebounding battle 40-29, and grabbed 20 offensive boards. Da'Sean Butler had 26 points, Truck Bryant added 15 and 5 assists (and 3-6 from three), Kevin Jones had 14 points and 7 boards starting for Ebanks, and JuCo transfer Casey Mitchell added 13. If WVU can cut down on the number of three pointers they take (they were just 9-29 last night), this team is going to be as tough as expected.

Onto Ebanks - Bob Huggins said after the game that Devin Ebanks was held out as he "had some personal issues to work through." Not sure what that means, and Huggins did not set a time table for his return. While WVU has more than enough depth up front, playing without Ebanks will hurt as he is the best of the bunch on the front line. Mazzulla was held out due to the same shoulder that was injured last year. Only a precautionar measure. John Flowers did roll his ankle, but x-rays were negative.


Other notable scores:

• Harvard 87, William & Mary 85 3OT: We already have a game of the year and a shot of the year nominee courtesy of the Crimson.
• Wake Forest 89, East Carolina 58: Al-Farouq Aminu had 23 and 9 while Tony Woods and Ish Smith added 12 and 14 points, respectively, but the story of the game was the Demon Deacon's defense - they forced 22 turnovers and held the Pirates to 24.8% shooting.
  
• Washington 111, Portland State 55: Quincy Pondexter has looked like an all-american here in the early part of the season. After going for 25 on Saturday, Pondexter had 29 points and 13 boards last night against the Vikings.
• Tulsa 81, FIU 49: The story of this game was an interesting interaction between Isiah Thomas and Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik. Midway through the second half, Thomas, with his team down 63-25 and on the wrong end of a 27-5 run to start the half, motioned and then verbally asked Wojcik to pull his starters from the floor. Wojcik didn't, in large part due to limited numbers - he only had eight scholarship players available.
• Illinois State 82, SIU-Edwardsville 60: Osiris Eldridge led the Redbirds with 19 points as they cruised in their season opener.
• Florida 74, Stetson 46: Freshman Kenny Boynton never really found his stroke (0-4 from three), but he did finish with 12 points as Florida went up big early. Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin had 13 points and 8 boards.
• Virginia Tech 69, Brown 55: Malcolm Delaney had 21 points, and the Hokies used a 16-5 run at the end of the first half to open up the game.
• Kansas State 82, Western Illinois 50: We knew that K-State had a good back court with Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente, but with an athletic front line of Curtis Kelly, Wally Judge, and Jamar Samuels playing like they did yesterday (39 points, 20 boards, 5 blocks, 14-25 from the floor, 59 minutes), this Wildcat team is going to sneak up on a lot of people.
• Arizona 87, Northern Arizona 70: The Sean Miller era starts out well for Arizona. Playing without freshman Kevin Parrom and with a beat-up Nic Wise (tweaked an ankle in practice last week), the Wildcats were in control for most of the game. Freshman Solomon Hill went for 17 points and 8 boards while Jamelle Horne added 14 points and 11 boards. Overall, Zona's crop of freshmen looked solid enough that the Wildcats may actually be able to compete for a NCAA tourney bid this year.
• Wisconsin 75, IPFW 46: Jon Leuer led the Badgers with 19 points and 4 blocks as Wisconsin held the Mastadons to just 34% shooting.
• Iowa State 72, Chicago State 50: Craig Brackins (7 points, 8 boards) and Marcus Gilstrap (11 points, 15 boards) were both off, but the Cyclones defense was good enough to hold on for the win.
• Oregon 68, Colorado State 55: Tajuan Porter had 23 points as the Ducks improved to 3-0.
  

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2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Power Forwards

The season is fast approaching. The first games are on Nov. 9th, 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 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.

Here are the point guards.
Here are the shooting guards.
Here are the small forwards.
There are the power forwards.

Best Freshman:

• Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech
• DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky
• Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova
• Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State
  

Best of the Rest:

• Samardo Samuels, Louisville
• Luke Babbitt, Nevada
• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State
• Stanley Robinson, UConn
• Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech
• Deon Thompson, UNC
  

Top 10:

• 10. Matt Howard, Butler: Howard is a guy that doesn't get a lot of press playing for Butler. But make no mistake, Howard is as good as any four in the country. Howard is what you might refer to as a land warrior - he isn't going to outquick or outjump anyone in the country, but he is so strong. An excellent rebounder with a solid back to the basket game, Howard's strength offensively is his ability to seal and hold position in the post. He is the rock for a talented Butler team.
  


• 9. Damion James, Texas: A lot was expected out of James last season, but he didn't quite live up to the hype he received in the preseason. A big reason for that is James was asked to play more minutes on the perimeter with the emergence of a big front line for Texas. The biggest strength of James' game is his ability to rebound the ball on the offensive end and how well he cuts to the basket and finishes at the rim. His back to the basket game is decent, but playing more minutes on the perimeter will limit his touches inside. James is dangerous offensively because he is not only able to shoot the ball, but he has some ability to put the ball on the floor and go around a bigger defender. James is forever a tweener - not really big enough to be a four, but lacking the true perimeter skills to be a three.
  


• 8. Lazar Hayward, Marquette: Last year, all anyone talked about when it came to Marquette was their guard play. While those three were definitely talented, Hayward might have been the most valuable player on the roster as the only real big man. Hayward, who is a converted small forward, in dangerous because of his perimeter skills. Without much in the way of a post game, Hayward does his damage shooting the ball and taking advantage of the mismatches when a big forward guards him on the perimeter. Also an excellent rebounder, expect big numbers out of Hayward this year as Marquette's go-to player offensively.
  

Lazar Hayward is counting to be counted on heavily by Marquette.
(photo credit: ESPN)

• 7. Devin Ebanks, West Virginia: Ebanks is as raw as a prospect comes. In terms of tools, there are few forwards that match him. He has the wingspan of an albatross, can run the floor, has above average athleticism, and plays hard. All of that made him an excellent defender and rebounder, especially on the offensive end. But the rest of his game still needs to be developed. His ball handling ability is not much more than the one or two dribbles it takes to for to get to the rim. His jumper was so inconsistent last year that he himself actually decided that he would not longer shoot outside jumpers. But with Alex Ruoff gone, and an offseason of developing his skills, Ebanks should be ready to turn into one of the best forwards in the Big East.
  


• 6. Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest: Aminu is another guy I'm not completely sold on. Right now, he relies almost exclusively on his tools. He is long, athletic, plays with energy, and has excellent body control. Last year he was at his best when he was able to get out in the open court and outrun the defense. His skills were quite raw, however. While his handle and his jump shot no doubt improved with an off-season of working out, Aminu has a long way to go before he can be considered "talented" skillwise and a threat in the half court. All that said, we are talking about a guy that averaged 12.9 ppg and 8.2 rpg on a team with a big front line, Jeff Teague, and James Johnson. Imagine what he will do as the first offensive option.
  

Al-Farouq Aminu will need to rely on more than just athleticism this season.
(photo credit: freewebs)

• 5. Trevor Booker, Clemson: Booker is one of the best athletes in the country. While there are a number of guys at the power forward position that have more talent than Booker, there are few that play with his aggressiveness and determination. Every second he is on the court, he is going hard - whether it is defensively, posting up, hitting the glass, cutting to the rim. Booker seems to have an endless supply of energy. He doesn't have the best back to the basket game, relying heavily on his physical tools (strength holding position, jumping over a defender) to score. Where he has become more effective, and where he needs to improve to make it at the next level, is in his perimeter game. If he can continue to get better putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket and keep improving his jump shot, Booker has a shot at winning the ACC player of the year award.
  


• 4. Greg Monroe, Georgetown: Monroe is the perfect fit for the Princeton offense that JTIII likes to run. Standing 6'11", Monroe has the offensive skills of a point forward. He can use the dribble to get to the basket, he can knock down a perimeter jumper, and he has excellent court vision and passing instincts. There are really three aspects of his game that Monroe needs to improve to become a dominant forward in the Big East. He needs to improve his ability with his right hand - he struggles dribbling and finishing in that direction. He needs to improve his strength and toughness in the paint offensively, defensively, and on the glass. Most importantly, he needs to be able to assert dominance on a game. There are few players with the talent that Monroe has, but how many times last season did you find yourself thinking "Greg Monroe has taken this game over"?
  


• 3. Craig Brackins, Iowa State: Brackins, at the college level, is a match-up nightmare. Standing 6'10", Brackins has the ball handling and the quickness to get by bigger defenders that try to come out and guard him on the perimeter. If you don't guard him, or if a smaller, quicker defender is on him, Brackins is a very dangerous shooter out to about 17 feet. Where Brackins has really developed during his first two seasons is with his toughness and his aggresiveness. He came with 17 rebounds of averaging a double-double last season, and has the makings of what could turn into a solid back-to-the-basket game.
  


• 2. Patrick Patterson, Kentucky: Patterson proved last season to be one of the most dominant and efficient players in the country. Patterson's just 6'8", but his length, his athleticism, and his strength make him so difficult to handle on the block. He has a solid righty hook and an above average turn around jumper, but his ability in the post centers around how good he is at establishing position. He seals hard, and really understands how to use his body to hold off his defender. He showed some improved ball skills last season, and if he can develop a consistent jumper this season, Patterson will be near unstoppable this year.
  

Harangody's biggest improvement during his career has been his jumper.
(photo credit: basketme)

• 1. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame: If there is an argument against Luke Harangody as the best power forward in the country, I cannot think of it. The guy can average 25 and 12 this year, and I won't be surprised. By now, you should know Gody's game. An underwhelming athlete, Gody struggles going against bigger opponents with his back to the basket. But over the course of his career, the big fella has developed an excellent face-up game. He has developed range out beyond the three point line (and showed NBA three point range during the draft process). The biggest improvement in his game is his fitness - Gody looked as svelte and in shape as he ever has during the draft process.
  

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No. 9: 2009-2010 Team Preview: West Virginia Mountaineers

2008-2009 Record: 23-12, 10-8 Big East (t-7th)

Key Losses: Alex Ruoff (15.7 ppg, 3.3 apg)

Key Returners: Da'Sean Butler (17.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Devin Ebanks (10.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg), Truck Bryant (9.8 ppg, 2.9 apg), Joe Mazzulla (5.6 ppg, 3.7 apg)

Newcomers: Dalton Pepper, Danny Jennings, Deniz Kilicli

Da'Sean Butler might be the best player in the country you never hear about.
(photo credit: ESPN)

It didn't take long for Bobby Huggins to mold West Virginia into his kind of team. In his third season at the helm, Huggy Bear is at the helm of the best Mountaineer team in recent memory.

Last season, West Virginia was a team known for their toughness on the defensive end and their ability to hit the glass, especially on the offensive end. Not much will change this season, as the Mountaineers return their entire front line. The best of the bunch is 6'9" Devin Ebanks. Ebanks developed into one of the most productive freshman in the country by the end of last season, especially in the Big East Tournament (he twice set career highs of 20 and 22 points, and set his career high in rebounding with 18). Still quite raw, where Ebanks excels is using his exceptional tools. He is long, active, athletic, and very tough. Most of his offense last season came in transition, on the offensive glass, or off of assists. Where he really struggled was with his perimeter jumper, to the point that he stopped shooting threes all together. He also needs to improve his handle to effectively transition to the three full time, but if he put in the work this summer, Ebanks has all the potential in the world to be a big time player for WVU.

Joining Ebanks up front is a slew of guys standing about 6'8". Senior Wellington Smith started at center last season, and there is no reason to expect that to change. A tough rebounder (especially at the offensive end as he grabbed more offensive rebounds than defensive) and with a fantastic leaping ability, Smith is probably the Mountaineers best interior defender. He can also step out and knock down a perimeter jumper if he is left open. A lot is going to be expected out of sophomore Kevin Jones after he had a productive freshman season off the bench. Jones is not the best athlete in the group, but he might be the strongest and plays as hard as anyone in the country. Junior Cam Thoroughman played sporadically throughout the season, but he is a tenacious offensive rebounder that will play defense hard. Junior John Flowers is not as strong as the other three, but is more of an athlete and can defend on the perimeter as well. Freshman Danny Jennings, a top 100 recruit out of St. Thomas More, will also provide some quality minutes up front. Another freshman, Deniz Kilicli, may see some time at the end of the season, but was recently suspended for the first 20 games but the NCAA for playing on a team in Europe with a professional.

In fewer words, the West Virginia front line is going to be deep, they are going to be tough, and they are going to be athletic. These six guys are essentially interchangeable, which means that minutes are going to be difficult to come by. Playing for Huggins, these kids are going to be asked for defense, physicality, and rebounding out of this group. Whoever provides that, on what may become a game-to-game basis, is going to be who plays. These guys are going to work hard every minute they are on the floor, so if you don't box out against WVU, they are going to kill you on the glass.

Where WVU struggled last season was in the half court. Losing second leading scorer Alex Ruoff is going to hurt them offensively, but the Mountaineers did catch a couple breaks this off-season as both Truck Bryant and Joe Mazzulla will be returning to the team (both players were suspended indefinitely over the summer for off-the-court issues). Mazzulla was a key player for West Virginia in 2007-2008 when the Mountaineers upset Duke en route to a Sweet 16 appearance. Mazzulla is a perfect glue guy at the lead guard spot. He defends, he rebounds, but most importantly he was able to get into the paint a create opportunities for others. He missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, but he should be healthy to start out this year.

Bryant, a sophomore, proved to be a worthy replacement last season. Also a tough defender, Bryant is a better scorer than Mazzulla, but not quite as good of a creator. Bryant struggled with his decision-making at times, but it was nothing you wouldn't expect from a freshman forced to start in last season's rugged Big East. I'd expect these two to share the back court quite a bit this season, as it would provide Huggins with two guards capable of getting points on the board in a half court set.

The guy that is going to carry the load for the Mountaineers will be Da'Sean Butler. Butler is one of the best kept secrets in the country, leading the Mountaineers with 17.1 ppg last season. He is an above average jump shooter, especially when he gets time to get his feet set. This will be all the more important for WVU with Ruoff's graduation, as Butler is really the only shooter they are going to have on the floor much of the time. While he is 6'7", long, and mobile, he is not the most explosive player and struggles at times when putting the ball on the floor. When he does get into the paint, he is able to finish, either by going up strong or by using a floater. Butler does excel around the rim, however, as he is a good offensive rebounder from the wing and has shown a decent post game. If Butler can improve his ability to create shots for himself form the perimeter using the dribble, he might be the most dangerous wing scorer in the Big East.

Freshman Dalton Pepper is another guy that will see some time on the perimeter. Pepper is a similar player to Butler. More of a small forward than a two guard, Pepper has three point range, but is not a shooter. At 6'5", he has shown the ability to score on the offensive end, but is known more for his ability to defend, his smarts, and his potential to be a system guy.

Outlook: West Virginia is going to play a lot of low scoring games this season. This team is built around toughness on the defensive end and on the glass. With the athletes on their team, they can use so many potential line-ups. They can go small by sliding Butler to the three, or even the four with Ebanks inside, and playing two point guards. Or they can also go big by putting him at the two and allowing Ebanks to play the wing. Whatever Huggins decides to do, when you play West Virginia you better be read for a physical battle.
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