The Five Best College Basketball Players You've Never Heard Of

Every season, college basketball analysts select three star players to focus on all season

2009 is no different. This year, those three select players are Blake Griffin of Oklahoma, Stephen Curry of Davidson, and Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina.

But, as fans, we must remember the other 1000+ players in college basketball.

Here is a slideshow of some of the college basketball superstars you may not know. All these players are the leaders of top 25 teams, yet go mostly unheralded among college basketball fans.

Jeff Adrien

Jeff Adrien
Forward – University of Connecticut

There are many fans from the northeast who have heard of Adrien, but outside of UConn fans, very little people know how well he is playing for the Huskies.

Playing his entire college career in the shadow of 7’3” center Hasheem Thabeet, Adrien has posted some impressive numbers. While Thabeet receives most of the glory, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, Adrien has been one of the constants on an always strong Husky team.

This season, on a star-studded UConn team ranked #4 in the country, Adrien leads the team in scoring, with 14.5 points per game, and he is second in both rebounds and blocks, averaging 9.1 and 1.1, respectively.

If the Huskies end up making a National Championship run this season, Adrien will be a huge part of it.

Curtis Jerrells

Curtis Jerrells
Guard – Baylor

In a power-packed Big 12, Baylor’s senior point guard is having a monster season for the unheralded Baylor Bears.

Jerrells leads the 21st ranked Bears in both points and assists, averaging 16.2 points and 5.6 assists per game. He also is second on the team in rebounds, averaging 4.4 per game.

If the early season success continues for Jerrells, the Baylor Bears may be a tough out come tournament time.

Manny Harris

Manny Harris
Guard – Michigan

Michigan is just a football school right? Not anymore. The Wolverines basketball team is #24 in the country, and Harris is one of the biggest reasons for it.

Harris, a sophomore, is having one of the best seasons of any player in the Big 10. He is tied for the lead in the Big 10 in both points per game and assists per game, and is tied for second in assists.

He is also the offensive and defensive leader of the Wolverines, averaging 18.7 points and 4.7 assists per game, both team highs, 7.6 rebounds per game, which is good for second on the team.

Harris is an exciting young player for a surprising Michigan team, and if he continues to improve, the Wolverines may surprise some people in the tournament.

St. Mary's Trio

St. Mary’s Trio
Patrick Mills – Guard
Omar Samhan – Center
Diamon Simpson – Forward

These three Gaels are the emotional and statistical leaders for the potential bracket-buster St. Mary’s, collectively leading the team in points, rebounds, and assists.

Mills, a sophomore, is one of the country’s leading scorers, averaging 20 points per game to go along with his 3.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game.

Samhan, a junior, mans the middle for the Gaels, ranking second in points per game, with 14.6, second in rebounds, with 9.9, and is tied for first in blocks, with just over two per game.

Simpson is the other star frontcourt player for St. Mary’s. This senior forward is third on the team in scoring with 12.4 points per game, but leads the team in rebounds with 11.9 per game. He is tied with Samhan for the lead in blocks.

If these three little known stars keep up this torrid pace, the Gaels may be a mid-major team that no one wants to face in the tournament.

Michael Washington

Michael Washington
Center – Arkansas

This Razorback center is having one of the best seasons of any big man in college, averaging a double-double per game.

Washington, a junior, is averaging 17.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, all team highs.

While Arkansas remains unranked, they are improving every week, as they currently stand with a 12-3 record. If Washington continues to keep up this level of play, the Razorbacks could be a surprise winner of a weak Southeastern conference, and could make a lot of noise in March.