Predicting the Top 100 Players in College Basketball for the 2011-12 Season

The college basketball season has begun. One week deep, we have already received our share of surprises and disappointments from various players.

Although there are plenty of talented players in college basketball, there are clearly a set that stand out from the rest, ranging from Jared Sullinger and Harrison Barnes to mid-major studs.

Follow Jesse Kramer on Twitter @Jesse_Kramer for more college basketball news and information.

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No. 100—Scott Machado, Iona

2010-11 Stats: 13.6 PPG, 7.5 APG

Machado plays point guard for the hyped up Iona Gaels. He is easily the best point guard in the MAAC and also one of the best in the nation, finishing No. 2 in the nation in assists last season.

No. 99—C.J. McCollum, Lehigh

2010-11 Stats: 21.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.5 SPG

McCollum has been outstanding through his first two years of college basketball. Last season, he averaged 21.8 PPG while also grabbing an impressive 7.8 RPG despite standing at only 6-foot-3.

No. 98—DeAndre Kane, Marshall

2010-11 Stats: 15.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG

Kane sports the ability of being a combo-guard. At 6'4", he put up over 15 points per game as a freshman while also averaging 3.4 APG.

Through two games this season, he is averaging 10.5 PPG and 5.5 APG.

No. 97—Greg Mangano, Yale

2010-11 Stats: 16.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.0 BPG

Mangano emerged as one of the top big men in the Ivy League last season. He was the only player in the conference to average a double double, and he got off to a good start in the 2011-12 season with 23 points and 13 rebounds on Friday night.

No. 96—Ken Horton—Central Connecticut State

2010-11 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG

Horton led the NEC in points and blocks last season. At 6'6", he complements his inside game with a solid outside shooting game. In his first game of the young season, Horton put up 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

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No. 95—Jesse Sanders, Liberty

2010-11 Stats: 11.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.7 APG

Sanders is one of the best point guards at the mid-major level. He has great court vision and is a good rebounder despite being only 6'3". Don't be surprised to see him post a triple-double this season.

No. 94—Nurideen Lindsey, St. John's

2010-11 Stats (with Redlands Community College): 22.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.1 APG

After a great season at Redlands Community College, Lindsey is off to a good start with St. John's. He has explosive scoring ability and is also a good distributor, averaging 4.7 APG to this point in the season.

No. 93—Alex Young, IUPUI

2010-11 Stats: 19.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG

Young led the Summit League in scoring last season and was also in the top 10 in rebounding. He was a consistent go to guy for the Jaguars, scoring in double digits in all but one game.

No. 92—Rakim Sanders, Fairfield

2009-10 Stats (with Boston College): 11.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG

After three solid seasons with Boston College, Sanders transferred to Fairfield. His experience in the ACC makes him one of the best players in the MAAC.

No. 91—Jae Crowder, Marquette

2010-11 Stats: 11.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG

The Kenneth Faried look alike had a solid season as a newcomer with Marquette, posting a pair of double-doubles. 

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90. Jared Cunningham, Oregon State

2010-11 Stats: 14.2 PPG, 2.8 SPG

Cunningham had a breakout sophomore season, increasing his scoring totals by more than 100 percent. Many people know of him from his dunk against Arizona (see video), but he can do more than just that.

89. Melvin Johnson III, Texas-San Antonio

2010-11 Stats: 14.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG

Johnson had a breakout sophomore season and is the leading returning scorer for UTSA and the No. 2 returning scorer in the Southland Conference. 

88. J'Covan Brown, Texas

2010-11 Stats: 10.4 PPG, 2.1 APG

Brown did not have to do a whole lot of Texas last season. But with a lot of last year's talent leaving, he will finally get to play a role where he can show his full potential. Although his numbers were just mediocre last season, look for them to make a big jump this season.

87. Renardo Sidney, Mississippi State

2010-11 Stats: 14.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG

Sidney has the talent to be much higher on this list. However, he is not mentally ready to live up to his potential.

86. Dominique Morrison, Oral Roberts

2010-11 Stats: 19.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG

Morrison returned to Oral Roberts after being the No. 3 scorer in the Summit League last season. The 6'6" forward was a consistent scoring threat during his junior year, putting up double digits in all but one game last year. The next step for Morrison is filling out his game by being stronger on the boards and maybe getting more assists.

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85. Nate Wolters, South Dakota State

2010-11 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 6.1 APG

Wolters does not get the publicity he deserves playing in South Dakota. In the Summit League, the junior point guard was No. 1 in assists and No. 2 in scoring.

84. D.J. Cooper, Ohio

2010-11 Stats: 15.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 7.5 APG

After a stellar sophomore season where Cooper posted seven double-doubles, the 5'11" point guard will not be sneaking up on anyone. He was No. 2 in the nation in assists last season, and his next step to becoming an even better point guard is limiting his turnovers (3.5 TOPG).

83. Yancy Gates, Cincinnati

2010-11 Stats: 11.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG

At 6'9", Gates has the potential to get a double-double every game. He has been consistently improving since his freshman season, and if he improves his free throw shooting this season, he will start putting up more points.

82. Brandon Paul, Illinois

2010-11 Stats: 9.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG

With only 22.4 MPG of playing time last season, Paul averaged 9.2 PPG. With Illinois losing a lot from last season, he will have to step up for the Fighting Illini.

81. Kyle Casey, Harvard

2010-11 Stats: 10.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG

Casey is undoubtedly one of the top players in the Ivy League. A 6'7", he gives Harvard good depth in the frontcourt. 

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80. Arnett Moultrie, Mississippi State

2009-10 Stats (with UTEP): 9.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG

Mississippi State fans were hoping that Moultrie would have an immediate impact with the Bulldogs, and he has. Through three games this season, the 6'11" forward is averaging 16.3 PPG and 12.7 RPG.

79. Maalik Wayns, Villanova

2010-11 Stats: 14.0 PPG, 4.5 APG

Wayns made some nice improvements in his sophomore season, but he will have much higher expectations and responsibilities during his junior season. As one of the more talented players for Villanova this year, Wayns will have to take his game to the next level.

78. Reggie Hamilton, Oakland

2010-11 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 5.3 APG

Hamilton took a backseat to Keith Benson last year, but anyone who followed Oakland surely knows who he is. The 5'11" point guard started dominating games toward the end of the season. 

77. Tony Mitchell, Alabama

2010-11 Stats: 15.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG

Mitchell is one of the many talented players on this year's Alabama team. In the Crimson Tide's season opener, he scored 17 points and 10 rebounds.

76. Javon McCrea, Buffalo

2010-11 Stats: 11.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.7 BPG

McCrea was the No. 2 scorer among freshmen in the MAC last season. He is a solid offensive post player and also a very good interior defender. McCrea put up better numbers towards the end of the season last year, averaging nearly 14 PPG during the last two months of the season.

75. Kevin Foster, Santa Clara

2010-11 Stats: 20.2 PPG, 3.7 APG

Foster led the NCAA in three-pointers made last season with 117. His 20.2 PPG were No. 1 in the WCC, and his sweet shooting stroke makes him one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the nation.

Last season, Foster scored more than 20 points in 13 different games, with his season-high 36 points coming against Gonzaga.

If Santa Clara does any damage in the WCC this season, Foster will be the core of the Broncos' success.

74. Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan

2010-11 Stats: 13.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG

Hardaway Jr. was named to the Big Ten Freshman Team last season after helping Michigan to the NCAA tournament. The6'5" guard has a solid offensive game but should look to become more effective in more areas.

73. Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova

2010-11 Stats: 8.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG

Yarou put together a strong sophomore season where he recorded five double-doubles. Between being a strong defender and post presence, he is ready for a breakout season in 2011-12.

In Villanova's first game of the season, Yarou had 24 points and 10 rebounds.

72. Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas

2010-11 Stats: 9.3 PPG, 4.6 APG

It is time for Taylor to step up his game. The New Jersey native had a solid year for the Jayhawks last season, but, as a main player and senior leader for them this year, expect much bigger things from Taylor.

71. Mike Rosario, Florida

2009-10 Stats (with Rutgers): 16.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG

Rosario will most likely be a bench player this year for the Gators, but that simply shows the depth that Florida has in the backcourt.

Despite scoring a lot of points with Rutgers, he was very inefficient. He would simply shoot all game and hope that his shots dropped through the hoop.

With better coaching at Florida, Rosario has the opportunity to become the player that many expected him to be out of high school.

In the first game of the season, Rosario put up 19 points in 20 minutes of playing time.

70. Allen Crabbe, California

2010-11 Stats: 13.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG

Crabbe got off to a slow start as a freshman, but he hit his stride during the second half of the season, averaging 16.4 PPG from January to the end of the season. 

He is an explosive shooter that will do a lot of damage in the Pac-12 this year. 

69. Ryan Kelly, Duke

2010-11 Stats: 6.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG

Kelly quietly put together a solid sophomore year. Although his numbers from last season do not stand out, he is a versatile player who can score down low or from three-point range.

He is already off to a better start this season, averaging 14.5 PPG through Duke's first two games.

68. Robert Sacre, Gonzaga

2010-11 Stats: 12.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG

Sacre does most of his damage in the post. He is the best big man in the WCC and has proven that he can play well against top competition.

If Sacre plays to his full potential, expect him to consistently put up double-doubles this season.

67. Joe Jackson, Memphis

2010-11 Stats: 9.9 PPG, 3.1 APG

Jackson had many ups and downs last season, but he showed the potential to be one of the top guards in all of college basketball.

The next step Jackson has to take to become a better point guard is to improve his ball control. He averaged 3.3 turnovers per game last year and had only 0.9 assists for every turnover.

66. Jorge Gutierrez, California

2010-11 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 4.5 APG

As part of Cal's dynamic duo in the backcourt with Crabbe, Gutierrez is the main distributor for the Golden Bears. In a breakout junior season, he was second in the conference in assists.

Through two games this year, Gutierrez is averaging 6.5 APG.

65. Ray McCallum, Detroit

2010-11 Stats: 13.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.9 APG

McCallum had a very good freshman season for the Titans. He has amazing quickness and does a great job of finding his open teammates.

On Monday night, he led Detroit to a near-upset of Notre Dame with 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists. 

64. Casper Ware, Long Beach State

2010-11 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 4.4 APG

Ware was the No. 2 scorer in the Big West last season, second to UC Santa Barbara's Orlando Johnson. As the point guard for the 49ers, Ware was also No. 2 in the conference in assists.

He is one of the most dangerous point guards at the mid-major level, and he will give top 25 teams trouble.

63. Seth Curry, Duke

2010-11 Stats: 9.0 PPG, 43.5 3P%

Curry, taking after his older brother Stephen, is undoubtedly one of the better shooters in the nation.

After not playing such a huge role for Duke during his sophomore season, he will have much higher expectations this year. Through the first two games of the season, he has gotten the job done, scoring 16 points against Belmont and 10 points against Presbyterian.

62. Peyton Siva, Louisville

2010-11 Stats: 9.9 PPG, 5.2 APG

Siva's quickness puts him among the top guards in the country. After averaging 5.2 APG last season, expect him to be among the nation's leaders in assists this year.

In Louisville's first game against Tennessee-Martin, Siva fell just shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine assists.

61. Doron Lamb, Kentucky

2010-11 Stats: 12.3 PPG, 48.6 3P%

Lamb burst onto the Kentucky scene with 12.3 PPG as a freshman. He did a large part of his damage from beyond the arc, hitting as many as seven three-pointers in a single game.

On Friday night, Lamb opened up his sophomore campaign with 15 points and eight rebounds.

60. Shabazz Napier, Connecticut

2010-11 Stats: 7.8 PPG, 3.0 APG

Napier played point guard for the national champion Connecticut Huskies last year. As a freshman playing behind Kemba Walker, he did not get to do as much as he might have wanted for the team last year.

This year, he opened up with a bang, posting 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists against Columbia.

59. Matthew Dellavedova, St. Mary's

2010-11 Stats: 13.4 PPG, 5.3 APG

Dellavedova was the No. 2 man to Mickey McConnell last season. This year, he will have to step up as the main man and leader for St. Mary's.

After finishing No. 2 in the WCC in assists last season, Dellavedova is proven to be one of the top guards in the WCC. 

He dished out 2.25 assists for every turnover while also putting points of his own on the board with 13.4 PPG.

58. John Shurna, Northwestern

2010-11 Stats: 16.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG

Shurna's numbers dropped a little last season after an outstanding sophomore year. If he can get his production back to where it was two years ago, he will undoubtedly be one of the best bigs in college basketball. 

Standing at 6'9", Shurna has the ability both inside and outside, shooting 43.4 percent from three-point range last season.

57. Rodney McGruder, Kansas State

2010-11 Stats: 11.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG

McGruder showed flashes of being the next great at Kansas State during his sophomore season. He shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc and hit as many as seven three-pointers in a single game.

56. Arsalan Kazemi, Rice

2010-11 Stats: 15.2 PPG, 11.0 RPG

Outside of Memphis, Kazemi is the most talented player in Conference USA. The Iranian averaged a double-double last season, consistently posting double figures in both points and rebounds.

If Kazemi can improve his defense and become a better shot-blocker, he will be among the best big men in the country.

55. Kevin Jones, West Virginia

2010-11 Stats: 13.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG

Jones had a very good junior year for the Mountaineers where he posted eight double-doubles. This season, Jones will be the go-to-guy for West Virginia.

Against Oral Roberts on Friday, Jones scored 20 points and eight rebounds in a West Virginia win. Expect similar numbers from him throughout the season.

54. Dee Bost, Mississippi State

2010-11 Stats: 15.3 PPG, 6.2 APG

Bost is back with the Bulldogs after missing a chunk of last season. With a good frontcourt of Renardo Sidney and Arnett Moultrie, Bost and Mississippi State have the potential to do big things this year.

Through three games, Bost is averaging 17.3 PPG and 6.0 RPG.

53. Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette

2010-11 Stats: 15.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG

Although many people thought of Jimmy Butler when they thought of Marquette, Johnson-Odom led the Golden Eagles in scoring last year. With an even more notable role for Marquette this year, his scoring numbers could get closer 20 PPG.

52. Kyle Weems, Missouri State

2010-11 Stats: 16.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG

Weems put Missouri State on his back last season and carried the Bears to the NIT. As the top returning scorer in the Missouri Valley Conference, Weems will have very high expectations this season.

He struggled in the first game of the season, scoring only four points and grabbing six rebounds in a win over Nevada.

51. Keith Wright, Harvard

2010-11 Stats: 14.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG

Wright complements Kyle Casey in the Harvard frontcourt. As the main post presence for the Crimson, expect Wright's numbers to jump up to a double-double.

The Ivy League Preseason Player of the Year will be a driving force for the Crimson as it tries to live up to high, preseason expectations. 

50. Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure

2010-11 Stats: 20.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.5 BPG

After leading the Atlantic 10 in scoring last season, Nicholson chose to come back to the Bonnies for his final year of eligibility. At 6'9", he gets a lot done on the inside. He can score in the post, grab rebounds and also block a couple of shots each game.

In St. Bonaventure's season opener against Cornell, Nicholson scored 24 points and shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line.

49. Tarik Black, Memphis

2010-11 Stats: 9.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG

Black had a quiet but good freshman year with the Tigers. He steadily improved over the course of the season, capping off the regular season with a career-high 24 points against Tulane.

At 6'8", Black runs the floor very well. Expect him to receive more attention as a NBA prospect this season.

48. Jabari Brown, Oregon

As a senior in high scool, Brown averaged 23.8 PPG and 4.1 RPG. Out of Oakland, Ca., he chose Oregon over a number of other Pac-12 schools. 

Despite being known for his shooting, Brown struggled in his Oregon debut, scoring seven points on 2-for-7 shooting and committing six turnovers.

47. Michael Glover, Iona

2010-11 Stats: 18.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG

Glover is the leading returning scorer and rebounder in the MAAC. Glover has already received his share of preseason attention, being selected to the Wooden Award watch list. 

Glover dominated in the MAAC last season and also played well against top competition, scoring 25 points and 16 rebounds against Syracuse. 

With offseason improvement, Glover will not only be one of the top mid-major players, but also one of the top players in the entire nation.

46. Josiah Turner, Arizona

Turner is one of the most highly-touted recruits in the incoming class. With the transfer of MoMo Jones, Turner will likely log many minutes with the Wildcats this year.

Through his first two games, he has been somewhat ineffective, averaging 3.5 PPG.

45. Marquis Teague, Kentucky

Teauge, the brother of NBA point guard Jeff Teague, joins John Calipari's Wildcats as the most recent of a string of successful point guards, which includes Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall and Brandon Knight. 

At Pike High School, Teague averaged 22.7 PPG and 5.9 APG last season.

Against Marist last week, Teague put up 16 points, four rebounds and four assists in his first game at the collegiate level.

44. JaMychael Green, Alabama

2010-11 Stats: 15.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG

After leading Alabama in scoring, rebounding, and blocks last year, Green returns to take the Crimson Tide to the NCAA tournament.

In his first three years, Green has averaged at least 10 PPG and seven RPG in each season. 

43. Doug McDermott, Creighton

2010-11 Stats: 14.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG

McDermott is a candidate for Mid-Major Player of the Year despite being only a sophomore. Last year, his nine double-doubles led the MVC as he won MVC Newcomer of the Week seven times.

The coach's son put up 21 points and eight rebounds against Chicago State on Sunday, dominating the game.

42. Khris Middleton, Texas A&M

2010-11 Stats: 14.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG

After injuring his knee against Liberty, Middleton will miss the first 3-4 weeks of the season.

Assuming he makes a good comeback from his injury, he will be one of the top players in college basketball this season.

At 6'7", Middleton is a solid shooter and all-around scorer. Last season, his season-high was 28 points against Missouri.

41. Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt

2010-11 Stats: 13.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.6 BPG

Following a breakout junior season, Ezeli sprained his MCL and PCL in October and will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the season. Assuming the knee injury does not have any large effect on him, he will be a very prominent player once he returns to the Vanderbilt lineup.

The Nigerian center is a defensive stalwart, finishing No. 4 in blocks in the SEC last season. Along with John Jenkins and Jeffery Taylor, Ezeli one of the keys to Vanderbilt being an elite team this year.

40. Patric Young, Florida

2010-11 Stats: 3.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG

Many are predicting that Young will have a breakout sophomore season.

As a freshman, he only averaged 3.4 PPG and 3.8 RPG. His offense struggled at times and he scored in double digits on only two occasions.

If he develops a stronger offensive post game, he will be one of the better players in the nation this year.

39. Quincy Miller, Baylor

As a freshman, Miller might have to take a bench spot to Quincy Acy and Perry Jones III this year. However, if he is as talented as people say, he should be either a starter or a high quality sixth man.

He is a good post player, but when his jump shots are falling, he becomes one of the best overall players around.

38. Myck Kabango, Texas

Kabongo has the potential to be a great point guard in the Big 12. He averaged 19.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 6.4 APG in high school and has a reputation as a leader on the basketball court.

He put together a solid debut with six points and seven assists against Boston University. 

37. Adonis Thomas, Memphis

The athletic Thomas should bring an extra spark to the Memphis Tigers. He was ranked No. 9 in his class by ESPN and was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. 

He will be a premier player in Conference USA in his freshman season.

36. Josh Smith, UCLA

2010-11 Stats: 10.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG

Smith showed flashes of being the next best big man in college basketball. At 6'10" and 305 lbs., he has a huge body that he can use to get good position in the post.

However, Smith's biggest struggle last year was foul trouble. He fouled out in three games and had four or more fouls in 13 games.

35. Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame

2010-11 Stats: 15.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 42.9 3P%

Abromaitis is the No. 3 returning scorer in the Big East this year. Without Ben Hansbrough, the Fighting Irish will need Abromaitis to take his game to the next level where he can consistently put up big numbers.

34. Scoop Jardine, Syracuse

2010-11 Stats: 12.5 PPG, 5.9 APG

The Orange point guard had a solid junior season where he was No. 2 in the Big East in assists. The key to a successful season for him will be limiting his turnovers. When he gets too fancy, he does more bad than good for Syracuse.

33. Orlando Johnson, UC Santa Barbara

2010-11 Stats: 21.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG

Johnson led the Big West in scoring last season with 21.1 PPG. The sharpshooter scored in double digits in all but one game last season and had six appearances with 30 or more points.

With Johnson at full strength, UC Santa Barbara becomes a dangerous team. His explosiveness makes him among the best in the country. 

32. Alex Oriakhi, Connecticut

2010-11 Stats: 9.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG

Oriakhi will not necessarily stand out in a box score, but he is extremely valuable to the Connecticut Huskies.

Last year, he led the national champions with 8.7 RPG and 1.6 BPG.

31. Draymond Green, Michigan State

2010-11 Stats: 12.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.1 APG

Green stuffs the statsheet almost every time out. As a junior, he averaged 12.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 4.1 APG. He even put up a triple double (15 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists) against Penn State.

Against No. 1 North Carolina last friday, he opened up the season with 13 points and 18 rebounds in the Spartans' loss.

30. Le'Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State

This McDonald's All-American averaged 22 PPG and 8.7 RPG as a high school senior.

He scored 13 points in his Oklahoma State debut but had some struggles, shooting 5-for-14 from the field.

If he lives up to his potential, he can once again make Oklahoma State a national power.

29. Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt

2010-11 Stats: 14.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG

Last season, Taylor added the three-point shot to his game. After shooting nine percent from long range as a sophomore, Taylor shot 34.5 percent as a junior.

As he continues to round out his game, he will become more of a threat to opposing teams.

28. Will Barton, Memphis

2010-11 Stats: 12.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG

Barton is coming off a solid freshman year where he led Memphis in scoring. He struggled from inconsistency for a large part of the season but hit his stride in January and February. From January 15 to February 16, he averaged 15.5 PPG.

Along with the rest of the solid core at Memphis, Barton will have an opportunity to bring Memphis deep into the NCAA tournament for the first time since the Calipari years.

27. Brad Beal, Florida

Beal was ranked the No. 2 shooting guard in the incoming recruiting class. He is reputed to be a pure shooter that will due a lot of damage this year in the SEC.

During his senior year of high school, Beal averaged 32.5 PPG and 5.7 RPG.

In his first game with the Gators, Beal put up 14 points but shot just 1-for-6 from three-point range.

26. Robbie Hummel, Purdue

2009-10 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 90.2 FT%

Hummel missed all of last season after tearing his ACL. In Purdue's season opener, he picked up right where he left off, scoring 21 points.

If Hummel stays healthy, he will be a candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year.

25. William Buford, Ohio State

2010-11 Stats: 14.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 44.2 3P%

Buford returns to Ohio State for his senior year after a very solid junior year.

The 6'6" shooting guard was among the top three-point shooters in the Big Ten last season, and his 14.4 PPG put him among the top 15 scorers in the conference.

With David Light and John Diebler gone, Buford will have the opportunity to have a breakout season for the Buckeyes.

24. Reeves Nelson, UCLA

2010-11 Stats: 13.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG

As a sophomore, Nelson played a huge part in getting UCLA to the NCAA tournament. His 12 double-doubles and 13.9 PPG led the team.

Despite hurting his ankle, Nelson still played in UCLA's first game of the season. Against Loyola Marymount, Nelson posted 13 points and eight rebounds.

23. Terrence Ross, Washington

2010-11 Stats: 8.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG

Ross put together a solid freshman season where he averaged eight points per game. In the 2011-12 season, he will take on a bigger role for Washington.

Despite only being a sophomore, Ross has the potential to be one of the top scorers in the Pac-12 this year.

22. Aaron Craft, Ohio State

2010-11 Stats: 6.9 PPG, 4.8 APG, 2.0 SPG

Craft will not stand out to someone who looks through the box score just for points. He only averaged 6.9 PPG last season, but, despite being just a freshman, he showed a tremendous ability to command the floor.

Craft is one of the best point guards in the Big Ten, second to Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor.

21. Elias Harris, Gonzaga

2010-11 Stats: 12.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG

After falling into a sophomore slump last season, Harris broke through with a strong game against Eastern Washington in the Zags' season opener. He put up 16 points, eight rebounds and blocked two shots.

20. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota

2010-11 Stats: 13.9 PPG, 10.5 RPG

Mbakwe is the kind of player that could average a double-double every night. At 6'8", he is a great post player on both offense and defense, and he is also a ferocious rebounder.

19. Andre Drummond, Connecticut

Drummond comes to Connecticut with a lot of high expectations. He is one of the best big men in the country despite being a freshman.

Although his offense has struggled to get going early in the season, he has picked up four blocks through his first two games.

18. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky

Out of St. Patrick High School in New Jersey, Kidd-Gilchrist was the No. 4 overall recruit in his class according to ESPN.

He averaged a double double with 20.2 PPG and 11 RPG during his senior year of high school and then chose Kentucky over a slew over national powerhouses.

In his first game with the Wildcats, he put up 15 points and seven rebounds. We will get to see him against better competition when Kentucky plays Kansas in the Champions Classic.

17. Marcus Denmon, Missouri

2010-11 Stats: 16.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 44.8 3P%

Denmon thrives in Missouri's up-tempo style of play. He is a pure scorer with the potential to be the best player in the Big 12 this season.

16. Kris Joseph, Syracuse

2010-11 Stats: 14.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG

Joseph's numbers might not reflect his full talent with Syracuse being so balanced this year. But when you watch him play, you see just how good Joseph is.

At 6'7", he is able to play in the post and knock down jumpshots. He is one of the more versatile players in the Big East.

15. Tyler Zeller, UNC

2010-11 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 54.7 FG%

Zeller had a breakout season last year, averaging a team-high 15.7 PPG. At 7'0", Zeller is as smooth as anyone in college basketball in the post.

Against UNC-Asheville on Sunday, Zeller dominated with 27 points and 8 rebounds.

14. Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut

2010-11 Stats: 11.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG

Lamb broke onto the college basketball scene while playing a supporting role to Kemba Walker last season. With Walker gone, Lamb will have the opportunity to step up and be the main man for the Huskies.

Early in the season, he has not disappointed, averaging 25 PPG through two games.

13. Kendall Marshall, UNC

2010-11 Stats: 6.2 PPG, 6.2 APG

No one expected too much out of Marshall last season. However, once Larry Drew left the team, Roy Williams gave Marshall starting duties at the point guard position.

Once he started receiving quality minutes, he showed that he was one of the best point guards in the nation, posting as many as 16 assists in a single game.

Marshall picked up right where he left off, dishing out 15 assists against UNC-Asheville on Sunday.

12. Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh

2010-11 Stats: 16.8 PPG, 49.0 3P%, 88.9 FT%

This year, Gibbs will be the go-to-guy for Pitt. Gibbs was a top shooter in the nation last year, making 102 of his 208 three-point attempts.

He is consistently a deadly threat from any spot on the floor.

11. John Henson, UNC

2010-11 Stats: 11.7 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.2 BPG

Henson is one of the best post players at the college level and arguably the outright best shot blocker. He is not the type of player that will lead the nation in scoring, but he is as valuable as anyone to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Against Michigan State in the Carrier Classic, Henson put together a great all-around performance with 12 points, seven rebounds and nine blocks. 

10. Austin Rivers, Duke

Rivers has high expectations at Duke this season. The freshman was ranked the No. 3 recruit in his class on ESPN and averaged 29.2 PPG and 6.1 RPG as a senior in high school.

Despite averaging 15.5 PPG through his first two with the Blue Devils, Rivers has still looked like a freshman on the floor.

His decision-making and shot selection has been questionable at times, but, fortunately, he has one of the best coaches in the game to help him out. 

9. Thomas Robinson, Kansas

2010-11 Stats: 7.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG

Robinson is possibly the most athletic big man in college basketball this year. Last season, he took a backseat the Morris twins at Kansas, so his numbers did not reflect his talent.

He showed flashes of his potential with a number of good outings, including a pair of double-doubles against Memphis and Texas-Arlington.

This season, he came out of the gate strong, posting 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists against Towson.

8. John Jenkins, Vanderbilt

2010-11 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 40.8 3P%, 89.4 FT%

After leading the SEC in scoring last season, Jenkins returned to Vanderbilt for his senior season. He is quite possibly the best shooter in all of college basketball, and he will be among the nation's leading scorers by the time the end of the season arrives.

Through the first two games of the season, Jenkins is averaging 20.5 PPG.

7. Terrence Jones, Kentucky

2010-11 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG

Jones chose to return to Kentucky for a second season after helping the Wildcats to the Final Four last year.

He was a consistent inside force who could also step out and hit some outside shots last season. As a member of the Preseason First Team All-SEC, he will have a target on his back this year.

Against Marist on Friday night, Jones went for eight points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes. 

Over the course of the season, expect him to be a double-double machine.

6. Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Davis was the most highly-touted recruit out of high school and was ranked the No. 1 recruit in the nation on ESPN.

The athletic 6'10" forward does a lot of damage down low on both offense and defense. He is expected to put up big numbers in his freshman year with Kentucky.

In his collegiate debut against Marist, Davis did not disappoint, posting his first career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He also had five blocks and three assists.

5. Tu Holloway, Xavier

2010-11 Stats: 19.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.4 APG

Holloway's stellar performance last season earned him a spot as a Preseason All-American. He can shoot, he can score, he can rack up assists and he also grabs a solid number of rebounds for someone his size.

Last season, he made his mark with a pair of triple-doubles against Wake Forest and Fordham. He also scored 20 or more points in 19 games.

4. Perry Jones III, Baylor

2010-11 Stats: 13.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 54.9 FG%

Jones is one of the top prospects in the nation. After an impressive freshman season, he chose to return to Baylor, where he will lead the three-pronged, frontcourt attack with Quincy Acy and Quincy Miller.

Jones will be suspended for the first five games of the season.

3. Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin

2010-11 Stats: 18.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.7 APG

Taylor was No. 5 in the Big Ten in both scoring and assists last season. He showed his ability to be the distributor, dishing out as many as nine assists in a single game, and also his ability to be the go-to scorer, posting a career-high 39 points against Indiana.

The Badger is the best point guard in college basketball, so expect even better things out of him this year.

2. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina

2010-11 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG

Barnes might have been the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NBA draft had he gone pro, but he instead decided to return to school for another year. 

Barnes is possibly the most complete player in college basketball. He is able to shoot from three-point range, shoot from mid-range, drive and play in the post. At 6'8", his ball-handling skills are well-above average.

1. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State

2010-11 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 54.1 FG%

Barnes makes a good case to be ranked the top player in the nation, but Sullinger edges him in my book.

During his freshman season, Sullinger was one of two players (Trevor Mbakwe) to average a double-double in the Big Ten Conference. He performed well consistently, putting up 16 double-doubles in 33 games.

After dominating as a freshman, he will likely be even better as a sophomore.