College Basketball: 15 Under-the-Radar Players Who Could Be All-Americans

With an unexpected wave of high-performing freshmen staying in school, most college basketball fans have a pretty good idea who the top players in the nation will be. Returning stars like North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes and Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger are, with good reason, dominating preseason discussion of All-America candidates.

Nevertheless, no sport gives an underdog a chance like college basketball. Plenty of less-heralded players will have good cases to make to be mentioned among the country’s elite by the time the year is done.

Herein is a look at 15 of the most tantalizing prospects who could go from lesser knowns to big names in 2011–12.

15. Chace Stanback, UNLV

In this season’s Mountain West Conference, with BYU gone and San Diego State rebuilding, the Runnin’ Rebels will likely be power players. The leader of that effort will be forward Chace Stanback.

Stanback, who’s projected to move to small forward, leads UNLV returnees in scoring (13.0 points per game) and rebounding (5.9 boards per game).

The 6’8” rising senior is a good candidate to improve on both totals this season.

One wild card here is that it’s not yet known what punishment Stanback will face for a DUI arrest in May.

14. Anthony Davis, Kentucky

One of the most highly regarded freshmen in the country, Kentucky's 6’10” Anthony Davis, could hardly be coming into a more favorable situation. Davis joins a Wildcats team coming off a Final Four appearance and looking to replace a starter (Josh Harrellson) at Davis’ position.

A lot will depend here on whether Davis—listed in the neighborhood of 210 pounds—has the muscle to play center in the SEC.

If he can (allowing him to start alongside another All-America candidate, Terrence Jones), Davis could make an immediate impact; but if he must come off the bench, his value this season will be limited.

13. Cameron Moore, UAB

Although Alabama-Birmingham wound up with egg on its face at the NCAA tournament, the team’s 22-9 overall record is nothing to sneeze at. The Blazers won’t have an easy time repeating as Conference USA’s regular-season champs, but if they do, Cameron Moore will be the biggest reason.

Moore led the team last season with 9.4 rebounds a game and finished second to now-graduated Jamarr Sanders in scoring (14.3 points a contest).

With few conference opponents who can equal the length of the 6’10” forward, Moore has a good chance at even bigger numbers in 2011–12.

12. Robert Sacre, Gonzaga

The loss of standout starting guard Steven Gray is a blow to Gonzaga, but the Zags can take solace in the fact that they still have one of the country’s strongest (not to mention tallest) front lines. The key to their 2011–12 season will be 7’0” rising senior Robert Sacre.

Sacre averaged 12.5 points and 6.2 boards a game a year ago, and with scoring leader Gray gone, he’s likely to get even more touches on offense.

Even with Gonzaga playing its usual brutal pre-conference schedule, expect Sacre’s numbers to climb this season.

11. Bernard James, Florida State

One of the country’s most intimidating interior defenders, Bernard James averaged 2.4 blocks a game last year. The 6’10” center was a key factor in the Seminoles finishing No. 1 in the nation in field-goal defense.

Though he turned 26 during the season, James was playing his first year of college ball. With James having added a year of seasoning (and polish) to his formidable instincts, the ACC would do well to watch out in 2011–12.

10. Jared Cunningham, Oregon State

Jared Cunningham is a cut above the rest of the undermanned Oregon State roster, so much so that he led the team in scoring by nearly five points per game last season.

His defense was even more impressive, as he finished fifth in the nation with 2.8 steals a game.

Even Cunningham’s considerable talent isn’t going to be enough to make Oregon State a Pac-12 contender. For Cunningham himself, though, the 2011–12 season should be one to remember. 

9. Josiah Turner, Arizona

The prize of one of the country’s top recruiting classes, Josiah Turner arrives in the Pac-12 at an ideal time. With few established point guards to contend with, the 6’3” freshman’s lack of experience will mean less than his considerable talent.

Even with superstar Derrick Williams gone to the NBA, Arizona will have some weapons for Turner to work with, including one of his own classmates, starting guard Nick Johnson.

If Turner doesn’t turn out to be the conference’s top point guard this season, it’ll probably be because of another elite freshman, Washington’s Tony Wroten.

8. Bradford Burgess, Virginia Commonwealth

It would hardly be unreasonable to predict that VCU, with senior stars Jamie Skeen and Joey Rodriguez gone, will sink back into the borderline relevance of a mid-major runner-up. Rising senior Bradford Burgess, though, could have something to say about that bleak projection.

One of the heroes of the Rams’ Final Four run, the 6’6” Burgess averaged 14 points (including 43.4 percent three-point shooting) and 6.1 rebounds per game last season.

With Skeen gone, Burgess will need to post even bigger offensive numbers for the Rams to make another splash in the 2012 tournament.

7. LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State

By some estimations the top perimeter player in this year’s recruiting class, LeBryan Nash is a 6’7” swingman who can score in the post or with his jump shot. Nash immediately becomes the best finisher on the Oklahoma State roster.

The Cowboys need to replace leading scorer Marshall Moses, so Nash will get the opportunity to be a star immediately. In a Big 12 that’s not long on elite wing players, Nash has a good chance to hit his stride sooner rather than later. 

6. Maalik Wayns, Villanova

Sharing a backcourt with high-powered scorers like Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher, Maalik Wayns has been a supporting player in his two years at Villanova. With his more heralded teammates gone, 2011–12 will be Wayns’ star turn.

Even with Fisher serving as the focus of the offense, Wayns averaged 14 points and 4.5 assists per game last season. Even against the Big East’s imposing defenses, he’ll improve significantly on those numbers as a junior.

5. Andre Drummond, Connecticut

Andre Drummond had fallen off of freshmen-to-watch lists for the simple reason that he wasn’t expected to start college until 2012. That all changed last week, when the 6’11” center suddenly announced that he was joining the defending champion Huskies.

As last year’s national title game proved, UConn is scarcely hurting for size, so Drummond may not be thrust into a starring role immediately.

Still, even with standouts like Jeremy Lamb already on the roster, Drummond has enough talent to make his presence felt from day one.

4. Dee Bost, Mississippi State

Though big man Renardo Sidney gets most of the press, he’s not the only top-flight talent in Starkville. Point guard Dee Bost, after sweating out assorted eligibility issues, averaged 15.3 points and 6.2 assists a game over the last half of 2010–11.

Assuming that both he and Sidney have their off-court houses in order, Bost could equal or even exceed those numbers this season. Even in what promises to be a very competitive SEC, the Bulldogs could be one of the surprise teams of the year.

3. Will Barton, Memphis

Memphis had its problems in the 2010–11 regular season but heated up late to win the Conference USA tournament, and nearly upset Arizona in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

With a year of experience for what was a very young team, the Tigers enter this season as conference favorites.

That situation bodes especially well for the individual stats of Tigers’ leader Will Barton, a 6’6” shooting guard. As a freshman, he racked up 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game, numbers which all promise to jump in his second season of college ball.

2. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota

Averaging a double-double in the Big Ten is no small feat, but it’s likely to be just the beginning for Minnesota’s Trevor Mbakwe.

After recording 13.9 points and 10.5 rebounds a game last season, Mbakwe anchored the U.S. team at the World University Games this summer.

Power forward is a loaded position in the Big Ten in 2011–12, but Mbakwe will still stand out. If he and fellow high-flyer Rodney Williams play up to their potential, the Golden Gophers could be a dangerous team this season.

1. Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

Competing for attention in Chapel Hill these days is a full-time job. With potential No. 1 pick Harrison Barnes and towering forwards John Henson and Tyler Zeller around, point guard Kendall Marshall tends to get lost in the shuffle.

On the court, though, Marshall is in full control, averaging 5.8 assists a game last season as a freshman. With so many weapons at his disposal, it wouldn’t be implausible for him to lead the nation in assists in 2011–12.