This list could also be titled “The Non-American All-American Teams” (may sound a touch contradictory). Choosing a list of the best non-American NCAA players left me with quite a large list of possibilities. Even with Australia’s Andrew Bogut leaving college early to go #1 in this past summer’s NBA draft, the Aussies are still well represented (5 players). So are the Puerto Ricans (2), British (3), and Dominicans (2). Without further ado, here is the list:

Diaz briefly pondering entering the NBA draft after his sophomore year but has decided to at least play one more year for Miami. A preseason Wooden Award nominee, Diaz is projected to be a late lottery to mid 1^st round pick in next year’s draft. Diaz had a stellar season last year for the Hurricanes –18.6 points, 4.3 board, 2.6 assists and 46% from the 3-point line. He is expected to challenge for 1^st team and player of the year honors in the ACC this year.

Loughton is another in the seemingly endless line of quality big men coming out of Australia (Longley, Bogut, Schenscher). The Aussie has enjoyed back-to-back solid seasons for the Monarchs – 16.6 points and 8.7 boards his sophomore year and 14.1 points and 8.2 boards last year. The leading candidate for player of the year honors in the CAA this season, Street & Smith’s College Basketball magazine has him listed on its 3^rd team All-American squad.

Very similar to Diaz, Pops also contemplated entering last year’s draft and is also a preseason Wooden Award nominee. Pops has steadily increased his productivity for the Colonials to his last season averages of 12.6 points, 6.6 boards and 1.5 blocks per game. Expected to help lead George Washington back into the NCAA tournament this season, Mensah-Bonsu is currently projected to be a late 2^nd round pick in next June’s draft.

Another Aussie, Bruce burst onto the Big 12 scene last season with the Bears. A freshman All-American, Bruce average 18.2 points, 2.6 boards, 3.8 assists and 39.9% from behind the arc. This season will be a trying one at Baylor – NCAA sanctions have eliminated all of their non-conference games. Bruce is projected to be a late 1^st round pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

Barea also almost jumped into the NBA draft this past June. Jose has been a stat-sheet stuffer for the Huskies peaking with last season’s totals of 22.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.3 boards per game. Barea spent this past summer starring for the Puerto Rican Under 21 team (leading the whole tournament in assists). He is expected to be a 2^nd round draft pick next summer.

The Croatian big man is expected to be the leader again for the Wildcats this season in the tough Big 10. Last season saw him put up totals of 16.8 points and 4 boards per game.

Another quality Aussie big man? Kickert definitely fits that bill – 16.6 points and 6.6 boards last year for the Gaels. A 2 time All WCC choice, Kickert is expected to lead the Gaels into battle against mighty Gonzaga this year in conference play.

Overshadowed by teammates Adam Morrison and Ronny Turiaf last season, big bad Batista still came into his own. The 269-pound bruiser averaged 12.4 points and 6.2 boards per game last year and is expected to carry more of a load this year with Turiaf gone (and Morrison getting quadruple-teamed!).

Midgley has improved each year for the Golden Bears. Last season saw the Brit average 12.9 points, 3.2 boards and 2.8 assists. He will be expected to be one of the key contributors this season on a Cal team expected to get back into the NCAA tournament.

Another solid import player in the CAA (see Barea & Loughton above), George averaged 16.8 points and 5.8 boards last season for the Rams. George ripped it up in the World University Games tournament this summer – 17 points, 6.6 boards & 50% from the 3-point line for the tournament.

Palacios had a solid rookie season with the Cardinals – 9.7 points and 6.5 boards per game. More will be expected from Juan this season with last year’s team leader, Francisco Garcia, off in the NBA. Palacios injured his foot this July but is expected to be back for the season. The scouts think very highly of his potential – he is projected to be a 2007 NBA lottery pick (or a 1^st round pick if he enters the 2006 proceedings.)

The bar has been raised in Stockton, with the Tigers having won 1^st round NCAA tournament games the past 2 years. With 7 seniors gone from last year’s team, all the pressure will be on Maraker to improve on his last year totals of 13.1 points and 6.1 boards per game.

Brown has often been an overlooked member of the Huskies his first three seasons. That should change this year with the suspensions of guards A.J. Price and Marcus Williams. Denham, along with Rashad Anderson, is the most experience player on the roster and will need to better his 10.4 points and 4 boards per games averages of last season.

Herber will be expected to be solid again this year for the Mountaineers. His last season totals – 8.6 points, 4.1 boards, 3.1 assists & 1.6 steals – show how versatile the German guard is. Joe also competed this summer with the German University Team.

Nana put up eye boggling numbers last year for the Fightin’ Blue Hens (honest, that is Delaware’s team name!) – 18.5 points, 10.4 boards & 1.4 blocks per game.

Ivan Almonte – Forward – Senior - Florida International – Dominican Republic

Ilian Evtimov – Forward/Center – Senior - North Carolina State – Bulgaria

Al Horford – Forward – Sophomore - Florida – Dominican Republic

Simon Conn – Forward/Center – Senior - Gardner-Webb - Australia

Luke Ruscoe – Guard – Senior – Brown – New Zealand

Chris McNaughton – Center – Junior – Bucknell - Germany

Matthew Knight – Forward/Center – Junior - Loyola Marymount - Australia