College Basketball 2010-11: Talent Runs Deep in the Heart of Texas
Jones Ramsey, the sports information director for the University of Texas back in the 1970's once said that there are only two sports in Texas: football and spring football.
Yes, it's true. In the Lone Star State, football is more than a passion—it is a way of life. That's the way it has been, and that's the way it will most certainly always be.
But, over time, basketball has started to gain exposure. Top college programs find elite players among the high school ranks. College teams compete at the highest levels during March Madness. And the state's three NBA teams have won no less than six league titles in the last 17 years.
The following are the Top 16 college players among the Lone Star State's D1 Men's programs:
Quincy Acy: Baylor Bears Forward
1 of 16
6'7" 225 Junior
After first five games, Acy is averaging 16.8 points and 9.6 rebounds.
As a sophomore, he tied Josh Lomers for the best single-season field goal percentage in Baylor school history, shooting 69.7 percent from field (136-of-195)
Acy is an experienced front-court player that the Bears will count on throughout the year.
Adam Brown: Houston Cougars Guard
2 of 16
6'4" 175 lbs Senior
Adam Brown is starting off his senior season on the right track.
After the Cougar's first seven games, Brown is averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Before coming to Houston, Brown was named to the Junior College All-America Second Team after averaging 18.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
The Cougars have won all three of their early season games when Brown scored at least 20 points.
Gilberto Clavell: Sam Houston State Bearkats Forward
3 of 16
6'6" 230 lbs. Senior
Gilberto Clavell is off to another good start in the 2010-11 season.
Last season, Clavell scored 17.1 points and grabbed 6.4 rebounds per game.
In the first four games this year, he is scoring 19.8 points and pulling down 8.3 rebounds per game.
Clavell played for Puerto Rico in the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship where he averaged 12 points a game including a 29 point performance against Korea
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Randy Culpepper: UTEP Miners Guard
4 of 16
6'0" 165 lbs Senior
When its all said and done, Randy Culpepper will have his name written throughout the Miners Basketball record book.
Going into this season, Culpepper already is UTEP's all-time leader with 252 three-point field goals and fourth in scoring with 1,664 points.
Last year, he was the Conference USA Player of the Year and first team All-League, as well as honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press.
In UTEP's first seven games this year, Culpepper is averaging 20.7 points and 2.6 assists per game, including a 32-point outburst against New Mexico State.
Papa Dia: SMU Mustangs Forward
5 of 16
6'9" 235 lbs Senior
Besides having one of the most cool names in all sports, Papa Dia is putting it all together for the Mustangs in his senior year.
He is averaging 16.6 points and 8.6 rebounds.
He already has three double-doubles this season (including a 28 point 10 rebound performance against Lamar), after recording 10 last year.
LaceDarius Dunn: Baylor Bears Guard
6 of 16
6'4" 200 lbs. Guard
The Bears are very excited about LaceDarius Dunn's return to the Baylor team. He was suspended for the first three games of the 2010-11 season for a domestic dispute that led to his arrest.
Dunn enters the 2010-11 season ranked fourth in Baylor history with 1,739 career points ... Needs 451 points to become school's all-time leading scorer (Terry Teagle -- 2,189) and 518 to become Big 12's all-time leading scorer (Texas Tech's Andre Emmett -- 2,256).
Dunn showed no sign of rust in his first games back, scoring 24 and 20 points.
Kevin Galloway: Texas Southern Tigers Forward
7 of 16
6'7" 215 lbs Senior
To say that Kevin Galloway's college basketball career has been an adventure is an understatement.
Galloway played a year at USC, before transferring to College of Southern Idaho (JC), where he ranked fourth in the nation in assists (8.6)
After finishing his sophomore year, he landed at Kentucky for a year.
When John Calipari arrived, Galloway departed, this time for Texas Southern.
After sitting out last year, Galloway is ready to finish his college years with a bang.
So far, Galloway, a versatile, athletic wing-player, is averaging 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
Andrew Gonzalez: Houston Baptist Huskies Forward
8 of 16
6'6" 180 lbs Senior
Andrew Gonzalez may be the one bright spot for the Houston Baptist Huskies (0-6)
So far this year, he is averaging 20 points per game, with a season high 27 point game (going 14-14 from the free throw line) against Texas-Arlington.
Last year, Gonzalez was named Great West Conference Newcomer of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors while leading the league in scoring.
Jordan Hamilton: Texas Longhorns Forward
9 of 16
6'7" 226 lbs Sophomore
Jordan Hamilton is one of the more versatile players in the Big 12.
Last season, he led the Longhorns in three-point field goals made (58 of 159).
He is off to a great start this year, averaging 21.7 points and 7 rebounds per game.
Hamilton had a big game against Pittsburgh, scoring 28 points, making 5-8 three pointers.
Jeromie Hill: Texas-San Antonio Road Runners Forward
10 of 16
6'8" 220 lbs Freshman
Jeromie Hill has started his college career with the Roadrunners (4-1) off right.
From Cairns, Australia, Hill is averaging 14.2 points and 6 rebounds, shooting a sizzling .628 from the field.
Gary Johnson: Texas Longhorns Forward
11 of 16
6'6" 238 lbs Senior
While Gary Johnson entered this season already having played in 88 games as a Longhorn, he is taking full advantage of playing full-time as a Senior.
Johnson is averaging 11.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, helping Texas open with a 6-1 record.
Johnson is a two-time Big 12 Conference All-Reserve Team selection (as a sophomore and junior)
Perry Jones III: Baylor Bears Forward
12 of 16
6'11" 235 lbs Freshman
Not too many players are selected for the preseason all-conference team before they ever play a college game.
Perry Jones may be just that special.
He was a preseason First-Team All-Big 12 selection (by Athlon).
More than hype, Jones has started his college career by averaging nearly a double-double (13 points and 9 rebounds).
Arsalan Kazemi: Rice Owls Forward
13 of 16
6'7" 216 lbs Sophomore
After nearly averaging a double-double (10.3 points and 9.1 rebounds) as a freshman, Arsalan Kazemi, originally from Esfahan, Iran, has picked up this year where he left off.
In the first seven games of the 2010-11 season, Kazemi is averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds, leading the team in both categories.
Maurice McNeil: Houston Cougars Forward
14 of 16
6'9" 215 lbs Senior
Maurice McNeil is ready to have a big Senior season.
He has started this year by averaging 11.3 points and averaging 9.1 rebounds per game.
Last year, McNeil was the Cougars leading rebounder (7.4), and had a 6 block game against crosstown rival, Rice.
Khris Middleton: Texas A & M Aggies Forward
15 of 16
6'7" 215 lbs Sophomore
Khris Middleton is beginning his second season as an Aggie right: he is leading the team in scoring (14.2 ppg) and is second in rebounding (4.7)
Last year, he averaged 15.5 points per game in the Big 12 Tournament. During the season, he averaged 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest
Middleton is one of the reasons that A & M is off to a 7-1 start.
Nathan Walkup: Texas A & M Aggies Forward
16 of 16
6'7" 215 lbs Senior
For his first three years in College Station, Nathan Walkup played a support role on some pretty good teams.
This year, he is stepped into a leading role on what could be another good Aggie squad.
So far, Walkup is averaging 10.7 point and 4.7 rebounds (tied for team lead) per game.
All the A & M supports hope that Walkup can regularly repeat his opening night 22 points and 8 rebound performance against Alcorn.
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