Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Semi-finals NBA Las Vegas Summer League report

Babb looks like Mario Van Peebles
Chris Babb was the most efficient player on a winning team during the semi-finals of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League, Sunday in "Sin City". Babb came off the bench for Phoenix to score nine points, grab four rebounds, and dish four assists in just 18 minutes. The Suns advanced to the championship game with a 91-89 victory over Miami. Markieff Morris scored the go-ahead basket for Phoenix with 21.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter. ...The Suns will face the Warriors for the summer league title. Golden State defeated Charlotte 75-67, behind Cameron Jones' 16 points in 24 minutes. 

Our All NBA Las Vegas Summer League Team for day ten (Sunday July 21, 2013) ...Guards: Babb, D.J. Kennedy, James Ennis, C. Jones, Brandon Triche, Jerome Dyson, Dionte Christmas. Forwards: James Nunnally, P.J. Tucker, Marcus Morris, Draymond Green, and Lance Goulbourne. 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Marcus Morris stars in NBA Las Vegas Summer League Quarterfinals

Marcus Morris was Saturday star
Marcus Morris posted one of the highest efficiency ratings to date in the 2013 NBA Las Vegas Summer League, Saturday, in the Phoenix Suns 103-98 win over Toronto. Morris scored 23 points (8-11 FG), snared six rebounds, and dished three assists in 19 minutes! The 6'9" small forward from Kansas who was recently traded from Houston to Phoenix plays with composure and skill. Earlier in the week, Morris hit a game winning jump shot at the buzzer to keep Phoenix perfect in summer league play. 

Jarvis Varnado scored 13 points, and grabbed 12 rebounds in Miami's 82-76 win over Cleveland. ...Abdul Gaddy was extremely efficient in Charlotte's 85-75 victory over the D League Select team. Gaddy scored 17 points (6-7 FG) in 21 minutes. ...Cameron Jones had 18 points (6-11 FG), with four steals to help Golden State remain unbeaten. The Warriors beat the Lakers 83-77. 

Our All NBA Las Vegas Summer League team for the quarterfinals (Saturday, July 20th, 2013)... Point guards: Gaddy, Lester Hudson. Shooting guards: Archie Goodwin, C. Jones, Cory Higgins, Elijah Millsap. Small forwards: Marcus Morris, James Nunnally. Power forwards: Quincy Acy, Darnell Jackson. Centers: Markieff Morris, Varnado. 

Terrence Jennings looks NBA ready. Day eight, NBA Las Vegas Summer League


For the second time in eight days of play at the NBA Las Vegas Summer League, Terrence Jennings was the most efficient player on a winning team. Jennings, a 6'10", 230 lb. athletic, shot blocking, power forward, played college ball at Louisville and has yet to crack an NBA roster. The 24 year-old helped lead the New York Knicks summer entry to a 91-80 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. In just 19 minutes, Jennings scored 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and had two steals. Jennings played in Belgium in 2011-12, and he was in the D-League in 2012-13. 


Jennings looks like an NBA ready BIG

Erik Murphy quieted critics with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocked shots in the Bulls 94-87 victory over the Mavericks. ...Hollis Thompson scored 21 points (8-12 FG), grabbed four boards, and blocked two shots in the Spurs 90-80 triumph over the Bucks. ...Lorenzo Brown was super efficient in Minnesota's 72-66 win over Portland. Brown had 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 24 minutes. ...David Lighty came off the Sacramento bench to score 18 points in 20 minutes. Lighty only missed one field goal attempt, going 8 for 9 as the Kings won their first summer league game of 2013. The final was Sacramento 93, Atlanta 87. ...Memphis beat Denver 91-84. Matt Howard had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies. ...Washington beat New Orleans 78-77. 

The BasslineSpin All NBA Las Vegas Summer League team for day eight (July 19, 2013)... Point guards: L. Brown, Nate Wolters. Shooting guards: Andrew Goudelock, Lighty. Small forwards: H. Thompson, C.J. Leslie. Power forwards: T. Jennings, Murphy, Samardo Samuels, M. Howard. Centers: Jeremy Tyler, Dwayne Dedmon. 

Day Seven - NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Markieff Morris shines

Markieff is chief
Markieff Morris was the most efficient player on a winning team during play Thursday (July 18, 2013) at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League. Morris went crazy with 15 points, ten rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a blocked shot in just 23 minutes of play. His Phoenix Suns summer squad beat Portland 92-84. Morris played center, and did his damage against legitimate NBA size in the form of Meyers Leonard. 

Jerome Dyson was excellent in the Charlotte Bobcats 92-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Dyson scored 21 points (7-7 FG), with nine assists. ...Jonas Valanciunas continued his run of outstanding performances with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocked shots in Toronto's 95-78 win over Denver. ...Robert Sacre posted 16 points and eight boards in the Lakers 72-68 triumph over Milwaukee. ...Brian Butch starred for the D League Select team, keeping them undefeated at 4-0 with an 18 point, eleven rebound effort. The DLS beat Minnesota 83-75. ...Golden State beat Dallas 79-76. The Warriors are also a perfect 4-0 in summer league action. ...Miami handled Chicago 68-62. ...Cleveland beat San Antonio 72-66. 

The BasslineSpin All NBA Las Vegas Summer League Team for day seven: Point guards: Dyson, Justin Dentmon. Shooting guards: Vander Blue, Ron Howard. Small forwards: P.J. Tucker, Patrick Ewing Jr. Power forwards: Mk. Morris, John Henson. Centers: Valanciunas, Meyers Leonard, Sacre, Butch. 

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Nunnally noticeable. Day six NBA Las Vegas Summer League report.

Nunnally is making NBA teams notice
James Nunnally scored 18 points in 20 minutes with four made three-point shots to earn the nod as the most efficient player on a winning team during play Wednesday in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League.  Nunnally's Miami Heat clobbered the New York Knicks summer entry 113-66.  Nunnally, who played for the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League in 2012-13, is a 6'7" small forward with deep shooting skill. He shot 40.6% from beyond the arc in the D-League, and he has continued to wow scouts with his consistent scoring ability. 

Quincy Miller showed his best form in Summer League play to date with a 17 point (6-10 FG, 5-5 FT), five rebound effort in Denver’s 87-82 victory over New Orleans.  …Josh Akognon continued his outstanding efficiency in Dallas’ 95-89 triumph over the Clippers. Akognon scored 24 points and shot the ball like a all-star. He was 6-9 FG, 8-8 FT, and 4-7 3-pt FG. …Demetri McCamey came off the bench to lead Minnesota’s complete domination over Sacramento. The final score was an ugly 92-54. McCamey had 15 points (6-9 FG), with three made three pointers. …Memphis beat Washington 90-83. Portland used overtime and another solid game from Thomas Robinson (13 points, 17 rebounds, two blocked shots) to beat Atlanta 70-69.


Our All NBA Las Vegas Summer League Team for day six (July 17, 2013)… Point guards: Jerome Randle, McCamey. Shooting guards: Akognon, Travis Leslie. Small forwards: Nunnally, Q Miller, Jordan Hamilton, Eric Griffin. Power forwards: Jackie Carmichael, JaMychal Green. Centers: Jack Cooley, Jeremy Tyler. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Vesely breaks through as a Center. Day five NBA Las Vegas Summer League report.

Vesely as a Center makes some sense
Jan Vesely had a breakout performance playing the center position for the Washington Wizards Tuesday during play in the 2013 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Still filling out his frame (age 23), Vesely is now 6'11", 240, and he used his combination of size and terrific athleticism to score 18 points (9-11 FG) in 22 minutes in the Wizards drubbing of Denver 97-69. Vesely was the most efficient player on a winning team during day five action on the UNLV campus. 

John Holland scored 12 points (5-9 FG), grabbed five boards, and dished three assists in 19 minutes for Minnesota. The summer Timberwolves took care of Miami 80-71. ...Toronto kept Sacramento without a win (0-3) by defeating the Kings 81-70. Jonas Valanciunas continued his fine summer league play with 18 points (6-12 FG, 8-8 FT) and 8 rebounds. ...Kent Bazemore led the Warriors to a 84-72 victory over the Bucks. Bazemore had 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in just 23 minutes. ...Chicago needed overtime to beat Portland 80-78. In the loss, Thomas Robinson had 12 points and 18 rebounds. ...Phoenix remained unbeaten (3-0) with a 100-88 triumph over Memphis. P.J. Tucker scored 18 points (7-10 FG, 4-4 FT), and snatched five rebounds for the Suns. ...And finally, the D-League Select Team stayed perfect at 3-0, with a 82-75 win over Dallas. Kyle Weaver came off the bench to provide 15 points (4-8 FG, 6-7 FT), and four rebounds for the D Leaguers. 

Our All NBA Las Vegas Summer League Team for day five (July 16, 2013)... Point guards: Weaver, Bazemore. Shooting guards: Holland, Archie Goodwin, Josh Akognon. Small forwards: Tucker, Chris Singleton. Power forwards: Arinze Onuaku, Chris Wright (Dayton), T. Robinson. Centers: Vesely, Valanciunas. 

Goudelock schools. Monday recap of NBA Las Vegas Summer League

Goudelock = instant offense
Andrew Goudelock was the most efficient player on a winning team during Monday's NBA Las Vegas Summer League play. The Bulls shooting guard scored 31 points (10-13 FG) with five made three point shots in 29 minutes. The Bulls beat the undersized Nuggets summer entry 93-81. Malcolm Thomas took advantage of the ridiculously positioned Nuggets (playing Quincy Miller at PF, and Kyle Barone at Center) by grabbing 22 rebounds!

The Phoenix Suns rallied from 24 points down to beat Minnesota 91-89 on a Marcus Morris 19 foot jumper at the buzzer. Marcus' twin brother, Markieff was the star of the contest with 22 points (7-9 FG), and six rebounds. ...The Spurs beat the Hawks 96-87 behind the outstanding play of Aron Baynes.  The Australian BIG man had 19 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocked shots. ...Golden State kept Sacramento's summer entry win less with an easy 80-66 victory. ...Lester Hudson scored 13 points, snared nine rebounds and dished four assists in the Lakers 77-65 triumph over the Clippers. ...New Orleans beat Cleveland 66-62, and Charlotte whipped New York 84-71. 

Our All NBA Las Vegas Summer League Team for day four (July 15, 2013)... Point guards: Hudson, Ray McCallum, Kendall Marshall. Shooting guards: Goudelock, Nando De Colo. Small forwards: Robbie Hummel, Patrick Ewing Jr. Power forwards: Luke Harangody, Mike Scott, Malcolm Thomas. Centers: MK. Morris, and Baynes. 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Las Vegas NBA Summer League Day Three

Jennings is an active BIG
The third day of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League saw Terrence Jennings (Louisville) emerge as the most efficient player on a winning team. Jennings had 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots in the summer Knicks 82-69 win over the Wizards. Jennings, a 24 year-old power forward from Sacramento, CA, played previously in Belgium and in the D-League. 

Cody Zeller rebounded from a pedestrian game one to score 21 points and grab 13 rebounds in his second Las Vegas outing. His Charlotte summer team beat Dallas 86-80. ...The Lakers summer team is much better than last year's win-less presentation. Lester Hudson led the Lakers to a decisive 81-63 triumph over Portland. Hudson had 15 points (5-8 FG), and five rebounds in 23 minutes of play. ...The NBA D League Select Team improved to 2-0 in summer action with a 83-77 win over the Clippers. Elijah Millsap was the star with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Millsap went to the free throw line 20 times, and made 15. ...Jonas Valanciunas continued his good play in the Raptors 82-76 victory over the Spurs. Valanciunas scored 19 points and snared 13 rebounds. ...Atlanta beat Miami 75-71, moving both teams to 1-1 through two games. ...Milwaukee improved to 2-0 with a 69-61 victory over New Orleans. ...Cleveland remained perfect at 2-0 by beating Memphis 69-58. 

Our day three (Sunday, July 14, 2103) All Las Vegas NBA Summer League Team: Point guards: Hudson, Brian Roberts. Shooting guards: Justin Dentmon, Millsap, Stefhon Hannah. Small forwards: DeShaun Thomas, Terrence Ross. Power forwards: Jennings, C Zeller, Darnell Jackson. Centers: Jack Cooley, Valanciunas.

Las Vegas NBA Summer League Day Two

John Henson was the most efficient player on a winning team during the second day of play in the 2013 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. The Milwaukee Bucks forward had 19 points (7-10 FG), 13 rebounds, and three blocked shots in the Bucks 88-74 win over the summer Nuggets. Henson is a second year player from North Carolina - noted for his length and ability to disrupt defensively. 

Michael Dunigan scored ten points, grabbed seven boards, and blocked two shots in just 19 minutes of play to help Miami record an 81-74 win over the Raptors. ...Andrew Goudelock scored 26 points (9-15 FG) in Chicago's 81-67 victory over Memphis. ...Stefhon Hannah was the star of the D League Select Team's 83-81 "upset" win over Minnesota. Hannah, 28 years-old, who played his college ball at Missouri and was with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D League, busted 23 points on 8 of 11 field goal shooting.  ...The summer Warriors won a defensive battle against the summer Wizards, 56-52.  Kent Bazemore, a defensive specialist, again proved he could remain efficient while locking up his opponent. Bazemore scored 21 points, with five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. ...Marcus Morris scored 14 points, and grabbed five rebounds in the Suns 82-69 triumph over the Blazers. ...Dallas came from behind to beat Sacramento 76-73. 

Our All Las Vegas NBA Summer League Team for day two (July 13, 2013): Point guards: Bazemore, D.J. Kennedy. Shooting guards: Goudelock, Hannah. Small forwards: C.J. Aiken, Marcus Morris. Power forwards: Henson, Dunigan, Matt Howard, Drew Gordon. Centers: Jonas Valanciunas, Jarvis Varnado. 

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Las Vegas Day One - Summers Time

Summers was hot and efficient Friday. 
Las Vegas, NV. ...DaJuan Summers led the Clippers NBA Summer League entry to a win over the summer Hawks, 90-83, Friday in the opening day of play in Las Vegas. Summers, a 6'8" small forward from Georgetown, earned the nod as our most efficient player who played on a winning team. Summers scored 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-5 3-pt.) and grabbed five rebounds in just 20 minutes of play. 

Austin Rivers scored 24 points (8-15 FG) with seven assists and six rebounds in the Pelicans 77-72 win over the Knicks. ...Carrick Felix was the standout performer in the Cavs 70-62 victory over the Lakers. Felix, a thin framed shooting guard from Arizona State had 14 points (5-9 FG), six rebounds and two blocked shots in 25 minutes. ...Jeff Taylor scored 24 points in a losing effort for Charlotte's summer entry. They fell to the Spurs 69-68. 

Our All-Vegas Summer League Team for day one... Point guards: Shelvin Mack, Austin Rivers, Matthew Dellavadova. Shooting guards: Felix, John Jenkins, Michael Snaer. Small forwards: Summers, Marcus Landry. Power forwards: Samardo Samuels, Tyler Zeller. Centers: Eloy Vargas, Jeremy Tyler. 



Thursday, July 11, 2013

Day Four - Orlando NBA Summer League

Jeremy Evans is ready for minutes.
The fourth day of the NBA Orlando Summer League included a three game slate. Our Most Outstanding Player for the day was involved in the opening contest, a blowout win for his Jazz over the summer version of the Brooklyn Nets. Jeremy Evans, the Utah forward, and former NBA Slam Dunk Champion, scored 15 points (6-9 FG), grabbed nine rebounds and dished three assists in 24 minutes. Evans showcased his quick-leaping ability in the Jazz' 98-69 win.

Our All-Orlando NBA Summer league Team for day four... Point guards: Chris Wright (Georgetown), Tony Taylor. Shooting guards: Jeremy Lamb, Chris Roberts. Small forwards: Tim Abromaitis, Robert Covington, Rodney Williams. Power forwards: Evans, James Mays, Terrence Jones. Centers: Kelly Olynyk, Steven Adams. 

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Day Three - NBA Orlando Summer League

Mr. July
Reggie Jackson stole the show Tuesday in the NBA Orlando Summer League. Jackson hit for a Orlando Summer League record 35 points, at one juncture in the game, scoring 18 straight for the summer Thunder. Jackson made 12 of 19 field goal attempts, and nailed nine of his eleven free throws. He scored his 35 points in only 29 minutes of play, leading the Thunder to a 79-75 win over the Detroit Pistons summer entry. 

Our Day Three All-Orlando Summer League Team... Point guards: R. Jackson, Dwight Buycks, Cedric Jackson, Phil Pressey. Shooting guards: Victor Oladipo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Small forwards: James Ennis, Solomon Hill. Power forwards: Kelly Olynyk, Jeremy Evans. Centers: Greg Smith, Jarvis Varnado. 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Day Two, 2013 NBA Summer League - Orlando

Olynyk = efficient. 
Kelly Olynyk continued his terrific play through the second day of competition in the the 2013 NBA Orlando Summer League. Olynyk, from Gonzaga, a first round draft pick playing for the Boston Celtics summer team, was highly efficient  He finished with 13 points, six rebounds, five steals, and three assists in 21 minutes. His summer Celtics blew out Detroit's entry 93-63. 

Our All-Summer League Team for day two in Orlando: point guards: TyShawn Taylor - Brooklyn, Dwight Buycks - OKC. Shooting guards: Scotty Hopson - Miami, Khalif Wyatt - Philly, Darius Johnson Odom - Boston. Small Forwards: Solomon Hill - Indiana, James Ennis - Miami, Andre Roberson - OKC. Power forwards: Olynyk, Arsalan Kazemi - Philly. Centers: Miles Plumlee - Indiana, Mason Plumlee - Brooklyn. 

Monday, July 8, 2013

Day One Orlando Summer League Report

The opening day of the Orlando NBA Summer League was filled with highlight plays and competitive action. The new point system that makes each quarter of play, a game within the game, seemed to elevate the energy - especially in the late stages of the five contests on the day. 

Romero Osby hustles. 
Our Most Outstanding Player of Day One was Romero Osby who helped Orlando to a ten point win over Boston. Osby is a forward that looked comfortable on the floor as a "three", playing alongside Andrew Nicholson, and Kyle O'Quinn. Osby made hustle plays, took charges, had offensive rebound tip-ins in traffic, and showed the versatility to lead a fast break and drop a sweet ally oop assist at speed. He finished with 18 points (7-8 FG, 4-5 FT), and five rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. Osby was selected 51st by the Magic in the 2013 NBA Draft. 

Our Day One All Orlando Summer League Team: point guards: Dwight Buycks - OKC, Patrick Beverley - Houston. Shooting Guards: Dionte Christmas - Utah, Victor Oladipo - Orlando. Small Forwards: Osby - Orlando  Tony Mitchell (Alabama, Boston). Power Forwards: Kelly Olynyk - Boston, Terrence Jones - Houston, Grant Jerrett - OKC. Centers: Miles Plumlee - Indiana, Andre Drummond - Detroit, Mason Plumlee - Brooklyn. 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Sweet 16 - 2013

There may not be any future NBA superstars among the players remaining in the NCAA Tournament. There are certainly some solid future pros. Here is a glance at the 16 players we are paying the most attention to (from an NBA scouting perspective) in the 2013 Men's Basketball Sweet 16. 
Even with goofy pants - Cody is a prospect. 
Cody Zeller - Indiana 6'11" 230 - Center. Sophomore. ...Zeller is a real weapon in college basketball. There just aren't many teams with a kid as big and as skilled as Zeller is. He averages 16 points and eight rebounds per game.  Cody is the younger brother of Luke and Tyler Zeller, both NBA players. Cody is perhaps a bit more rugged than Tyler, and Cody has a slightly higher career efficiency rating than his Cleveland Cavalier brother.  Cody understands that he is a BIG man and he does not try to do things outside his game.  This understanding of his role allows him to shoot 59% FG (career) - due to his excellent shot selection. He shoots 75% FT for his career. ...Zeller can improve by turning the ball over less. He gets caught off-balance too often despite good ball-handling skills for a Center.  

Victor Oladipo - Indiana 6'5" 214 - Shooting Guard. Junior. ...Oladipo is an athletic wing guard that plays both ends of the floor. He is the rare shooting guard that shoots over 50% from the field (presently at 54.5% FG for his three seasons at IU). He has great speed and the ability to create off the dribble. He has greatly improved his three-point percentage this season but his career number is probably a better indicator (33.3 %). Oladipo also helps as a rebounder. Not too many guards get you 6.4 rebounds per game - but Oladipo does! He was recently named The Sporting News 2013 Player of the Year. Defensively, he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. ...Oladipo also can improve by cutting down on the turnovers. He has more turnovers than assists for his career. 

Ben McLemore - Kansas 6'5" 185 - Shooting Guard. Freshman. ...I really hope McLemore stays in school at least another year. He shows flashes of brilliance but is not yet the consistent player that I think he can become. He is special due to his combination of shooting accuracy and athletic ability. McLemore's touch is evident in his 87% free throw shooting, and his 41% three-point accuracy. He averages 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists per contest. 
Gardner makes the Cosby face.

Davante Gardner - Marquette 6'8" 290 - Power Forward. Junior. ...Gardner is a load to handle in the low-post. He is nimble and he has a soft touch for such a BIG dude. He was the Big East Sixth Man of the Year. Gardner shoots an impressive 79% FT - career. Defensively, he eats space but he is not a shot blocker. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds this season, playing just 21.3 minutes per game. 

Arsalan Kazemi - Oregon 6'8" 226 - Power Forward. Senior. ...Kazemi has a motor that seemingly churns twice as fast as his opponents. Non-stop energy is his calling card. The Iranian National Team member started his college career at Rice but has now landed at Oregon. He is a terrific rebounder and defender that was named to the Pac-12 All Defensive Team. For his NCAA career - he shoots 55% FG. 

Jeff Withey - Kansas 7'0" 235 - Center. Senior.. ...Withey is a shot-blocker that also has a little bit of an offensive game. For his size, he is quick off his feet - which allows him to block shots at a high rate. He leads my database of tournament players in 'blocks per minute', and his career 'blocks per minute' rate is better historically than noted shot-blockers John Henson, and Andre Drummond. Withey can step out to hit a face-up shot or score around the rim. The 23 year-old Senior was a unanimous All Big 12 selection. He shoots 72% from the free throw line. 

DeShaun Thomas - Ohio St. 6'7" 221 - Small Forward. Junior. ...You need a bucket? Thomas will get you one. He scores inside and outside. He scores on three-point shots, and post-ups. He hits wing jumpers, and paint floaters. In short, Thomas is a SCORER. His NCAA career 'points per minute' rate is better than noted scorer, Jordan Crawford (Xavier, Boston Celtics). 


Southerland needs more hype
James Southerland - Syracuse. 6'8" 215 - Small Forward. Senior. ...Southerland doesn't receive the hype some of his teammates do - but Southerland is probably a future NBA player due to his combination of size and shooting ability. He shoots 40% from beyond the arc. ...He averages 13.7 points, and 5.3 rebounds per game. ...Other scouts view him as a power forward but I think his NBA future will be as a wing. He does have a positive career assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Michael Carter Williams - Syracuse. 6'5" 176 - Point Guard. Sophomore.  ...Carter-Williams boasts a 2.36-to-1 assist to-turnover ratio which is not often seen in a dynamic, young guard. He is long, and lean and he has terrific explosion in his decisive moves on the court. His length makes him a tough match up for smaller point guards. Carter-Williams is still learning the value of shot selection. His career field goal percentage is just 39%. He helps his team on the boards, and he can create his own shot off the dribble. ...Carter-Williams has a "red-flag" for being caught shoplifting during his stay in Syracuse (Read this). He was a 2011 McDonald's All-American. I think he has the highest ceiling of any point guard in the Tournament. 

Mitch McGary - Michigan. 6'10" 263 - Power Forward. Freshman.  ...McGary has legitimate NBA size and rebounding ability. He was recently added to Michigan's starting lineup and he has made them a better team. McGary is averaging 17 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in the 2013 Tournament to date. He shoots 59% FG. ...Read this about McGary's open attitude about living with A.D.H.D. 

Russ Smith - Louisville. 6'0" 160 - Shooting Guard. Junior. ...The best pure scorer remaining in the Tournament is Russ Smith. He loves to shoot, and he will jack up some questionable shots. But Louisville would be lost without him. Smith helps his team get through rough offensive stretches with his short memory, and aggressive play. For his career, Smith has the same number of assists as turnovers. He shoots 34% from beyond the arc, and 82% from the line. 

Gorgui Dieng - Louisville. 6'10" 220 - Center. Junior. ...The Center with the highest ceiling is Gorgui Dieng. Although a 23 year-old junior, Dieng is still considered to be a player that is ascending. Defensively, he is a force. He moves his feet extremely well and he blocks or alters a high percentage of opponents' shots in the paint. (Dieng's blocks per minute are historically equal to JaVale McGee's numbers.) While Dieng is still raw offensively, he has shown enough to make me believe he will continue to improve. He is just a career 65% free throw shooter. 


Burke listens to his coach
Trey Burke - Michigan. 5'11" 180 - Point Guard. Sophomore. ...The best in the college game at running a team (in my opinion) is Trey Burke. He is a diminutive yet highly confident and skilled point guard. While not blessed with supreme athleticism or length, Burke closes the gap on the deficiencies with his high basketball I.Q., and leadership ability. Burke has an excellent 2.42-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and he can also put the ball in the basket. He averages 19.2 points per game. Sports Illustrated named Burke their National Player of the Year for 2012-13. 

Glenn Robinson III - Michigan. 6'6" 210 - Shooting Guard. Freshman. ...The son of the "Big Dog" is an elite transition player that electrifies fans in the open court. His finishing ability helped him shoot an impressive 57% FG as a freshman. He also has an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio which speaks to his ability to make smart basketball decisions. Robinson's father, Glenn, was the first overall pick of the 1994 NBA Draft. 

C.J. Fair - Syracuse. 6'7" 216 - Small Forward. Junior. ...Fair just looks like a pro. He has a prototypical NBA wing body and an ever-improving skill set to match. This season the lefty became a legitimate three-point threat - hitting 49.2% from deep. he has improved his scoring and rebounding averages in each of his three seasons. I like Fair because he still has plenty of room for improvement. 


Mason Plumlee - Duke. Senior. 6'11" 245. ...Plumlee has NBA size, and he can finish above the rim. He averaged 17 points and ten rebounds per game this season, and he is unquestionably improving. However, Plumlee is not as high on my board as he may be on other boards. I think he is a quality college BIG-man but I'm not as sure about him as a pro.  He turns it over nearly two times for every one assist. He shoots only 57% from the line for his career (although he raised that to 67% FT this season). Plumlee is already 23 years-old.




Thursday, March 21, 2013

15 Shooting Guards to watch in the NCAA Tournament

The shooting guards to watch in the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament are a talented group...

Ben McLemore - Kansas. Freshman. 6'5" 185. 

Jamaal Franklin - San Diego St. Junior. 6'5" 195. 

Victor Oladipo - Indiana. Junior. 6'5" 214. 

D.J. Stephens - Memphis. Senior. 6'5" 187. 

P.J. Hairston - North Carolina. Sophomore. 6'6" 217. 

Pierce Hornung - Colorado St. Senior. 6'5" 210.  

Reggie Bullock - North Carolina. Junior. 6'6" 190. 

Shabazz Muhammed - UCLA. Freshman. 6'6" 223. 

Will Clyburn - Iowa St. Senior. 6'7" 210. 

Marcus Smart - Oklahoma St. Freshman. 6'3" 200. 

Traveon Graham - VCU. Sophomore. 6'5" 215. 

Glenn Robinson III - Michigan. Freshman. 6'6" 210. 

Allen Crabbe - Cal. Junior. 6'6" 205. 

Michael Frazier II - Florida. Freshman. 6'4" 200. 

Russ Smith - Louisville. Junior. 6'0" 160. 






Small Forwards to watch in the 2013 NCAA Tournament

There is no shortage of good wing players in college basketball. Here are the 15 small forwards we will pay the most attention to in the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament...

Doug McDermott - Creighton. Junior. 6'8" 225. 

Andre Roberson - Colorado. Junior. 6'7" 210. 

Otto Porter Jr. - Georgetown. Sophomore. 6'8" 200. 

Elias Harris - Gonzaga. Senior. 6'7" 215. 

T.J. Warren - N.C. State. Freshman. 6'8" 223. 

Melvin Ejim - Iowa St. Junior. 6'6" 230. 

DeShaun Thomas - Ohio St. Junior. 6'7" 221. 

James Southerland - Syracuse. Senior. 6'8" 210. 

Ryan Broekhoff - Valparaiso. Senior. 6'7" 215. 

Jordan Dykstra - South Dakota St. Junior. 6'8" 225. 

C.J. Fair - Syracuse. Junior. 6'7" 200. 

Rodney Williams - Minnesota. Senior. 6'7" 205. 

Solomon Hill - Arizona. Senior. 6'6" 206. 

Kevin Young - Kansas. Senior. 6'8" 190. 

Ethan Wragge - Creighton. Junior. 6'7" 225. 














Power Forwards to watch in the 2013 NCAA Tournament

Here is a glance at 15 power-forwards we will be watching closely from a NBA scouting perspective in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. 


Mr. Efficiency, DeQuan Hicks. 
DeQuan Hicks - Northwestern St. Junior. 6'7" 230. ...I did a double take when I computed his efficiency rating. Surely I made a typo and punched in the wrong numbers. I re-checked. No mistake. Hicks owns a .808 efficiency rating - which is "through the roof" in per minute production. As a matter of fact, Hicks' points per minute rate ranks 'tops in the tournament' in my database. Hicks has scored nearly 400 points in 562 minutes. He ranks tenth in the nation in field goal percentage at 58%. While the sample size is relatively small, the overall production for a guy that only plays 20 minutes a game is phenomenal. He should, at a minimum, be on your radar. You can see him in some highlights here. He's number 32 in blue. 

Anthony Bennett - UNLV. Freshman. 6'8" 240. ...Bennett was recently named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year. He has a chance to be the overall number one pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He averages 16 points and eight rebounds per game. Bennett is adept inside the paint or on the perimeter. He is very fluid on the floor - covering ground quickly for such a big and powerful player. He scores easily, at a high rate per-minute. He shoots 53% FG, and 70% FT. He steps out to the three point line and hits 37% of those attempts (36 of 95 this season). He does look a bit "soft" from a conditioning standpoint. 

Jack Cooley - Notre Dame. Senior. 6'9" 248. ...A first-team All Big East selection, Cooley is among the best defensive rebounders in college basketball. He averaged double figures in points and rebounds in the 2012-13 Big East season. He is BIG and he is smart. He shoots 65% FG for his career due to his size, and the way he positions himself around the hoop. He could certainly be a better foul shooter (just 65% FT - career), and he has more turnovers than assists, but Cooley doesn't take any plays off, and he rarely, if ever, takes a bad shot. 

DaVante Gardner - Marquette. Junior. 6'8" 290. ...Gardner is a load to handle in the low-post. He is nimble and he has a soft touch for such a BIG dude. He was the Big East Sixth Man of the Year. Gardner shoots an impressive 79% FT - career. Defensively - he eats space but he is not a shot blocker. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds this season, playing just 21.3 minutes per game. 


Kazemi wrecks the rim
Arsalan Kazemi - Oregon. Senior. 6'8" 226. ...Kazemi has a motor that seemingly churns twice as fast as his opponents. Non-stop energy is his calling card. The Iranian National Team member started his college career at Rice but has now landed at Oregon. He is a terrific rebounder and defender that was named to the Pac-12 All Defensive Team. For his NCAA career - he shoots 55% FG. 

Trevor Mbakwe - Minnesota. Senior. 6'8" 245. ...Mbakwe has battled back from a torn ACL in his right knee (11/27/2011) to impact the paint for Minnesota. He led the Big Ten in both total rebounds, and offensive rebounds per game. He owns a career field goal percentage of 57%. He is powerful and athletic. ...He has more turnovers than assists and his free throw percentage is only 62%. 

Kyle Anderson - UCLA. Freshman. 6'9" 235. ...You could call Kyle Anderson a small forward or even a guard. The versatile Bruin is really just a good basketball player that I project to wind up as a power forward in the Lamar Odom mode. Anderson played point guard in high school where his team lost only once in two seasons. He looks like he's going in slow motion but he is undeniably effective. He averages 9.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He has a 7'2" wingspan! I'd call him a small forward if he were a better three-point shooter (only 21% 3-pt.). 

Laurence Bowers - Missouri. Senior. 6'8" 227. ...Bowers returned to action this season after sitting out all of 2011-12 due to a torn ACL in his left knee. He came back as a better long range shooter. Bowers is now routinely stretching defenses out to the college three point line where he hit 39% of his long-ball attempts. He averages 14 points per game. Bowers has an outside chance to play some small forward too at the next level. His decision making and ball-handling are not quite at SF level yet in my opinion. 

Richard Howell - N.C. State. Senior. 6'8" 257. ...One of the reasons that N.C. State has been generally successful is the dependable play of Richard Howell. He improved his scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals averages with each season in the NCAA. This season, Howell scored 12.7 points per game while grabbing 10.7 rebounds per outing. He was named second team All-ACC (coaches). 


McGary eats boards
Mitch McGary - Michigan. Freshman. 6'10" 263. ...McGary has legitimate NBA size and rebounding ability. He impacts Michigan games the moment he checks in. McGary averages 5.5 boards per game in just 17.7 minutes per contest. He shoots 57% FG. ...Read this about McGary's open attitude about living with A.D.H.D. 

Perry Ellis - Kansas. Freshman. 6'8" 225. ...He is coming off a Big 12 Tournament where he averaged 14.3 points per game. Ellis provides a spark off the Jayhawks bench. 

Branden Dawson - Michigan St. Sophomore. 6'6" 220. ...Dawson returned from a torn ACL (March 2012) to show what a capable power player he can be. He rebounds the ball extremely well and he seems to understand his limitations. The result is 56% FG accuracy. Defensively, he can guard virtually any position on the floor. Dawson has already publicly stated he plans to return for his junior season. 

Jake Cohen - Davidson. Senior. 6'10" 235. ...One of the best shooting big men in the tournament is Jake Cohen. He has worked to make himself a legitimate "stretch-four" prospect. He improved his three point shooting percentage with each of his four seasons. This season he shot 50% FG, 38% 3-pt, and 82% FT. He averages 14.8 points per game. 

Christian Watford - Indiana. Senior. 6'9" 232. ...Watford has turned into a deadly three point shooter (49% 3-pt). He is a bit of a "tweener" between a small forward and a power forward but he can REALLY shoot the ball. His 82% FT reflects his great touch. 

Mike Moser - UNLV. Junior. 6'8" 230. ...Moser may not be 100 percent yet after missing games due to a dislocated elbow suffered in December 2012. Moser has some small forward skills but he isn't dependable enough of a perimeter shooter to be called an effective wing player. At the PF, Moser can rebound at a high enough rate and provide some offense to boot. 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Centers to watch in the 2013 NCAA Tournament

As much as experts continue to try to write off the fate of the BIG-man in modern basketball, it remains a fact that talented BIG players are still consistently the most efficient prospects. Shooting closer to the rim, or at the rim, produces a higher field goal percentage. A higher field goal percentage leads to more wins. Defensively - a talented BIG-man can help protect your basket and force opponents into taking shots further from the hoop - which leads to a lower field goal percentage for the opponent. ...SO... The Center - is still vital, especially in the NCAA - where there simply is not a LeBron James type hybrid talent.  

Our list of 15 Centers to watch from an NBA scouting perspective: 


Cody goes strong
Cody Zeller - Indiana. Sophomore. 6'11" 230. ...Zeller is the younger brother of Cleveland Cavaliers Center Tyler Zeller. Cody is very similar to Tyler as far as his NBA prospects are concerned. Cody knows his role, and understands that he is a BIG-man. He doesn't shy from contact. He scores 17 points per game (60% FG - career) while grabbing eight rebounds per contest this season. He is not much of a shot blocker nor is he the best passing big man but Zeller runs the floor exceptionally well and he can finish around the hoop with either hand. He is also among a select group of BIG-men that shoots over 75% from the line. 

Jeff Withey - Kansas. Senior. 7'0" 235. ...Withey is a shot-blocker that also has a little bit of an offensive game. For his size, he is quick off his feet - which allows him to block shots at a high rate. He leads my database of tournament players in blocks per minute, and his career blocks per minute rate is better historically than noted shot-blockers John Henson, and Andre Drummond. Withey can step out to hit a face-up shot or score around the rim. The 23 year-old Senior was a unanimous All Big 12 selection. He shoots 72% from the free throw line. 

Kelly Olynyk - Gonzaga. Junior. 7'0" 238. ...Olynyk is a kid that continues to improve. He was recently named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. He raised his scoring, and rebounding averages with each season, while also bettering his free throw percentage yearly. He averages 17.5 points (on 65% FG), and seven rebounds per game this season. He is a nimble BIG-man with legitimate NBA size. He has a decent touch (he shoots 71% FT- career), and he runs the floor very well for his size. 

Mike Muscala - Bucknell. Senior. 6'11" 239. ...Muscala is a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year. He was not only the Player of the Year this season but also the Defensive Player of the Year, and the Scholar Athlete of the Year in the Patriot League. He has both a face-up and a low post, back-to-the-basket game. Muscala is a gym-rat that uses either hand well around the hoop. He is praised by all as a hard worker. 


Don't bring it.
Gorgui Dieng - Louisville. Junior. 6'10" 220. ...The Center with the highest ceiling is Gorgui Dieng. Although a 23 year-old junior, Dieng is still considered to be a player that is ascending. Defensively - he is a force. He moves his feet extremely well and he blocks or alters a high percentage of opponents shots in the paint. (Dieng's blocks per minute are historically equal to JaVale McGee's numbers.) While Dieng is still raw offensively - he has shown enough to make me  believe he will continue to improve. He is just a career 65% free throw shooter. 

Reggie Johnson - Miami. Senior. 6'10" 307 (or more) ...Johnson was already a big kid when he suffered a knee injury. Post knee-injury, he ballooned up in weight and has found it difficult to get onto the floor in Miami's rotation. Johnson has all the tools a BIG-man could ask for. He has soft hands, a big behind, and a natural nose for the ball. He is capable of scoring in double figures, and rebounding likewise. But the bottom-line is that - due to the knee injury or a lack of discipline, Johnson is so horribly out of shape - I am no longer taking him seriously as a NBA prospect. 

Mason Plumlee - Duke. Senior. 6'11" 245. ...Plumlee has NBA size, and he can finish above the rim. He averaged 17 points and ten rebounds per game this season, and he is unquestionably improving. However, Plumlee is not as high on my board as he may be on other boards. I think he is a quality college BIG-man but I'm not as sure about him as a pro.  He turns it over nearly two times for every one assist. He shoots only 57% from the line for his career (although he raised that to 67% FT this season). Plumlee is already 23 years-old.

Adreian Payne - Michigan St. Junior. 6'9" 242. ...Payne is another kid that has improved his game dramatically since I first saw him play as a freshman. He is now a BIG that can step out and stretch defenses with his improved perimeter shooting. Inside the paint, Payne has a quick second jump and he will try to dunk everything he can. He still struggles with ball handling - coughing up nearly three turnovers for every one assist. 


Birch tree. 
Khem Birch - UNLV. Sophomore. 6'9" 220. ...Birch is an explosive leaper that plays bigger than his listed 6'9" height. He was the 2012-13 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. A career 55% FG shooter, Birch scores sparingly but he impacts the game by being seemingly everywhere in the paint. He had four conference games this season with five blocks or more. Birch, from Montreal, Canada - originally played college ball at Pittsburgh before transferring to Las Vegas. 

Gregory Echenique - Creighton. Senior. 6'9" 260. ...Echenique is a 'hard-hat' Center from Venezuela. As a college BIG-man - he gets the job done. He is a good rebounder. There is nothing spectacular in his game, just solid post play offensively and defensively. I don't see much of a ceiling for Echenique. He may have already peaked when you consider his scoring has dipped in the last three seasons. 

Jon Horford - Michigan. Sophomore. 6'10" 250. ...He plays nine minutes per game, but Horford has been efficient during his rare time on the floor. Horford has the ability to knock down a face-up shot and he shows a really nice touch for a BIG (75% FT - career). Jon's older brother Al plays for the Atlanta Hawks. It may not be Jon Horford's time just yet but he's worth keeping an eye on. 

Brad Waldow - Saint Mary's. Sophomore. 6'9" 260. ...Waldow is a "wide-body" that shoots an impressive 65% FG for his brief two year career at Saint Mary's. The space-eating BIG-man needs to improve his free throw shooting (51% FT), and he needs to be better passing out of double teams (more than 2.5 turnovers per assist). With his big backside, Waldow can establish low post position with ease. He looks poised to be a prime-time performer for the Gaels in the seasons to come. 

Ryan Kelly - Duke. Senior. 6'11" 230. ...The best shooting BIG-man in the tournament is Ryan Kelly. He is deadly from three point range (48% 3-pt. this season). He made seven three point shots in Duke's win over Miami (March 2nd). ...At the line, Kelly shoots an impressive 80% - career. He improved his points, assists, and three-point shooting percentage in each his of his four seasons at Duke. 

Alex Kirk - New Mexico. Sophomore. 7'0" 250. ...Kirk provided a presence for New Mexico in the Mountain West but his 48% FG - career is huge red flag to me. A seven-footer should be much better than 48% FG. Will Kirk be able to "show, and recover" on defense in the NBA? That is the main question regarding his future. Kirk is a BIG boy. He is not the fleetest afoot but he can cause problems by taking space. He will shoot three point shots, although not very well (28% 3-pt. career). 

Steven Adams - Pittsburgh. Freshman. 7'0" 240. ...Adams is a 19 year-old Center from New Zealand. He blocks shots, rebounds, and hits an efficient 56% of his field goal attempts. He runs the floor very well and he has good hands. But he is a work in progress as a shooter, really struggling at the free throw line where he makes a putrid 42%. He has a reputation as a kid with a great motor - so let's see how he develops. 





Point Guards to Watch in the 2013 NCAA Tournament

In any basketball contest - the player who handles the ball the most is a crucial component. Here is a look at the 15 point guards in the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament that we will be watching the closest from an NBA scouting perspective...


Michael Carter Williams - Syracuse. Sophomore. 6'5" 176 ...Carter-Williams boasts a 2.36-to-1 assist to-turnover ratio which is not often seen in a dynamic, young guard. He is long, and lean and he has terrific explosion in his decisive moves on the court. His length makes him a tough match up for smaller point guards. Carter-Williams is still learning the value of shot selection. His career field goal percentage is just 39%. He helps his team on the boards, and he can create his own shot off the dribble. ...Carter-Williams has a "red-flag" for being caught shoplifting during his stay in Syracuse (Read this). He was a 2011 McDonald's All-American. I think he has the highest ceiling of any point guard in the Tournament. 

Nate Wolters - South Dakota St. Senior. 6'4" 190. ..."Nater's Gonna Nate". That is the slogan for Nate Wolters who seems to always find a way to score, and hit big shots. Wolters - the Summit League Player of the Year, and MVP of their conference tournament, is a complete player that fills the stat sheet with whatever his team needs. He often looks to score which led to him pumping in a Division-1 best, 53 points in a game this season (vs. IPFW). At 6'4", Wolters is usually bigger than the opposing point guard and he uses his gym-rat senses to do damage. ...I project Wolters as a low-tier starter in the NBA. 

Trey Burke - Michigan. Sophomore. 5'11" 180. ...The best in the college game at running a team (in my opinion) is Trey Burke. He is a diminutive yet highly confident and skilled point guard. While not blessed with supreme athleticism or length, Burke closes the gap on the deficiencies with his high basketball I.Q., and leadership ability. Burke has an excellent 2.42-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and he can also put the ball in the basket. He averages 19.2 points per game. Sports Illustrated named Burke their National Player of the Year for 2012-13. 
Jalan West is mostly unheralded. 

Jalan West - Northwestern St. Freshman. 5'10" 178. ...The Southland Conference Freshman of the Year is one of two main reasons (DeQuan Hicks, the other), why Northwestern State is in the "big dance". West served up a gaudy 2.78-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio this season while making 83% of his foul shots, and leading his conference in steals. He was a red-shirt last season. 

Quinn Cook - Duke. Sophomore. 6'1" 175. ...Cook stepped up his offensive game this season and it helped make Duke a better team. Cook averaged 12 points and five assists in 2012-13 and maintained his outstanding 2.5-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio. He is solid not spectacular. I view him as a low-tier starter or dependable back-up point guard in the NBA whenever he finishes his NCAA career. 

Khalif Wyatt - Temple. Senior. 6'4" 215. ...Nobody in college basketball has as much "junk" in his game as Khalif Wyatt. He is the 2012-13 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. Wyatt is a below-the-rim, savvy, crafty, skilled, and determined point guard that can score in a variety of ways. Wyatt hits circus shots with regularity. He improved his scoring average with each season at Temple, now hitting for 19.8 points per game. 

Lorenzo Brown - N.C. St. Junior. 6'5" 189. ...I've seen Lorenzo Brown dominate a game with his vision and court-sense. I've also seen Lorenzo Brown look disinterested and lazy. This season, his scoring, and rebounding are down and his turnovers are up. He enters the NCAA tournament having made just five of his last 25 field goal attempts. While most of that sounds negative, Brown has the tools to "flip the switch" and be brilliant. Due to his inconsistency - I view him as an NBA back-up at best. 


Weber is a defensive force.
Briante Weber - VCU. Sophomore. 6'3" 160. ...The Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year is a certified pest. He averaged 2.8 steals per game in VCU's "havoc" defense. He only scores five points per game but his ability to make opponents uncomfortable is so strong that he deserves to be mentioned among the best point guards in the tournament. 

Hugh Greenwood - New Mexico. Sophomore. 6'3" 205. ...Greenwood is an Australian with experience as an international player. He starred on the Australian Under-19 team at the FIBA World Championships in Latvia in 2011, showing a high hoops IQ. He has a nice jumper and he is proficient as a three-point shooter (35% 3-pt). 

Aaron Craft - Ohio St. Junior. 6'2" 195. ...I started "scouting" college basketball in 1999. Since then - a small handful of players have passed through the NCAA ranks as "great defenders". I would put Aaron Craft at the top of that list alongside the likes of Shane Battier, Chris Singleton, and Kenyon Martin. Craft is full of energy. It is not unusual for him to play the entire 40-minute game. He is relentless on defense. He makes life miserable for opposing point guards, and as long as Craft is in the game, Ohio State has a chance to win. 

Shane Larkin - Miami. Sophomore. 5'11" 176. ...Larkin is the son of Hall of Fame shortstop, Barry Larkin.  Shane was a first team All-ACC selection this season due to his complete game. He is especially hard to stop on dribble penetration. He has tremendous quickness, and ability to turn the corner. Shane is only limited by his 5'11" size - which makes him a target of bigger guards. 

Rasheed Sulaimon - Duke. Freshman. 6'3" 175. ...Sulaimon actually plays shooting guard at Duke but he is a combo-guard that will likely lean toward the point position in the NBA. The McDonald's All-American is mature beyond his years. He shoots the ball well (81% FT, 37% 3-pt), while maintaining a solid assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5-to-1. He scored 17 points in the second half of a Duke come from behind win over Ohio St. in late November. 

Phil Pressey - Missouri. Junior. 5'10" 168. ...The best vision in college hoops this season belongs to Phil Pressey. He is a playmaker's playmaker. His assist-to-turnover ratio is better than two-to-one despite the fact that he will "swing for fences" with spectacular passes. He ranks eighth in the nation in assists per game (7.1). He is fun to watch. 

Anthony Marshall - UNLV. Senior. 6'3" 200. ...Playing in his fourth straight NCAA Tournament, Anthony Marshall is as experienced as a point guard can be at this level. He plays the game at NBA speed. He is an instinctive player that could definitely tighten up his decision making and free throw shooting (67% FT). But Marshall has some unteachable intangibles in my opinion. He is tough-minded and not afraid to make a play.  

Kerron Johnson - Belmont. Senior. 6'1" 175. ...Johnson is in the "big dance" for the third consecutive season as the floor general of the Bruins. He was the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament MVP. He hustles, he runs his team, and he scores 13 points per game.