College Basketball: Underrated Players

Daniel Hackett (USC): Hackett has been overshadowed by big-name recruits (OJ Mayo, Demar DeRozan) in the backcourt, but he's a guard capable of doing whatever the team needs, and has helped lead the Trojans to two straight postseasons. He's very poised, has a high basketball IQ, and good size for a guard.

Jason Brubaker

Greivis Vasquez (Maryland): Vasquez puts up monster numbers (albeit for a bad team) in a monster conference yet doesn't get much love nationally.  Will have to carry a big load for the Terps again this year so I expect some big numbers out of him.

Jeff Fox

Jeff Pendergraph (Arizona St): James Harden is all the rage, and rightfully so. But I think many people around the country ignore the skill and intensity that Pendergraph brings on a nightly basis as a result.

Raphielle Johnson 

Jack McClinton (Miami): First team all-ACC last year, but didnt get the pub of clearly inferior players on better teams.  That will change after going up against the likes of UConn, Kentucky and Ohio State in early December..

Kevin McNeill

Greivis Vasquez (Maryland): People don’t understand how little ACC-quality talent plays next to Vasquez. Yes, the turnovers are high and need to be cutdown, but that’s the byproduct of trying to carry a team on your back.

Shawn Siegel

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Gerald Henderson (Duke): The talent is obvious, the ability to play well others and not break noses is not. His numbers have suffered at the hands of a balanced attack but with most of the Dukies back this year, he emerges as the team leader.

Jason Tomassini

Tyrese Rice (Boston College): Nobody puts up numbers like Tyrese Rice. If the Eagles were any good, Rice would be more than just a first-team All-ACC player.

Joel Welser

Damion James (Texas): The only returning Big 12 player to average a double-double last season isn't Blake Griffin; it's the Longhorn's outstanding athlete Damion James. It doesn't hurt that he hits over 41% of his perimeter shots either.

Joey Whelan