Hasheem Thabeet

2009 NBA Draft: Best Rebounders

CHN — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:20:59 -0700

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects - NBA Team Needs/Capsules - 2010 Draft

2009 NBA Draft Skills Challenge: Best Rebounders

While the 2009 NBA Draft isn't particularly strong at the center position, there's a good amount of power forwards and larger wings who can rebound the ball. The lone exceptional big man is Hasheem Thabeet, and though he isn't a dominating rebounder yet, he can hold is own. The best rebounder is Blake Griffin, the probable #1 pick, and he's followed by the likes of DeJuan Blair and Jordan Hill. Less-heralded prospects like Jeff Adrien, Jon Brockman, and Jeff Pendergraph grabbed a ton of rebounds in college, while wings like Earl Clark and Damion James can do damage on the glass as well.

As part of our NBA Draft Skills Challenge series, CHN experts rank the Best Rebounders in the Draft. Click on player name for profile & scouting report. Our experts rankings will be updated once the official Entry list is finalized.

Jason Brubaker

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill

4) Hasheem Thabeet
5) Jeff Adrien
6) Tyler Hansbrough
7) Jeff Pendergraph
8) Sam Young

Jeff Fox

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) John Bryant
4) Jon Brockman
5) Luke Harangody
6) Hasheem Thabeet
7) Jordan Hill
8) Diamon Simpson

Jason Hirschorn
1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet
3) Tyler Hansbrough
4) DeJuan Blair
5) Luke Harangody
6) Jordan Hill
7) Earl Clark
8) Taj Gibson

Raphielle Johnson

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jeff Adrien
4) Jordan Hill
5) Tyler Hansbrough
6) Luke Harangody
7) Hasheem Thabeet
8) Jon Brockman

Tim Kemper

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill
4) Gani Lawal
5) Terrence Williams
6) Earl Clark
7) Hasheem Thabeet
8) Damion James

Shawn Siegel

1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet

3) Jordan Hill

4) DeJuan Blair

5) BJ Mullens
6) Earl Clark

7) Slava Kravstov
8) Jeff Adrien

Jon Teitel
1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet
3) Jon Brockman
4) DeJuan Blair
5) Tyler Hansbrough
6) Damion James
7) Chris Johnson
8) Jordan Hill

Jason Tomassini

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill
4) Hasheem Thabeet
5) James Johnson
6) Earl Clark
7) Gani Lawal
8) Tyreke Evans

NBA Draft Skills Challenge Series

- includes top scorers, rebounders, passers, shot-blockers, and more.

Also see Top Ten Prospects by Position & Top Ten Prospects by Class & Top Ten Prospects By Age.

2009 NBA Draft: Skills Challenge

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:07:29 -0700

2009 NBA Draft: Skills Challenge

While Blake Griffin can do just about anything, the other top 2009 NBA Draft prospects like Hasheem Thabeet (shot-blocking), Ricky Rubio (passing), Jordan Hill (rebounding), and Stephen Curry (scoring) excel at specific skill sets. CHN experts rank the best prospects at each of the skills below.. and we also rank some of the players that enjoy causing trouble.

Jason Brubaker, Jeff Fox, Jason Hirschorn, Raphielle Johnson, Tim Kemper, Shawn Siegel, Jon Teitel, and Jason Tomassini contributed to the CHN Skills Challenge series.

Category (Consensus Leader/s)

Best Shooters (Stephen Curry)

Best Scorers (Blake Griffin)

Best Rebounders (Blake Griffin)

Also see Top Ten Prospects by Position & Top Ten Prospects by Class & Top Ten Prospects By Age.

NBA Draft: Good Decisions

Jason Brubaker — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:48:27 -0700

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Team Needs/Capsules - NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects

Draft Decisions: Good, Bad and Everything In-Between

Part One

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the Draft has long passed, but the fun part is just beginning. Those who haven’t signed with an agent are eligible to return to school, while others are already picking out their suits for Draft Night. Patrick Patterson is the first big name who entered the Draft but has returned to school. As is usually the case, the list of remaining underclassmen includes some…how should I put this…interesting names. How many people watched Texas A&M this year and thought Chinemelu Elonu was a future NBA player? Or that two players from DePaul, who went 0-18 in the Big East, would feel they were NBA-ready?

So without further ado, here’s a look at some of the decisions made by players, ranging from the good to the bad to the bizarre.

Good Decisions

• Blake Griffin, Oklahoma. This was a no-brainer. The consensus top pick should have an immediate impact in the league, and has All-Star potential.

• Hasheem Thabeet, UConn. Again, another obvious choice. Thabeet has the ability to contribute right away on the defensive end, and will likely be a top-3 selection.

• James Harden, Arizona State. Harden stumbled during the NCAA Tournament, but that shouldn’t diminish his terrific year. Harden isn’t a high-flying athlete, but he always seems to end up in the right spot, and he knows how to put the ball in the basket. He’s demonstrated a high basketball IQ, and is a level-headed kid who teams can market. He’s likely to be a top-5 selection.

• BJ Mullens, Ohio State. While Mullens didn’t set the world on fire during his freshman year, he still possesses the physical traits that make scouts drool, mainly size and athleticism. While there’s no doubt he needs time to develop, he’s a first-round lock and will be cashing some large checks next year.

• DeMar DeRozan, USC. Like Mullins, DeRozan had an underwhelming freshman year, although he really came on at the end of the year. DeRozan still needs some polish on his game, but his combination of athleticism and size will land him a spot in the lottery.

• Ty Lawson/Wayne Ellington, North Carolina. Both players have some physical limitations that scare scouts, but they’re both entering the draft with plenty of buzz after leading the Tar Heels to the national title. Both players are proven winners who answered plenty of doubters through the year, and likely wouldn’t have improved their stock much by returning to school.

• DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh. While not a prototypical big man, Blair is also striking while the iron is hot, after leading Pitt to one of their best seasons ever. With the Panthers already losing seniors Sam Young and Levance Fields, opponents likely would have been able to key on Blair next year, which could have hurt his stock.

• Chase Budinger/Jordan Hill, Arizona. Both players have endured plenty of drama in Tucson, and as a result, have shown their character and maturity. Hill, who has improved dramatically, could be a top-5 pick, while Budinger has gradually addressed his weaknesses and could climb into the late lottery.

• James Johnson, Wake Forest. While the Deacons went out on a sour note, Johnson still has scouts buzzing about his potential. A terrific athlete from the small forward position, Johnson is a match-up nightmare when he’s focused. A likely top-10 selection.

>> Continue to Part Two: Bad & Questionable Decisions

2009 NBA Draft: Top 10 By Position

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:56:15 -0700

Top Ten Prospects By Position

Last Updated April 21st. (Note that the status of Draft entrants is still in flux.)

Click on player for complete profile & scouting report. More profiles added daily. Ranking based on CHN's 6-star ranking system (see below)

Point Guard

1) Ricky Rubio - PG - DKV Joventut

2) Tyreke Evans - PG/SG - Memphis

3) Brandon Jennings - PG - Arizona

4) Ty Lawson - PG - UNC

5) Stephen Curry - PG/SG - Davidson

4) Eric Maynor - PG - VCU

5) Patrick Mills - PG - St. Mary's

6) Nick Calathes - PG - Florida

7) Darren Collison - PG - UCLA

8) Jonny Flynn - PG - Syracuse

9) AJ Price - PG - UCONN

10) Toney Douglas - PG - Florida St

Shooting Guard

1) James Harden - SG - Arizona State

2) Jeff Teague - PG/SG - Wake Forest

3) DeMar DeRozan - SG - USC

4) Gerald Henderson - SG - Duke

5) Terrence Williams - SG - Louisville

6) Wayne Ellington - SG - UNC

7) Jrue Holiday - SG - UCLA

8) Jodie Meeks - SG - Kentucky

9) Marcus Thornton - SG - LSU

10) Lee Cummard - SG - BYU

Small Forward

1) Earl Clark - SF - Louisville

2) Sam Young - SF - Pittsburgh

3) Chase Budinger - SF - Arizona

4) James Johnson - SF - Wake Forest

5) Omri Casspi - SF - Macabbi Tel Aviv

6) Austin Daye - SF - Gonzaga

7) Damion James - SF - Texas

8) Tyler Smith - SF - Tennessee

9) DeMarre Carroll - SF - Missouri

10) Vladimir Dasic - SF - Buducnost Podgorica

Power Forward

1) Blake Griffin - PF - Oklahoma

2) Jordan Hill - PF - Arizona

3) Craig Brackins - F - Iowa State

4) Patrick Patterson - SF/PF - Kentucky

5) DeJuan Blair - PF - Pittsburgh

6) Tyler Hansbrough - PF/C - UNC

7) Josh Heytvelt - PF - Gonzaga

8) Derrick Brown - SF - Xavier

9) Jeff Pendergraph - PF - Arizona State

10) Jon Brockman - PF - Washington

Center

1) Hasheem Thabeet - C - UCONN

2) BJ Mullens - C - Ohio State

3) Vitor Faverini - PF/C - Malaga

4) Luke Nevill - C - Utah

5) Vyacheslav Kravtsov - C - Zalgiris Kaunas

5) John Bryant - C - Santa Clara

6) Gasper Vidmar - C - Fenerbahce

7) Tony Gaffney - C - UMASS

CHN's Six-Star Ranking System

= Superstar/All-NBA Potential

= Potential NBA All-Star

= Consistent NBA Starter

= 6th Man/Fringe Starter

= Career Reserve

= Fringe NBA Player/12th Man

0 stars = Life in the Minor Leagues

More

Current NBA Mock Draft Position

Complete NBA Draft coverage

2009 Top 100 Ranking & Profiles

Last Year's 2008 Top 10 By Position

Final Four: Player & Position Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:08:48 -0700

This is a straight-forward list: a ranking of the remaining Final Four players. Most of the teams go about 8 deep now, so the top 8 from each squad is included. Only 3 others players (2 on MSU and 1 on UNC) get meaningful minutes beyond the top 8. Below, the players are ranked by position.

A couple things to note: Look how weak these teams are at small forward, and mostly at power forward as well. On the flip side, look how great all 4 of these teams are at point guard and at center (especially if I swapped Hansbrough as a center in place of Thompson).

1. Ty Lawson - UNC (1)
2. Hasheem Thabeet - UCONN (1)
3. AJ Price - UCONN (2)
4. Kalin Lucas - Michigan St (1)
5. Tyler Hansbrough - UNC (2)
6. Dante Cunningham - Villanova (1)
7. Scottie Reynolds - Villanova (2)
8. Wayne Ellington - UNC (3)
9. Goran Suton - Michigan St (2)
10. Jeff Adrien - UCONN (3)
11. Danny Green - UNC (4)
12. Stanley Robinson - UCONN (4)
13. Travis Walton - Michigan st (3)
14. Dwayne Anderson - Villanova (3)
15. Reggie Reading - Villanova (4)
16. Corey Fisher - Villanova (5)
17. Ed Davis - UNC (5)
18. Kemba Walker - UCONN (5)
19. Durrell Summers - Michigan St (4)
20. Shane Clark - Villanova (6)
21. Deon Thompson - UNC (6)
22. Corey Stokes - Villaova (7)
23. Chris Allen - Michigan St (5)
24. Raymar Morgan - Michigan St (6)
25. Gavin Edwards - UCONN (6)
26. Craig Austrie - UCONN (7)
27. Tyler Zeller - UNC (7)
28. Delvon Roe - Michigan St (7)
29. Draymond Green - Michigan St (8)
30. Bobby Frasor - UNC (8)
31. Antonio Pena - Villanova (8)
32. Donnell Beverly - UCONN (8)
+ Korie Lucious, Marquise Gray, Larry Drew

Point Guards
1. Ty Lawson - UNC (1)
2. AJ Price - UCONN (3)
3. Kalin Lucas - Michigan St (4)
4. Scottie Reynolds - Villanova (7)
5. Corey Fisher - Villanova (16)
6. Bobby Frasor - UNC (30)
7. Korie Lucious - Michigan St (NA)
8. Donnell Beverly - UCONN (32)
9. Larry Drew - UNC (NA)

Shooting Guards
1. Wayne Ellington - UNC (8)
2. Travis Walton - Michigan st (13)
3. Reggie Reading - Villanova (15)
4. Kemba Walker - UCONN (18)
5. Durrell Summers - Michigan St (19)
6. Corey Stokes - Villaova (22)
7. Chris Allen - Michigan St (23)
8. Craig Austrie - UCONN (26)

Small Forwards
1. Danny Green - UNC (11)
2. Stanley Robinson - UCONN (12)
3. Dwayne Anderson - Villanova (14)
4. Raymar Morgan - Michigan St (24)

Power Forwards
1. Tyler Hansbrough - UNC (5)
2. Jeff Adrien - UCONN (10)
3. Shane Clark - Villanova (20)
4. Tyler Zeller - UNC (27)
5. Delvon Roe - Michigan St (28)
6. Draymond Green - Michigan St (29)
7. Antonio Pena - Villanova (32)
8. Marquise Gray - Michigan st (NA)

Centers
1. Hasheem Thabeet - UCONN (2)
2. Dante Cunningham - Villanova (6)
3. Goran Suton - Michigan St (9)
4. Ed Davis - UNC (17)
5. Deon Thompson - UNC (21)
6. Gavin Edwards - UCONN (25)

Disagree with this ranking? post your thoughts in the comments section.

Talor Battle: CollegeHoops.net Player of the Week

Jeff Borzello — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:02:52 -0800

The month of February is when teams begin to either separate themselves from the pack or fall out of the picture. Likewise, it is when star players step-up and carry their respective teams to key wins on the road or last-second victories at home. Those All-American candidates are usually the difference between a bubble team spending March in the NIT or creating major problems in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament. This past week, there were plenty of performances by go-to-guys that will certainly have an impact come Selection Sunday.

Over the weekend, the game that stood out the most was Kansas State’s Denis Clemente, who had 44 points and three assists in the Wildcats’ upset win at Texas. He also had 10 points and seven assists against Missouri earlier in the week. Arizona’s Chase Budinger has woken up since getting his face stomped on by Houston’s Aubrey Coleman. He averaged 22 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in back-to-back wins over Washington and Washington State. Jerel McNeal of Marquette continued his standout season, averaging 26.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in victories over Notre Dame and Georgetown. Furthermore, DeJuan Blair of Pitt had 23 points and 22 rebounds against Notre Dame, while Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet tallied a triple-double in a win over Providence after putting up 11 and 9 on Wednesday. And what about Utah Valley guard Ryan Toolson’s 63-point performance? However, the most important week belonged to Penn State’s Talor Battle.

Battle, a 5-11 sophomore guard, had a fantastic week, leading the Nittany Lions to back-to-back four-point victories over Iowa and at Michigan State. He had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists against Iowa, but saved his best performance for the win over the Spartans. Battle hit six threes against Michigan State, finishing with 29 points and five rebounds. He hit several clutch three-pointers, and seemingly came up with a bucket every time the Nittany Lions needed one. The victory over the Spartans was Penn State’s first-ever win ~~against~~ at Michigan State. Overall, Battle averaged 24.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the week. However, more important than the stat line was the significance of the victories. With the wins, the Nittany Lions are now 6-3 in the Big Ten and poised for the at-large discussion come Selection Sunday. On the season, Battle is averaging 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

Finalists:

- Denis Clemente, Kansas State

- Chase Budinger, Arizona

- Hasheem Thabeet, UCONN

CollegeHoops.net Player of the Week Archive

- Jan 25: Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech

- Jan 18: Jodie Meeks, Kentucky

- Jan 12: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest

- Jan 5: Tyrese Rice, Boston College

- Dec 29: Alex Ruoff, West Virginia

- Dec 22: AJ Price, UCONN

- Dec 15: Dionte Christmas, Temple

- Dec 8: Stephen Curry, Davidson

- Dec 1: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse

- Nov 24: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

BIG Picture: Hasheem Thabeet

Shawn Siegel — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 10:04:06 -0800

Today's BIG PICTURE

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, CHN has access to thousands of great college basketball photos. Each day during the season, CHN will feature a Picture of the Day, which might include a newsworthy, funny, or simply interesting subject. At the bottom will be a caption or headline that might be informative or amusing. The possibilities are endless!

HASHEEM THABEET

I'm not entirely the sure of the context of this picture, when in the game it was, or whether it was an important rebound that was up for grabs, but it doesn't matter. This is a tremendous snapshot of Thabeet trying to fight his way through a pair of Irish forwards.

- Check out recent BIG Pictures!

- Also check out the Cheerleader of the Day!

- Watch all of CHN's favorite College Basketball Videos!

Top Lists: Unknown Gems, Comeback Players, Shot Blockers

Jason Brubaker — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:33:08 -0800

We’ve covered the preseason All-Americans, Final Four picks and individual team previews. Now it’s time for the fun stuff – the guys who make college basketball so fun to watch. Let the debates begin.

Best players you haven’t seen: These guys aren’t in the spotlight much, but they sure have the game to be

1) Marquis Blakely G/F, Vermont: Fills up the stat sheet as good as anyone in the country (19 ppg, 11 rpg)

2) Lester Hudson G, UT Martin: Big time scorer will eventually be in the NBA (25.7 ppg)

3) Josh Akognon G, Cal-State Fullerton: Lights out shooter introduced himself during the NCAA Tournament (111 3's, 20 ppg)

4) Ben Uzoh G, Tulsa: Does a little of everything, now must help lead Golden Hurricanes to the tourney (15.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg)

5) Osiris Eldridge G, Illinois State: Great leader, good shooter, good defender, dangerous scorer. Enough said (15.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

Hospital breakouts: These guys will provide big boosts as they return from injury

1) Ronald Steele G, Alabama: When healthy, as good a point guard as anywhere in the country

2) Eric Devendorf G, Syracuse: Dangerous scorer will return Orange to the tournament

3) Jodie Meeks G, Kentucky: Meeks has all-SEC talent if he can stay on the floor

4) Korvotney Barber F, Auburn: One reason to get excited about Auburn basketball is his return to the floor

5) Solomon Alabi F, Florida State: Should provide a much-needed post presence for Seminoles

Shot blockers: Think twice before challenging these guys at the rim

1) Hasheem Thabeet C, UConn: Good luck getting your shot over his outstretched arms (4.5 bpg)

2) Jarvis Varnado C, Mississippi State: Remnicent of a young Kenyon Martin with the way he sends shots away from the basket (4.6 bpg)

3) Kleon Penn C, McNeese State: Owns the paint and the basket when he wants to (4 bpg)

4) Jerome Jordan C, Tulsa: Scary thing? He hasn’t even come close to his potential yet (3.7 bpg)

5) Hamady N'Diaye F, Rutgers: Great athlete has good timing, aggressive nature (3 bpg)

Yesterday: Top Dunkers, Shooters, Rebounders. Disagree with Jason's picks? Let us know your top lists below!

College Basketball: Top Centers

Joey Whelan — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:39:20 -0800

The true center in college basketball is a rarity these days. The game that used to be dominated by giants of the paint is now all about up tempo play, the fast break, and hybrid players that can start at multiple positions. That isn’t to say that the great post players of the game are no longer in existence, it’s just that many of these big men have started to add more versatility to their game or are simply just more athletic than their predecessors. Here is a look at the best of the bigs in college hoops this season.

Pick Six: Top Centers

Throughout the week, check back for articles highlighting the Top 6 players at each position. Tomorrow we’ll be rolling out the Top 6 at shooting guard.

1. B.J. Mullens – Ohio State

That’s right, the first newcomer to top one of the positions lists. Not only is Mullens arguably the top freshman in the country this season, he could wind up being the top pick in the NBA Draft come June. Standing a legitimate 7-feet and possessing a freakishly explosive vertical jump, Mullens has the physical attributes that could allow him to dominate the Big Ten right away. His hands are excellent and he has a nicely developing post game, though much of it still relies on his athleticism around the rim. Perhaps most intriguing at this point about the youngster is his ability to step away from the basket and still be an effective scorer. Mullens exhibits a very smooth jumper that almost no one in college basketball will be able to contest on a regular basis. His game is still very much a work in progress as he is still learning how to completely utilize his physical gifts. Mullens will have to show more enthusiasm on defense than he did at the high school level in order to be an impact player on the other end of the floor as well.

Stats: DNP Freshman

2. Hasheem Thabeet - Connecticut

The tremendous improvement that Thabeet showed from his freshman to sophomore seasons was almost enough to put him atop this list. Another monster of the middle, the junior stands 7’3” with an enormous wingspan, and packs 260 pounds onto his frame. He runs the floor surprisingly well for a player of his size and shows great explosiveness around the rim; it’s a given he will dunk if given the space. His post game is very far from being finished, as he still attempts less than six shots per game. His footwork is raw and he lacks any real pivot moves, though he does have the ability to finish with contact inside, a major plus. Defense is where Thabeet really makes his mark. His man-to-man coverage isn’t great, due to his lack of upper body strength, but his shot blocking abilities make him a game changer on this end of the floor.

Stats: 10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.4 apg

3. Andrew Ogilvy – Vanderbilt

What a freshman season for the Aussie. Ogilvy burst onto the scene in the SEC as probably the most fundamentally sound center in the country. His footwork is phenomenal, and he has the ability to light it up with a jump hook that he can consistently hit with either hand. His overall offensive repertoire in the post is very impressive and his quick feet make him a difficult match up for most big men. What hinders Ogilvy though is a lack of great athleticism. He isn’t very explosive, so in many situations where he would be better suited elevating over defenders for an easy score, he looks to draw contact or finish with a finesse move off the glass instead. He doesn’t have a face up game with the ball at this point, but look for that to continue to develop in the upcoming seasons. The biggest key for Ogilvy this season will be staying on the floor; he struggled with foul problems last season.

Stats: 17.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.2 apg

4. Jordan Hill – Arizona

Despite being a real impact player for the Wildcats last season, Hill managed to go largely unnoticed by most of the country. The junior posted averages of 13 point and 8 rebounds in 29 minutes of work while shooting an outstanding 62% from the field, the 13^th best mark in the country. Hill’s back to the basket game is still a work in progress, as it is for many big men at this level, but he shows some nice promise with a right-handed jump hook, and has proven to be a fairly effective passer out of the post. He needs to work on reading when double teams are coming and how to avoid them. Hill showed great improvement in his range from last season, showing the ability to step away from the basket more often. While his handles aren’t great at this point, he exhibits an outstanding first step for a frontcourt player, able to beat most big men on a regular basis to the basket where he shows a soft touch.

Stats: 13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

5. Jeff Pendergraph – Arizona State

Another player having flown under the radar for the last couple of seasons as a result of other talented big men in the Pac-10, the senior could finally emerge this season as one of the top centers out west. Pendergraph has great physical attributes: a solid 6’9” 230-pound frame and well above average athleticism. He has a nicely developing post game, highlighted by a right-handed jump hook that he hits regularly thanks to his soft touch. Pendergraph as a whole is a very efficient low post scorer, connecting on nearly 60% of his shot attempts last season. The biggest wrinkle he has added to his game over the years is the ability to catch and shoot from mid-range, able to knock down the open 15-footer on a fairly regular basis now. Pendergraph is a tough defender inside, but ASU primarily goes with a zone look, so he isn’t in too many one-on-one situations. A slight bump in his rebounding numbers this season would be a big boost to the Sun Devils.

Stats: 12.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.9 apg

6. Jerome Jordan – Tulsa

Jordan is a mid-major big man just waiting to be noticed by a larger audience. A 7-footer who moves well, the junior had an inconsistent year for the most part, but turned things on down the stretch, posting three double-doubles in his last six games, and had an impressive 17-point, 9-rebound, 4-block performance against Memphis in his last game. Jordan shows flashes of some nice post moves, particularly a strong drop step and a developing hook shot that could prove to be nearly impossible to stop if perfected. His game is still very raw though and will need a lot more polish. Defensively Jordan was a shot blocking machine last year, finishing 5^th in the country at 3.7 per contest. He has great mobility as already mentioned and shows a real knack for timing his jumps to contest shots.

Stats: 10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

Next in Line: Luke Nevill, Utah; Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga; Taj Gibson, USC; Cole Aldrich, Kansas; Aron Baynes, Washington State.

Love it or hate it, let’s hear it!