11-10-2005, 05:51 PM
First team
Shelden Williams, Duke
Info: Center, 6-9, Sr.
What he did last season: 15.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots per game; .582 FG%
Why he's here: He's the most forceful and consistent low-post presence on the college level and one of a half a dozen or so reasons why the Blue Devils are the consensus choice to win the 2006 national championship.
Craig Smith, Boston College
Info: Power forward, 6-7, Sr.
What he did last season: 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game; .504 FG%
Why he's here: He would have been the preseason Player of the Year in the Big East if the Eagles hadn't relocated. He could win it in the ACC if Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick cancel each other out as frontrunners.
Rudy Gay, Connecticut
Info: Wing forward, 6-7, So.
What he did last season: 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game; .456 FG% (.452 on 3's)
Why he's here: Definitely in the mold of most of the talented wings that Jim Calhoun has coached. He wasn't nearly the dominating presence in July (as a Nike Camp counselor and at USA Basketball trials) that most NBA talent evaluators expected he would be.
J.J. Redick, Duke
Info: Wing guard, 6-4, Sr.
What he did last season: 21.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game; .408 FG% (.403 on 3's)
Why he's here: The top-five finisher in the last John R. Wooden Award race is clearly the best player at his position in the country and is a much more well-rounded player than some give him credit for being. But it's about time he cranks up that shooting percentage just a tad.
Dee Brown, Illinois
Info: Point guard, 5-11, Sr.
What he did last season: 13.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game; .499 FG% (.434 on 3's)
Why he's here: He was the Big Ten Player of the Year while helping the Illini win 37 games last season. File those under "impeccable All-American credentials." The ball will be in his hands pretty much full time now with Deron Williams playing for Jerry Sloan instead of Bruce Weber these days.
Second team
Paul Davis, Michigan State
Info: Center, 6-10, Sr.
What he did last season: 12.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game; .541 FG%
Why he's here: He seems to get nit-picked more than any other player in the country, but it was hard to fault his performance in the NCAA tournament, especially in collecting 49 points and 38 rebounds against Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Taj Gray, Oklahoma
Info: Power forward, 6-8, Sr.
What he did last season: 14.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocked shots per game; .557 FG%
Why he's here: His numbers may not lead you to believe so but he's just about as dependable a rebounder as there is on the college level. There isn't quite enough variety to his offensive game to get NBA scouts particularly pumped. But, on this level, he's got more than enough to dominate most guys who try to check him.
Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
Info: Wing forward, 6-8, Jr.
What he did last season: 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game; .498 FG% (.311 on 3's)
Why he's here: He's the latest model of "Gonzaga's best player since John Stockton." And he actually might be that, too. And there isn't a forward in college with his scoring ability.
Taquan Dean, Louisville
Info: Wing guard, 6-3, Sr.
What he did last season: 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game; 445 FG% (.447 on 3's)
Why he's here: He more than did his share in helping coach Rick Pitino take his third program to a Final Four last spring. You've got to like guys whose jumpers have textbook deliveries, no matter the duress provided by a defender or the circumstance of the game.
Daniel Gibson, Texas
Info: Point guard, 6-2, So.
What he did last season: 14.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game; .415 FG% (.398)
Why he's here: He's the best player in the Big 12 (although a compelling argument could be launched for Taj Gray). He was easily the Nike Camp counselor who drew the most praise from the NBA personnel directors and scouts who watched them work out in July in Indianapolis â and Rudy Gay, Adam Morrison, Shelden Williams and Rajon Rondo were among the other counselors.
Third team
Josh Boone, Connecticut
Info: Center, 6-9, Jr.
What he did last season: 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 3.0 blocked shots per game; .609 FG%
Why he's here: He might only be his team's third or fourth offensive option at times, but he usually scores without a lot of fuss or muss when they do pass him the ball into the post. And he'd block as many shots as Shelden Williams does if he didn't have Rudy Gay alongside him swatting a bunch, too.
Leon Powe, California
Info: Power forward, 6-8, So.
What he did last season: Did not play while recovering from knee surgery; as a freshman in 2003-04, he averaged 15.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game
Why he's here: I probably wouldn't be making this pitch if he had been healthy a year ago. If that had been the case, he would more likely than not be in the NBA right now. He's the most formidable post player in the Pac-10 and the same claim could be made if he played in almost any other conference as well.
Hassan Adams, Arizona
Info: Wing forward, 6-4, Sr.
What he did last season: 12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game; .491 FG% (.302 on 3's)
Why he's here: The ultimate slasher/take-you-off-the-dribble guy in college this season. And, truth be told, we could also refer to him as the best 6-4 "center" in the game, too, since he's something approaching relentless in the low post.
Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas
Info: Wing guard, 6-7, Jr.
What he did last season: 16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game; .475 FG% (.396 on 3's)
Why he's here: He could also, in essence, be listed at either of the other perimeter spots. That's why he's the most versatile player in the SEC and many points north, east and west. He's got a funky release on his jump shot, but it goes in enough that people have to guard it.
Chris Hernandez, Stanford
Info: Point guard, 6-2, Sr.
What he did last season: 15.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game; .430 FG% (.404 on 3's)
Why he's here: It seems as if Lute Olson has been calling him "the best point guard in college basketball" for as long as Hernandez has been in a Stanford uniform. That's got to be worth some kind of prize. Here it is.
Also strongly considered:
Centers: Nick Fazekas (6-10, Jr., Nevada); Terence Dials (6-9, Sr., Ohio State) and James Augustine (6-9, Sr., Illinois)
Power forwards: Paul Millsap (6-7, Jr., Louisiana Tech); Steven Smith (6-8, Sr., La Salle) and Jeff Green (6-8, So., Georgetown)
Wing forwards: Alando Tucker (6-5, Jr., Wisconsin); Maurice Ager (6-4, Sr., Michigan State) and P.J. Tucker (6-5, Jr., Texas)
Wing guards: JamesOn Curry (6-3, So., Oklahoma State); Mardy Collins (6-5, Sr., Temple) and Dan Grunfeld (6-5, Sr., Stanford)
Point guards: Marcus Williams (6-3, Jr., Connecticut); Rajon Rondo (6-1, So., Kentucky) and Ronald Steele (6-2, So., Alabama)
Shelden Williams, Duke
Info: Center, 6-9, Sr.
What he did last season: 15.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots per game; .582 FG%
Why he's here: He's the most forceful and consistent low-post presence on the college level and one of a half a dozen or so reasons why the Blue Devils are the consensus choice to win the 2006 national championship.
Craig Smith, Boston College
Info: Power forward, 6-7, Sr.
What he did last season: 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game; .504 FG%
Why he's here: He would have been the preseason Player of the Year in the Big East if the Eagles hadn't relocated. He could win it in the ACC if Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick cancel each other out as frontrunners.
Rudy Gay, Connecticut
Info: Wing forward, 6-7, So.
What he did last season: 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game; .456 FG% (.452 on 3's)
Why he's here: Definitely in the mold of most of the talented wings that Jim Calhoun has coached. He wasn't nearly the dominating presence in July (as a Nike Camp counselor and at USA Basketball trials) that most NBA talent evaluators expected he would be.
J.J. Redick, Duke
Info: Wing guard, 6-4, Sr.
What he did last season: 21.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game; .408 FG% (.403 on 3's)
Why he's here: The top-five finisher in the last John R. Wooden Award race is clearly the best player at his position in the country and is a much more well-rounded player than some give him credit for being. But it's about time he cranks up that shooting percentage just a tad.
Dee Brown, Illinois
Info: Point guard, 5-11, Sr.
What he did last season: 13.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game; .499 FG% (.434 on 3's)
Why he's here: He was the Big Ten Player of the Year while helping the Illini win 37 games last season. File those under "impeccable All-American credentials." The ball will be in his hands pretty much full time now with Deron Williams playing for Jerry Sloan instead of Bruce Weber these days.
Second team
Paul Davis, Michigan State
Info: Center, 6-10, Sr.
What he did last season: 12.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game; .541 FG%
Why he's here: He seems to get nit-picked more than any other player in the country, but it was hard to fault his performance in the NCAA tournament, especially in collecting 49 points and 38 rebounds against Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Taj Gray, Oklahoma
Info: Power forward, 6-8, Sr.
What he did last season: 14.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocked shots per game; .557 FG%
Why he's here: His numbers may not lead you to believe so but he's just about as dependable a rebounder as there is on the college level. There isn't quite enough variety to his offensive game to get NBA scouts particularly pumped. But, on this level, he's got more than enough to dominate most guys who try to check him.
Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
Info: Wing forward, 6-8, Jr.
What he did last season: 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game; .498 FG% (.311 on 3's)
Why he's here: He's the latest model of "Gonzaga's best player since John Stockton." And he actually might be that, too. And there isn't a forward in college with his scoring ability.
Taquan Dean, Louisville
Info: Wing guard, 6-3, Sr.
What he did last season: 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game; 445 FG% (.447 on 3's)
Why he's here: He more than did his share in helping coach Rick Pitino take his third program to a Final Four last spring. You've got to like guys whose jumpers have textbook deliveries, no matter the duress provided by a defender or the circumstance of the game.
Daniel Gibson, Texas
Info: Point guard, 6-2, So.
What he did last season: 14.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game; .415 FG% (.398)
Why he's here: He's the best player in the Big 12 (although a compelling argument could be launched for Taj Gray). He was easily the Nike Camp counselor who drew the most praise from the NBA personnel directors and scouts who watched them work out in July in Indianapolis â and Rudy Gay, Adam Morrison, Shelden Williams and Rajon Rondo were among the other counselors.
Third team
Josh Boone, Connecticut
Info: Center, 6-9, Jr.
What he did last season: 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 3.0 blocked shots per game; .609 FG%
Why he's here: He might only be his team's third or fourth offensive option at times, but he usually scores without a lot of fuss or muss when they do pass him the ball into the post. And he'd block as many shots as Shelden Williams does if he didn't have Rudy Gay alongside him swatting a bunch, too.
Leon Powe, California
Info: Power forward, 6-8, So.
What he did last season: Did not play while recovering from knee surgery; as a freshman in 2003-04, he averaged 15.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game
Why he's here: I probably wouldn't be making this pitch if he had been healthy a year ago. If that had been the case, he would more likely than not be in the NBA right now. He's the most formidable post player in the Pac-10 and the same claim could be made if he played in almost any other conference as well.
Hassan Adams, Arizona
Info: Wing forward, 6-4, Sr.
What he did last season: 12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game; .491 FG% (.302 on 3's)
Why he's here: The ultimate slasher/take-you-off-the-dribble guy in college this season. And, truth be told, we could also refer to him as the best 6-4 "center" in the game, too, since he's something approaching relentless in the low post.
Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas
Info: Wing guard, 6-7, Jr.
What he did last season: 16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game; .475 FG% (.396 on 3's)
Why he's here: He could also, in essence, be listed at either of the other perimeter spots. That's why he's the most versatile player in the SEC and many points north, east and west. He's got a funky release on his jump shot, but it goes in enough that people have to guard it.
Chris Hernandez, Stanford
Info: Point guard, 6-2, Sr.
What he did last season: 15.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game; .430 FG% (.404 on 3's)
Why he's here: It seems as if Lute Olson has been calling him "the best point guard in college basketball" for as long as Hernandez has been in a Stanford uniform. That's got to be worth some kind of prize. Here it is.
Also strongly considered:
Centers: Nick Fazekas (6-10, Jr., Nevada); Terence Dials (6-9, Sr., Ohio State) and James Augustine (6-9, Sr., Illinois)
Power forwards: Paul Millsap (6-7, Jr., Louisiana Tech); Steven Smith (6-8, Sr., La Salle) and Jeff Green (6-8, So., Georgetown)
Wing forwards: Alando Tucker (6-5, Jr., Wisconsin); Maurice Ager (6-4, Sr., Michigan State) and P.J. Tucker (6-5, Jr., Texas)
Wing guards: JamesOn Curry (6-3, So., Oklahoma State); Mardy Collins (6-5, Sr., Temple) and Dan Grunfeld (6-5, Sr., Stanford)
Point guards: Marcus Williams (6-3, Jr., Connecticut); Rajon Rondo (6-1, So., Kentucky) and Ronald Steele (6-2, So., Alabama)
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