The college basketball season is underway, and I feel compelled to give you a list of the very best players in the country. As we all know it is both a blessing and a curse for college hoops, that the NBA makes players attend schools for at least a season. On the one hand college fans get to see the very best players such as Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo (wow looks like the top of the draft the past 2 years). But as quick as they come on the scene, they are gone. Frankly I don't think 18 year olds, who can go to Iraq and fight for the United States, can not go to the NBA where there are plenty of teams that would take a chance on them for millions of dollars a season.
There is always incredible turnover from year to year in college basketball, and for me it's quite an adjustment to get used to the teams/ players. What do we know? Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, Joe Alexander, D.J. Augustin, Brook Lopez, Jerryd Bayliss, Brandon Rush, Anthony Randolph, Robin Lopez, Marresse Speights, JaVale McGee, J.J. Hickson, Ryan Anderson, Kosta Koufos, George Hill, Darrell Aruther, Donte Greene, Mario Chalmers, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Douglass-Roberts, and Bill Walker were all in college last season, could have been back this season, but all went to the NBA.
Where does that leave us? The same place as every new season since we've been attached to these incredble freshmen and underclassmen only to see them go pro, looking for the next big thing. We start our list with a very familiar face...
Tyler Hansbrough, SR, UNC
Like saying Tim Tebow could be a factor the year after he wins the Heisman. I would have voted for Beasley for player of the year a season ago, but truth is Hansbrough put up monster numbers in the ACC and then wisely came back to school. He's the best player on the best team, should be a force again and the overwhelming favorite to not only be All-American 1st team, but POY.
James Harden, Soph, Arizona St.
Last season the lefty Harden posted the 8th highest points per game average for a freshmen in Pac-10 history. His 17.8 ppg, helped him land on the All Pac-10 1st team, the other four players to earn that honor were lottery picks in this past draft. Harden, who is also a steals machine, flirted with going pro, but decided to come back to school. I predict a monster season that propells him into the early 1st round, a 2-and-down guy.
Luke Harangody, JR, Notre Dame
The Big East is loaded once again this year with 7 teams in the pre-season Top 25 including the Irish. Harangody burst onto the scene last year and was a 20-10 guy. If he comes close to those numbers this year, when everyone is expecting him to do it, he's a no brainer for the All-American team. The spotlight is on this season.
Blake Griffin, Soph, Oklahoma
Griffin was one of many incredible freshmen last season in college basketball. But unlike the majority of them who had success, even some who didn't, he returned to school like Harden. With Beasley, Walker, Augustin, the Kansas guys, and even DeAndre Jordan gone to the pros, Griffin should take down Big 12 Player of the Year no problem, promting him to All-American status.
Willie Warren, FR, Oklahoma
Wait a minute. Before we crown Griffin the Big 12 Player of the Year, his biggest competition could come from super stud freshmen teammate Willie Warren. Warren dropped a game-high 23 in the most recent McDonald's All-American game. We've seen freshmen make big time impacts in the past few seasons. Durant was POY and Beasely finished 2nd. I expect Warren to be in the mix as well.
Jrue Holiday, FR, UCLA
One of the few college freshmen that I actually saw play an entire game and did not just see in highlights, the McDonald's game, or read about. Holiday's high school team played on ESPN last year and he was as good as advertised. UCLA will get a lot of attention trying to make it back to 4 consecutive Final Fours. Darren Collison has been named a preseason All-American in some publications, not The Sports Brief however, but the Bruins will be in the public eye all season.
Holiday and Warren will continue the trend of freshmen showing up on post season All-American lists.
Yes I know that is 6 players, consider it a bonus. Sometimes they name 6 guys to the 1st team. Didn't 15 guys take home 1st Team All Big East last year? I'm looking forward to another exciting season.
Besse also wants everyone to keep an eye out for University of Vermont star junior Marqus Blakely (see below).
-Keefe
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