College Basketball: Under-the-Radar Names To Look Out for in 2010-11

With so many Division-I teams in college basketball, it's hard to keep track of all the talented players across the country.  Sure, the guys like John Wall and Evan Turner are all over ESPN, but there are a lot of good players who do not get the same national exposure. 

Thanks to the new NBA Draft rules, a wave of freshmen phenoms hit the college basketball scene each year.  These players---Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, Kyrie Irving, etc---will all get their fair share of attention.  This article is for the upperclassmen who do not get the recognition that they deserve.

Here's some guys to keep an eye out for:

Trey Thompkins 6'9/247 PF, Georgia (Jr.): Last season, Thompkins led the Bulldogs in scoring (17.7), rebounding (8.3), and blocks (1.2).  He had 17 points and 13 rebounds vs. DeMarcus Cousins in a 76-68 loss at Kentucky.  Over the last nine games of the season, Thompkins averaged 19.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, and 1.4 bpg.  Thompkins is a very polished low post player who really understands how to play on the low block.  He can score with his back to the basket, but he can also face up and knock down shots.  Thompkins is a late-lottery to mid-1st round pick if he declares for the 2011 Draft.  Also, look out for his teammate, 6'4 shooting guard Travis Leslie.

Alec Burks 6'6/190 SG, Colorado (So.): Burks was not highly recruited coming out of high school and ended up landing in Boulder.  In his freshman season with the Buffaloes, Burks averaged 17.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and shot 53.7% from the floor, a very impressive number for a two-guard.  Burks has great size for a two and is very athletic.  He is an explosive leaper who can finish well around the basket.  Burks has a nice jumper, but he is not yet a consistent threat from deep, but that could change this season.  Burks will be a mid-1st round pick if he declares for the draft, with chance to make it into the lottery.

Corey Fisher 6'1/185 PG, Villanova (Sr.): Fisher was a very productive member of a good Wildcats team last season, averaging 13.3 ppg, 3.9 spg, and 1.3 spg.  However, he was overshadowed in the backcourt by teammate Scottie Reynolds.  Now that Reynolds is gone, it's Fisher's turn to run the show.  Fisher has gotten some hype this summer after scoring 105 points in a New York City summer league game.  In that game, Fisher was 23-28 from behind the arc, and scored 72 points in the second half.  Sure, it was just a summer league game, but 105 is 105.  Fisher should be a very solid floor leader for Villanova this season in a tough Big East.  With a good senior campaign, Fisher could sneak into the 1st round in the 2011 Draft.

Derrick Williams 6'8/235 PF, Arizona (So.): Williams was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year last season, and he joined fellow freshmen John Wall, Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins, and Xavier Henry on the Sporting News College Basketball All Freshman Team.  So how can a player who makes that team be under the radar?  Well look at the other names on the list, all four were lottery picks.  Arizona is no longer the powerhouse that it used to be, and therefore they do not get the national attention like they used to.  Williams averaged 15.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and shot 57.4% from the field last season.  Williams is slightly undersized for a four, but he has excellent skills under the basket.  He has the ability to step out a play a little on the perimeter, but we'll see if Sean Miller lets him.  If Williams leaves school for the draft after this season, he'll likely be a mid-to-late 1st round pick.

Wesley Witherspoon 6'8/210 SG/SF, Memphis (Jr.): Witherspoon is a smooth, lanky wing with the ability to play the two and the three.  He's a good athlete and flashes some real quickness for a guy with his height and length.  Not only can he slash to the basket, but he is becoming a very effective 3-point shooter (43.0%)  Witherspoon's stats won't jump out off the page at you (12.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 spg, 0.9 bpg), but he stepped up when his team needed it.  Witherspoon scored 29 in a tough win vs. UAB, 26 against Gonzaga when his team only finished with 58 points, and 18 in the 1st round of the NIT against St. John.  In that NIT game, Witherspoon hit the game-winning layup as time expired.  I'd say Witherspoon is a late-1st round pick as of now, but he could fly up draft boards as he progresses this season.

Kenneth Faried 6'8/225 PF/C, Morehead State (Sr.): Faried declared for the 2010 NBA Draft, but decided to withdraw and return for his senior season.  Last year, Faried averaged 16.9 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 1.6 spg, and 1.9 bpg.  You may remember the 2009 NCAA Tournament Opening Game, when Faried had 14 points and 21 rebounds in a 15 point win over Alabama State.  He followed that up with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Louisville in the first round.  Faried is an explosive athlete with long arms.  He makes a living around the basket with offensive rebounds and put back dunks.  He may be a little undersized at the next level, but his athleticism will find him a place on an NBA roster.

Damian Saunders 6'7/210 SF/PF, Duquesne (Sr.): Saunders had a very impressive stat line last season of 15.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.8 spg, and 2.9 bpg.  Saunders is an impressive athlete who excels in transition.  He uses that athleticism very well on the defensive end, as you can see by his outstanding defensive statistics.  He was a solid 3-point shooter during his freshman and sophomore years, but really struggled last season, so we'll see if he can regain that stroke.  His athleticism, rebounding, and defense are that of a 1st round pick, but his jump shot is the x-factor because he will have to play the 3 at the next level.  If he can find his shot again, he might have an outside shot at the 1st round.

Mark Payne 6'8/205 SG/SF, UC Davis (Sr.): Payne has managed to put together a couple very impressive seasons at UC Davis.  As a sophomore, he averaged 10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.4 spg, and shot 67.5% from the field.  Yeah, that's right, 67.5%.  This past season, he averaged 15.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.1 spg, shot 51.8% from the floor, 45.8% from deep, and 83.4% from the line.  Payne is a good ball handler with excellent court vision.  He has a nice mid-range jumper and can effectively get to the basket, despite not being a spectacular athlete.  He's a solid defender that uses his length well, but he lacks great foot speed.  I'm not sure how well his game will translate to the NBA, but he's in store for a great senior season with the Aggies.