Top 15 Freshmen

After watching John Wall on Wednesday night in the Garden, its safe to say that John Wall is far and away the best freshman this season, if not the best player in the country. But there have been some great freshmen over the years, so the next logical step is to ask who were the best freshmen of all time.

Honorable Mention: Shareef Abdur-Raheem, Johnny Dawkins, Penny Hardaway, Allan Houston, Larry Hughes, Bobby Hurley, Allen Iverson, Kevin Love, Stephon Marbury, Alonzo Mourning, Troy Murphy, Lamar Odom, Derrick Rose, Dwayne Washington, the Fab Five


15. Pervis Ellison, Louisville - 13.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.2 bpg

Ellison is on this list not because of his overall performance as a freshman, but a result of his incredible NCAA Tournament. He averaged 18 and 12 as the Cardinal beat LSU and Duke to win the 1986 title. He won the tournament MOP, and picked up the nickname "Never Nervous Pervis".




14. Shaquille O'Neal, LSU - 13.9 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 3.5 bpg

Shaq wasn't the force he would eventually turn into as a pro, but a large part of that was a result of sharing the court with Chris Jackson and Stanley Roberts. While the footwork and skill level wasn't there yet, the overpowering physical presence and athleticism was. He was the first freshman to ever post two triple-doubles.


13. Patrick Ewing, Georgetown - 12.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.2 bpg

Ewing's numbers look paltry in comparison to the rest of the players on this list, but from the second he stepped on the Hoya's campus, he was the centerpiece for John Thompson's aggressive defense. Ewing would lead the Hoyas to the 1982 title game, becoming the standard with which all defensive centers are now compared.




12. Michael Beasley, Kansas State - 26.2 ppg, 12.4 rpg

All Michael Beasley did at Kansas State was produce. He led the nation with 28 double-doubles, three 40 points games, 13 30-10 games, and 22 20-10 games; he set the Big XII single-game scoring record with 44 points in a loss to Baylor; his per game averages of 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds were Big XII records; he helped K-State beat Kansas in Manhattan since 1983; overall, he set 30 K-State and 17 Big XII single-season and career records.


11. Mark Aguirre, DePaul - 24.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg

Aguirre was a prolific scorer in his college basketball career, leading the Blue Demons to an upset win against UCLA as DePaul reached the 1979 Final Four, where they would lose to Larry Bird's Indiana State team.




10. Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech - 20.6 ppg, 8.1 apg

Teaming with Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver to form "Lethal Weapon 3", Anderson was the spark plug for a Yellow Jacket team that made it to the Final Four. One of a long line of NYC "point gods", Anderson hit one of the controversial shot to force overtime in the Sweet 16 against Michigan State.




9. Kevin Durant, Texas - 25.1 ppg, 11.4 rpg

Despite being built like a pipe cleaner, Kevin Durant dominated a physical Big XII conference to the tune of 28.9 ppg and 12.5 rpg in league player. Twenty times, Durant eclipsed the 30 point mark as a freshman as he was named national player of the year.


8. Tyler Hansbrough, UNC - 18.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg

Hansbrough kicked off one of the most debated careers in college hoops history with an all-american season as a freshman in 2006. He carried a Tar Heel team that was devastated by the loss of their stars after the Heels' 2005 NCAA title with a combination of skill and effort.


7. Bernard King, Tennessee - 26.4 ppg, 12.3 rpg

Teaming with TNT's own Ernie Grunfeld to form the "Ernie and Bernie Show", King dominated the SEC, winning the player of the year award as a freshman while being named an all-american.




6. Magic Johnson, Michigan State - 17.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.4 apg

Magic Johnson almost didn't go to Michigan State, opting for the Spartans over the Wolverines because Jud Heathcote would allow him to play the point. Good decision by Heathcote, as Sparty won the Big Ten title and reached the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament riding their 6'9" point guard.


5. Ralph Sampson, Virginia - 14.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 4.6 bpg

Sampson, despite not being named to the first or second all-ACC team, was named first team all-america as he led the conference in rebounding and blocked shots as UVA won the 1980 NIT title. At 7'4", Sampson was one of the most intimidating interior presences in college basketball history.




4. Wayman Tisdale, Oklahoma - 24.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.5 bpg

Tisdale was Blake Griffin before there was a Blake Griffin. As a freshman, Tisdale was named Big Eight Conference player of the year and was named a first team all-american, the first freshman to do so after they were allowed to play again (the '71-'72 season).




3. Fly Williams, Austin Peay - 29.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg

There have been few talents like Fly Williams in the history of college hoops, who twice scored 51 in a game as a freshman. His 854 points as a freshman was a record, only topped by LSU's Chris Jackson who had the benefit of a three point line. Williams was the biggest reason that Austin Peay reached their first ever NCAA Tournament in 1973.


2. Chris Jackson, LSU - 30.2 ppg, 4.1 apg

Hands down, Jackson (who changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) was one of the best scorers college basketball has ever seen. Lightening quick with a deadly cross over and range for days, Jackson would lead LSU to the NCAA Tournament while setting the record for points scored by a freshman, a record which still stands. He was the first freshman named SEC Player of the Year.


1. Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse - 22.2 ppg, 10.0 rpg

This was, in reality, a pretty easy choice. Anthony was the centerpiece offensively for a Syracuse team that won the national title. He was named second team all-america and first team all-Big East as well as being named the 2003 NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.


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Who Could/Should I Have Included In The Top 10 Lists?

Looking back over the five position by position Top 10 lists, I can't help but think about how many talented players and potential NBA draft picks I had to leave off. So here are a list of the guys that were my final cuts. Did I miss anyone else?

• Wink Adams, PG, UNLV
• Craig Brackins, PF, Iowa State
• Justin Burrell, PF, St. John's
• Patrick Christopher, SG, Cal
• Alonzo Gee, SF, Alabama
• Manny Harris, SG, Michigan
• Lazar Hayward, SF, Marquette
• David Lighty, SF, Ohio State
• Quincy Pondexter, SF, Washington
• KC Rivers, SG, Clemson
• Taylor Rochestie, PG, Washington State
• Jon Scheyer, SG, Duke
• Diamon Simpson, PF, St. Mary's
• Nolan Smith, PG, Duke
• Shawn Taggert, PF, Memphis
• Marcus Thornton, SG, LSU
• Dar Tucker, SG, DePaul
• Greveis Vasquez, PG, Maryland

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Top 10 Centers

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
Top 10 Power Forwards
Here are the Centers. I completely forgot to put Jon Brockman of Washington into the power forwards list (I probably would have slid him in right behind Patrick Patterson), so I am throwing him into this list because, frankly, there really are not that many true centers in college basketball. Part of the reason is that there only are so many 7-footers out there. Part of the reason is if you are that tall, and you have some semblance of skill, NBA teams salivate over your "potential", meaning a lot of these guys leave school early (see Patrick O'Bryant, Spencer Hawes, DeAndre Jordan).

Best Freshman

• BJ Mullens, Ohio State
• J'Mison Morgan, UCLA
• Tony Woods, Wake Forest
• Ty Walker, Wake Forest
• Tyler Zeller, UNC

Best of the Rest

• Aron Baynes, Washington State
• Omar Samhan, St. Mary's
• Dexter Pittman, Texas
• Ibrahima Thomas, Oklahoma State
• Goran Suton, Michigan State

Top 10

• 10. JARVIS VARNADO, Mississippi State - Varnado is the best shot blocker in the country. He is only 6'9", but he is very long, very athletic, and has exceptional timing, especially when coming over from help side. Varnado is also a good offensive rebounder, as he loves to go flying in for boards looking to get tip dunks. He is way too thin (reports have him up to 210 lb from 195 lb) to be much of a threat offensively, but MSU will need him to be - they lost Jamont Gordon, Charles Rhodes, and Ben Hansbrough.
• 9. LUKE NEVILL, Utah - Nevill is a 7-foot Australian import playing for Utah. Sound familiar? Nevill is not quite up to Andrew Bogut's level yet, but he is still a good scorer in the post with a soft touch at the rim. 
• 8. TAJ GIBSON, USC - Gibson is unique to these top 10 lists in that he actually was less effective as a sophomore than he was as a freshman. But that doesn't change the fact that he is a talented individual. He is 6'9" and athletic with a solid finesse game in the post. Gibson is also a presence at the rim defensively, blocking 2.6 shots per game.
• 7. JORDAN HILL, Arizona - Hill is one of the best big men in the Pac 10, but is still largely an unknown to most. He averaged 13.2 ppg and 7.9 rpg as a sophomore despite being the only real threat the Wildcats had inside the three-point line. He will once again be the only inside presence for Arizona, but if he can improve anywhere near as much as he did between his freshman and sophomore campaigns, Hill could end up being a lottery pick.
• 6. JEROME JORDAN, Tulsa - Jordan, a junior, has a ton of potential. He is 7'0", long, and athletic, but at just 235 lb, he really needs to put on some strength. He is a great defender (3.7 bpg), and he really came on at the end of the season, averaging 16.2 ppg, 12.0 rpg, and 4.8 bpg in his last six contests, which included a 17, 9 and 4 effort against Memphis.
• 5. KEVIN ROGERS, Baylor - Rogers might be the best athlete on this list. He can really get out and run the floor, which is what makes him such a good fit for this Baylor squad. Offensively, he is most effective when he is a finisher, especially at the rim, and he is great in the Bears pick and roll.
• 4. ARINZE ONUAKU, Syracuse - Onuaku was a pleasant surprise for Jim Boeheim. He averaged just 8.4 mpg as a freshman before sitting out the '06-'07 season as a medical red shirt, but was one of the best big men in the Big East last year, averaging 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Onuaku is a huge kid (6'9", 260 lb) and strong as an ox, which allows him to establish position in the post and on rebounds. He catches everything he gets his mitts on, and has a nice touch around the rim (62% from the floor).
• 3. AJ OGILVY, Vanderbilt - Ogilvy is a real throwback center. He isn't much of an athlete, but he knows how to establish position in the paint. He has great hands and a great touch around the rim (59% from the floor), using a variety of spins, drop-steps, up-and-unders, and jump hooks. He averaged 17.0 ppg as a freshman, a number which could go up with the Commodores losing Shan Foster to graduation.
• 2. JON BROCKMAN, Washington - Brockman is one of the hardest workers in college basketball. He attacks the glass on both ends of the floor, averaging 14.2 boards per 40 minutes, tops in college basketball. He isn't graceful or elegant, and when he gets the ball on the block, Brockman is going to try and muscle his way through a defender. He gets the many of his points by beating defenders down the floor and finding creases in the defense.
• 1. HASHEEM THABEET, UConn - If Varnado is the best shot blocker in the country, Thabeet is the most intimidating defensive presence in the country. Standing 7'3", Thabeet averaged 4.5 bpg, and it was that presence protecting the rim that allowed the Huskies to play their style of over-playing, pressure defense in the half court. While his back to the basket game is still developing, if he improves as much between his sophomore and junior years and his did during the last off-season, a 15-10-5 season is a real possibility.

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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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Top 10 Small 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
Here are the Small Forwards. Ed. Note: Sorry this is coming a day late. Not sure if you caught it, but there was this election thing yesterday, and we kinda got caught up in it a little bit. Apologies, but we have a lot for you today.

Best Freshman:

• Devin Ebanks, West Virginia
• Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest
• Demar Derozan, USC

Best of the Rest:

• Derrick Brown, Xavier
• Chris Wright, Dayton
• Lee Cummard, BYU
• DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
• James Anderson, Oklahoma State
• Danny Green, UNC

Top 10:

• 10. PAUL HARRIS, Syracuse - Harris is only 6'5", but he was one of the best rebounders in the Big East last season, grabbing 8.2 rpg to go along with 14.5 ppg. He (still) does not have much of a jump shot to speak of, but is nonetheless able to get to the rim just about whenever he pleases. There is not doubt he is a fantastic athlete, and his long arms make him perfect for the Syracuse zone. While there may not be an NBA career in the works for Harris, he sure is a beast at this level.
• 9. AUSTIN DAYE, Gonzaga - In terms of potential, Daye might #1 on this list. He is a long, lanky, 6'10" wing with a nice jump shot and good perimeter skills. He needs to add strength to his frame and develop his offensive game, but he has already shown he can score in a variety of ways, he can hit some tough shots, and that he has a scorer's mentality. 
• 8. CHASE BUDINGER, Arizona - Budinger may be regretting he decision to return to Tucson for his junior season right now, but that shouldn't stop him from posting some fantastic numbers this year. It may actually work to his benefit. The knock on Budinger since he stepped foot on campus was that he was not enough of a leader and couldn't handle being the go-to guy. Well, with everyone defecting from the Arizona program, Budinger has the perfect opportunity to prove he can lead a team. In terms of raw talent, there are not many people with his combination of size, offensive ability, and athleticism. Think Jason Richardson plus two inches.
• t7. KYLE SINGLER and GERALD HENDERSON, Duke - These two Duke forwards complement each other well, especially in the offense that the Devils ran last year. Henderson is a slasher who makes plays with his athleticism (both offensively and defensively). Singler, who was the biggest guy on the floor for Duke a lot last year, feasted on mismatches offensively. He is a good three-point shooter, so when an opponent's big man was forced to come out and respect that jumper, Singler was able to put the ball on the floor and go to the basket.
• 6. ROBBIE HUMMEL, Purdue - Hummel is coming off of a fantastic freshman campaign where he played a large role in returning the Boilermakers to the top of the Big Ten. Hummel won't wow too many people, but he is a smart, fundamentally sound player. He is a deadly three-point shooter, but he can also get by a bigger defender when they contest his jumper. 
• 5. TERRENCE WILLIAMS, Louisville - Williams pulled out of the draft to return for his senior season, which was probably a good decision. He has all the tools to be a good NBA wing - he's quick, he's long, he's got hops - and he has a solid all-around skill-set - jump shot, handle, great passer, aggressive rebounder. Williams biggest problem is his decision making. He needs to work on his shot selection and cutting down his turn overs, the two things that keep him from being an all-american.
• 4. RAYMARR MORGAN, Michigan State - Morgan, a junior, is the perfect small forward for Tom Izzo. He is a great athlete, strong as a bull, he attacks the boards, and he is a gritty defender. He is at his best offensively when he is attacking the rim, and if he can add a consistent jump shot to his repertoire, he could be another Caron Butler.
• 3. SAM YOUNG, Pitt - Young, as is the case with the top two small forwards as well, arrived on campus as an athletic, yet undersized, power forward. Hard work has allowed Young to develop a perimeter game and move to the wing for his senior season. Young added a very good jump shot before his junior year, and should once again be Pitt's first option offensively.
• 2. DAMION JAMES, Texas - James is a junior and despite playing with the likes of Kevin Durant, DJ Augustin, and AJ Abrams during his first two years, he still managed to put up impressive numbers (7.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.2 bpg and 13.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg). James has always been an aggressive rebounder and slasher, but greatly improved his jumper during his sophomore year. Expect James to put up very impressive numbers this year as the focal point of the Longhorn's offense. 
• 1. TYLER SMITH, Tennessee - Smith, a junior, can do everything on a basketball court. He is a talented all-around player on the offensive end. Smith is one of the best passing forwards in the country, can knock down a three, and can go by a slower defender on the perimeter. He is also a fantastic (and very intense) defender and is the leader for a young Tennessee team. 

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Top 10 Two-Guards

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
Here are the shooting guards.

Best Freshman:

• Elliot Williams, Duke
• Willie Warren, Oklahoma
• Tyreke Evans, Memphis
• Scotty Hopson, Tennessee

Best of the Rest:

• Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati
• Dionte Christmas, Temple
• Osiris Eldridge, Illinois State
• Lester Hudson, Tennessee-Martin
• Stefon Jackson, UTEP
• Kenny Hasbrouck, Siena

Top 10:

• 10. LACEDARIUS DUNN, Baylor - Dunn was one of the most efficient scorers in the country last year (surprising for a guy that's predominantly a jump shooter - 60% of his field goal attempts were 3's). He averaged 13.6 ppg in just 22 mpg, while shooting 45% from floor, 42% from deep, and 84% from the line. At 6'4", Dunn is not a great athlete, but has a variety of floaters, leaners, and scoop shots that he can use to finish in the paint.
• 9. JACK MCCLINTON, Miami - McClinton is one of the most explosive scorers in the country (38 against St. Mary's in the tourney, including 32 in the second half). His three-point shot is his most dangerous weapon, but he is also able to use that jumper to set up his penetration. He has a mid-range jumper, and can finish at the rim at times. 
• 8. ROBERT VADEN, UAB - Vaden, the preseason C-USA player of the year, may be the best catch-and-shoot guy in the country. He is absolutely deadly if he gets his feet set and a good look at the rim. He uses his pump fakes well if a defender closes out long (meaning in the defender runs at the jump shot), usually resulting in a one-dribble pull-up.
• 7. KYLE MCALARNEY, Notre Dame - McAlarney was the outside portion of what turned into arguably the best inside-outside combo in the Big East. The kid can flat out shoot it, and shoot it from deep as many of his three point attempts come from well beyond the college arc. He is more than just a shooter, as he can put the ball on the floor and make a play, but could use some work defensively.
• 6. E'TWUAN MOORE, Purdue - Moore is an underwhelming athlete, but what he lacks in a vertical he makes up for in basketball IQ, craftiness, and a deadly jump shot. The lanky, 6'3" guard is the best offensive player on a very good Purdue team, and with more national attention on the Boilermakers, the sophomore should become a household name by the end of the year.
• 5. AJ ABRAMS, Texas - Like Curry, Abrams is another guy that will be making the transition from shooting guard to handling point guard duties, especially if freshman J'Covan Brown does not get himself eligible by the spring semester. Abrams is a tremendous shooter with a quick release and great range. He is also the leading returning scorer in the Big XII (16.5 ppg). 
• 4. JEREL MCNEAL, Marquette - I really love this kid's game. He is a tremendous athlete and maybe the best perimeter defender in the Big East. Offensively, he is still developing. McNeal is most effective when he is on the move or attacking the basket, but needs to improve his jump shot. He is very aggressive, and proved that he is capable of putting this Marquette team on his shoulders - he averaged 23 ppg over the last six games of '07-'08, including 30 in the second round loss to Stanford.
• 3. WAYNE ELLINGTON, UNC - Ellington really improved from his freshman to sophomore year. He added a good pull-up jumper to his offensive arsenal and is now the best perimeter weapon in the ACC. His defense could use a little work, but so could everyone else on UNC. If Hansbrough is out for an extended amount of time, expect Ellington to be the guy that picks up a lot of the offensive load.
• 2. JAMES HARDEN, Arizona State - He was overshadowed last season by the play of fellow freshman Kevin Love and Jerryd Bayless in the Pac-10, but Harden is as good as anyone in the country. He is a real throwback player with "old man's game". He's not terribly athletic, but he is a smart, crafty player that knows how to score.
• 1. STEPHEN CURRY, Davidson - Curry will get a lot more time running the point this year with Jason Richards graduating, but regardless of who is bringing the ball up the floor, Curry is going to get plenty of shots and will remain the focal point of the Wildcats offense. Curry is the best shooter in the country and was recently named to the AP preseason all-america team.

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Top 10 Point Guards

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.

Here are the point guards.

Best Freshman:

• Jrue Holiday, UCLA
• Kemba Walker, UConn
• Larry Drew, UNC
• Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas

Best of the Rest

• Dominic James, Marquette
• Sherron Collins, Kansas
• Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin
• Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
• Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
• Tyrese Rice, Boston College

Top 10

• 10. ERIC MAYNOR, VCU - Maynor was forced to become much more of a scorer for VCU last year, pushing his average from 13.9 ppg to 17.9 ppg. While most people will remember him for this, Maynor has proven in his first three years that he can be a scoring point guard as well as a pass first point guard.
• 9. CURTIS JERRELLS, Baylor - The lefty Jerrells is an excellent scorer for Baylor, and is the guy that will push the ball up the floor for Scott Drew. He cut down his turnovers a lot last season, and if he improves his shot selection he could move up this list.
• 8. NICK CALATHES, Florida - Calathes doesn't always bring the ball up for the Gators, but he is the guy that starts their offense. Not only would he be a stud in fantasy basketball (15.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.5 spg), but at 6'6", he can defend three positions and creates a ton of mismatches for Billy Donovan. 
• 7. LEVANCE FIELDS, Pitt - Fields is a strong defender, a talented playmaker, and the leader of a Pitt team that is expected to compete for the Big East title. He is currently battling a foot injury that he first suffered against Dayton last year, and how healthy he is will be one of the deciding factors in the Panther's season. 
• 6. JEREMY PARGO, Gonzaga - On what is probably Gonzaga's most talented team to date, Pargo may be the 'Zags most talented player. At 6'2", 220 lb, he is strong, athletic and attacks the rim hard. He is also a very good playmaker, dishing out 6.0 apg last season to go along with his 12.1 ppg.
• 5. AJ PRICE, UConn - After three disappointing years in Storrs (only one of which was spent in uniform), Price showed why he was a top recruit in high school last year. He carried UConn at the end of last season, consistently making big plays. He's not terribly quick and not terribly athletic, but he is a terrific passer in traffic, has a good enough handle to get by most defenders, and is able to score in the lane over bigger players. 
• 4. PATTY MILLS, St. Mary's - Mills spent the summer playing in the Olympics against the world's best, including a 20 point, 2 assist, 3 steal performance versus the US. Mills is a lighting quick penetrator that can get to the rim against just about anyone. 
• 3. JONNY FLYNN, Syracuse - Flynn was the biggest reason that an injury-depleted Syracuse team was even in the conversation for an NCAA bid last year. He can score in bunches, but is unselfish enough that he will find the open man. With a couple of talented players coming off of injury, expect Flynn's scoring numbers (15.7 ppg) to go down, but his assist numbers (5.3 apg, 1.95 a/to) to go up.
• 2. TY LAWSON, UNC - Lawson isn't a great shooter or defender, but he is maybe the fastest guy in the country with a ball in his hands. His ability to get out and lead the break is what makes the nation's most high powered offense go. 
• 1. DARREN COLLISON, UCLA - Collison is one of the best on the ball defenders in the country, setting the tone for what is probably the nation's best defense. He can also do a little bit on the offensive end, putting up 14.5 ppg and 3.8 apg while shooting 52.5% from three. He is the leader of a team that has made it to three straight Final Fours. 

Continue reading...

Breakout Players

Sam Young of Pitt went from averaging 7.2 ppg and 3.0 rpg as a sophomore to 18.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg as a junior. Russell Westbrook went from scoring 3.4 ppg in limited action as a freshman to starting as a sophomore and averaging 12.7 ppg and 3.9 apg while playing his way into the fourth overall pick in last year's draft.

Every year there are guys that come from college basketball obscrurity and burst on the scene by putting up all-american type numbers and performances. Who are the guys that will have a break out year in 2008-2009?

DeJuan Blair, Pitt: Blair has already proven that he is one of the best at establishing position in the post, and may be the country's best rebounder. With the Panthers losing the perimeter scoring of Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin, and with Levance Fields still nursing a bad foot, Blair should get plenty of opportunities to score down low.

Damion James, Texas: That Rick Barnes recruiting class that included Kevin Durant, DJ Augustin, and James is looking pretty good now, huh? James is a combo forward that has been primarily a hustle guy in his first two years with the 'Horns, but with Augustin and Durant gone, expect for James to be more aggressive with the ball offensively. The most impressive thing about James is that he can score so many different ways - knocking down three's, attacking the basket from the wing, finishing on a break, getting an offensive put back. To be fair, can a guy really have a break out year coming off of a season where he averaged a double double? 

Jodie Meeks, Kentucky: Meeks is a 6'4" combo guard that had a promising freshman season in 2006-2007, but battled injuries (including a sports hernia he underwent surgery for in April) which limited him to 11 games in 2007-2008. With the departure of Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Derrick Jasper, Meeks is going to be logging a lot of minutes in an inexperienced UK back court, and now that he is finally healthy, expect a big year out of the junior.

Cole Aldrich, Kansas: Aldrich was a Mickey D's all-american coming out of high school, but as a freshman was stuck behind the three-headed monster of Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, and Sasha Kaun. He had a coming out party in the Final Four against UNC, going for 8 points, 7 boards (4 offensive), and 4 blocks in 18 minutes. Aldrich should get a lot of chances as the only front court returner for the Jayhawks.

Chandler Parsons, Florida: Parsons performed well during his freshman year in Gainesville, posting 8.4 ppg and 4.0 rpg in just 20.7 mpg. At 6'9", he is a combo forward, although his lack of bulk as a freshman forced him to spend a lot of time on the perimeter. Word is that Parsons spent the summer in the weight room, putting on 20-plus pounds of muscle. Billy Donovan has a knack for getting his bigs to improve dramatically between their freshman and sophomore years (Marreese Speights, Joakim Noah, Al Horford, to name a few).

Chris Allen, Michigan State: Allen was a top 25 recruit coming out of Georgia, but as a freshman he was lost in the shuffle of the Spartans back court. With Drew Neitzel gone, Allen is probably the best option for Tom Izzo at off-guard. Like Neitzel, Allen gets a lot of his points off of his jump shot, and should get plenty of attempts if teams are going to pay too much attention to Raymarr Morgan.

Chris Wright and Austin Freeman, Georgetown: With the loss of Jonathan Wallace and Roy Hibbert, Georgetown may be looking at having to speed up their style of play, mainly because it would better suit these two sophomores. Wright, who was slowed by an injured ankle last year, is one of the quickest guards in the Big East end to end. Freeman, at 6'4", 240 lb, is one of the most powerful wing players in the country, but he is deceivingly athletic and is a more-than-capable three point shooter. With Georgetown returning just four rotation guys, expect the Hoyas to rely heavily on Wright and Freeman.

James Anderson, Oklahoma State: Anderson, a 6'6" shooting guard, didn't exactly have a quiet freshman season, leading the Cowboys in scoring at 13.3 ppg. With a year to get used to head coach Travis Ford and their top four scorers back from a year ago, this OK State squad should make some noise in the Big XII, and Anderson will be the guy leading the way.

Craig Brackins, Iowa State: Brackins is as talented as they come. The athletic, 6'10" sophomore can play both on the block and on the perimeter, and is a very good three-point shooter (he had 33 points and 8 three's against Baylor last year). Iowa State graduated Jiri Hubalek and Rahshon Clark, and lost Wesley Johnson as a transfer, which means Brackins will be the focal point of the Cyclone offense this year. Continue reading...

In Honor of the Official Start of the 2008-09 Season

Yes, it is really here folks. Today, schools around the country will officially start their seasons. After seeing this article on ESPN and reading Rush The Court's 30 reasons posts, I've been inspired. In honor of the start of the new college basketball season, here are BIAH's top 10 15 (I couldn't cut it down farther) most memorable moments from the 2007-2008 season. The list is a little Tournament heavy, but hey, don't the most memorable moments come when they count the most?

As always, if I missed any, let me know about them and I'll get them up there.

15. John Griffin of Bucknell starts off March Madness the right way. Is the announcer saying "Bingo" or "banked home"?

14. Tyler Hansbrough hits a game winner against Virginia Tech in the ACC tourney. Doesn't this play epitomize Hansbrough? Outhustles everyone to come up with a lose ball, hits a big shot, and then pulls out the, well, I'm not quite sure exactly what that celebration was...

13. Minnesota's Blake Hoffarber ends a crazy game with a crazy buzzer beater against Indiana. It wasn't his first miracle shot either.

12. Brook Lopez hits a leaner as Stanford beats Marquette in OT in a second round NCAA tournament game. Some things of note from this game - Mitch Johnson had 16 assists to just 1 turnover for Stanford, and if you remember this game, then you remember Marquette's Jerel McNeal absolutely taking over in the second half and overtime.

11. I'm still bitter about this. Next.

10. #1 plays #2, and it just so happens to be two teams from the same state who just so happen to be heated rivals. Tennessee knocked on undefeated Memphis to claim their first #1 ranking in the school's history.

9. Baylor and Texas A&M go to five OT's to settle things in College Station. Baylor came out on top after 65 minutes of basketball. Of note: eight players fouled out and eight players logged over 40 minutes, with four of those over 50. Gotta tip your hat to the players on both teams after an effort like that.

8. Kansas State knocks off Kansas on their home floor for the first time in 24 years. Michael Beasley had 25, Bill Walker had 22, and Jacob Pullen had 20 in the win.

7. On his senior night at Vanderbilt, Shan Foster scored 42 points, including 29 in the final 15 minutes and overtime. Those 29 points included him hitting 9 straight 3's, and some of them were from 30 feet with a hand in his face.

6. On a similar note as #7, Robert Vaden of UAB scores 28 points in the second half as the Blazers knock off Kentucky. Any coach that wants to teach a player how to move without the ball and how to use screens effectively should show them this clip.

5. Wayne Ellington capped off a 36 point night with a buzzer beating three to beat Clemson in OT. David Potter is a great defender, and even though he probably should have had it, why would you go for a steal there?

4. In Tampa, during the opening weekend of the tournament, two twelve seeds and two thirteen seeds advanced, including Western Kentucky and San Diego in these two fantastic finishes.

Again, still very bitter. Next.

3. Stephen Curry scored 128 points (that's 32 ppg) in Davidson's run to the Elite 8. On the way, he led upsets of Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin before he was finally worn out by the multitude of defenders Kansas threw at him. A two week coming out party, if you will. Is it obvious I love guys that can shoot the lights out yet?

Gonzaga

Georgetown

Wisconsin

Kansas

2. After a vicious storm tears through Atlanta and rips a hole in the Georgia Dome (seriously, that is a pretty scary video, I can't imagine what it was like in there), the University of Georgia has to play two games in one day, and actually wins both, to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

1. Mario Chalmers. Enough said.

So did I miss anything? Continue reading...

Top 10 Dunks in College Basketball History

Now I know I'm not the only ones out there that loves watching clips of great plays, and given the fact that I just wasted about three hours watching some of the best dunks ever, I figured I'd save you the trouble of youtube browsing and give you a list right here - the top 10 college basketball dunks.

A couple of things before we get to the BIAH top 10: there were a couple dunks not on this list because I simply could not find a video of them - see Hakim Warrick's ****** (hint: its what you dip in hot water to make tea, this blog is strictly PG-13) on Royal Ivey to the right. I also am an 80's baby, so there might be a lot of dunks that I simply don't remember or know about because I am too young. That said, if you know of any that are missing, post a comment and let me know what they are, and I will do everything in my power to get a clip up for you, or just leave us a link to your favorite dunk.

So without further ado, follow the jump for the top 10, plus a few extra just because we at BIAH like you guys that much.

UPDATE: I found the Hakim Warrick dunk.

Honorable Mention:

Stew Hare of UNC-Wilmington clinching the Seahawks first round upset of USC by dunking on the Trojans entire front-line. The only reason this even makes this list is because of the situation when it occurred.

Baron Davis with a fake behind-the-back and dunk. The move is better than the dunk, but it is still pretty sick.

Chris Porter with a ridiculous tip-dunk (a theme you will come to see). Would probably be higher if the video quality was better.

Senario Hillman of Alabama with a HUGE facial dunk on a fast break against Auburn.

Hakim Warrick dunks over a defender from Pitt, off the vert, from five feet away from the basket. How does he get up that high? Best part, though, is Bill Raftery yelling "Bring your lunch!!" What does that even mean?

10: Grant Hill catches a (almost) half court alley-oop from Bobby Hurley in the 1991 Final Four.

9: VC with a two-handed dunk on Tim Duncan's head.

8: Ismael Muhammad of Georgia Tech jumps over Engin Atsur of NC State. It has gotta be pretty embarrassing to get completely jumped over and dunked on.

7: Jerry Stackhouse on 14 feet of Blue Devil (am I the only one that loves seeing a Dookie get dunked on). Anyway, I promise this is the last ACC clip.

6: Melvin Levitt from Cincinnati soars for a one-handed put-back dunk. The announcers reaction is great.

5: Nate Robinson. I chose this video because it also has some insane highlights of the midget dunking, but the #5 dunk is actually his put-back dunk against Arizona.

4: Darvin Ham breaks the backboard with a tip dunk ... IN THE NCAA TOURNEY.

tie 3: JR Rider posterizes two guys. I have no idea who they are playing, but listen to the sound the dunk makes.

tie 3: Dirk Nowitzki Minnifield from Kentucky. He just looks like he keeps going up and up, even after he hits the guy taking a charge.

2: Shaq jumps over someone trying to box him out on a put-back dunk. Listen to a young Dickie V announcing.

1: "SEND IT IN JEROME"

Here's a better look at the dunk itself, with music in the background.

So there it is, the BIAH top 10 list for greatest college dunks of all time. I know I missed some, so leave a comment and let me know. Continue reading...