College Basketball's 5 Most Explosive Players at Each Position

Explosive players come in all shapes and sizes and have a variety of styles and skill-sets.

Some have freakish physical tools. Others have finely-honed talents and abilities.

All of them can make a sudden and significant impact on the games they play, leaving their opponents to wonder what just happened.

Here is a list of the most explosive college basketball players at each position.

Point Guard: Kendall Marshall (North Carolina)

Kendall Marshall is a playmaker extraordinaire.

He sets up UNC's star-studded scorer's so that they can do what they do best...put the ball in the hole.

Marshall is second in the nation in assists per game (10.1 apg) and his 4.0 Assists/TO ratio more than compensate for his 5.1 ppg scoring average.

Point Guard: Vincent Council (Providence)

Vincent Council is one of the big reasons that Providence is 11-2 going into Big East play.

The 6'2" junior from Brooklyn leads the Friars in scoring (16.9 ppg) and assists (6.9 apg; No. 7 in the country).

If VC can continue his high-level performance into league play, watch for PC to surprise under first year head coach Ed Cooley.

Point Guard: Jordan Theodore (Seton Hall)

Even though Jordan Theodore is one of the best pass-first points in the country (7.3 apg; No. 4 in the country), he is also scoring 15.8 ppg and grabbing 3.8 rpg.

If Theodore maintains his current assists' average, he will break Golden “Sunny” Sunkett’s single-season Seton Hall record of 197 assists, set in the 1962-63 season.

Point Guard: Scott Machado (Iona)

Scott Machado is currently the nation's assist leader, dishing out 10.4 apg.

The 6'1" senior from Queens has a nice 2.84 Assists/TO ratio.

But don't think passing is all Machado does.

He also averages 14.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg for the 10-2 Gaels, who are the No. 5 scoring team in the nation (85.9 ppg).

Point Guard: Tu Holloway (Xavier)

Tu Holloway and the Musketeers have been through a rough patch.

Not only were they involved in the brawl with cross-town rival Cincinnati, but they have gone through a three game skid that saw Xavier lose to ORU, Hawaii and Long Beach State, all winnable games.

Holloway remains the most dynamic point guard in the nation, leading XU in scoring (18.7 ppg), assists (5.1 apg) and steals (2.3 spg).

Holloway punishes his opponents by going to the line 10 times per game while making 83.8 percent of his attempts.

Shooting Guard: Ashton Gibbs (Pitt)

Even though Ashton Gibbs had to play some PG during the absence of Travon Woodall, he is one of the top shooting guards in the country.

Gibbs leads Pitt in scoring (17.2 ppg) as well as adding a legit 3.3 assists per game.

When Woodall returns fully to the Panther lineup, head coach Jamie Dixon will have one of the most potent back-courts in the Big East and the nation.

Shooting Guard: Kenny Boynton (Florida)

If you are looking for instant offense, Kenny Boynton is your man.

The 6'2" junior leads the Gators (10-2) in scoring (18.3 ppg) while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 44.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Boynton leads the nation in made 3-pointers with 43 in Florida's first 12 games.

Shooting Guard: Doron Lamb (Kentucky)

With all of the offensive weapons that the Wildcats' head coach John Calipari has in his arsenal, sophomore SG Doron Lamb leads the way.

While some shooters need time to warm up and get into the flow of the game, the 6'4" sophomore from Queens seems to always be ready.

He is Kentucky's top scorer (16.1 ppg), shooting 50 percent from the floor, 83.7 percent from the line and 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Shooting Guard: John Jenkins (Vanderbilt)

Even though Vanderbilt has had a disappointing start to the 2011-12 season, John Jenkins continues to shine as brightly as any SG in the country.

Jenkins leads all SEC players in scoring (20.6 ppg) during pre-conference games, shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 78.6 percent from the line and 43.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Don't write off Kevin Stallings and VU. If Jenkins stays hot they still can challenge for the SEC title.

Shooting Guard: Jeremy Lamb (UConn)

If I was building a college basketball team, one of the first players that I would select would be Jeremy Lamb.

While other players score more points than Lamb (18.9 ppg), he is still one of the most skilled collegiate backcourt players today.

The Huskies, 10-1 heading into Big East play, look like a strong candidate to win both the regular season and the conference tournament too.

Shooting Forward: Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara)

Orlando Johnson is one of the most well-rounded players in all of college basketball.

The 6'5" senior leads the Gauchos in scoring (21 ppg; tied for No. 10 in the nation), rebounding (7.3 rpg) and assists (2.8 apg).

Even before this season, Johnson has an impressive résumé that includes two Big West Tournament Most Valuable Player awards and two Big West scoring titles.

Shooting Forward: Will Barton (Memphis)

Will Barton is a hard-to-pin-down slasher who uses his length and handle to get to the line more than most wing players (81 times in the first eleven games).

Barton leads the Conference USA in scoring (in pre-conference play) with 19.9 points per game.

He is an outstanding rebounder (8.8 rpg) for a wing player with such a slender build (6'6" and 175 lbs).

Shooting Forward: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Kentucky)

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist came in as the No. 1 SF in the 2011 recruiting class and he is not disappointing.

So far, the 6'7" 232 lbs freshmen is Kentucky's No. 2 scorer (13.1 ppg) and No. 2 rebounder, pulling down 6.9 rebounds per game.

Kidd-Gilchrist loves exploding to the rim and can finish in traffic. He leads the Wildcats in free throws attempted (52).

Shooting Forward: Harrison Barnes (North Carolina)

Harrison Barnes is a star among stars on this years North Carolina team.

The 6'8" sophomore leads the Tar Heels in scoring (16.8 ppg) and three-point shooting 48.6 percent (14 percent over his freshmen year).

Barnes seems much more poised this season in being the featured player in the UNC attack.

Shooting Forward: Doug McDermott (Creighton)

Doug McDermott may not be a SportsCenter highlight waiting to happen but he is punishing Creighton's opponents on a nightly basis with his ability to score in bunches.

McDermott is currently tied for the national scoring lead with 25.4 ppg, shooting a sizzling 63.3 percent from the field.

The 6'7" sophomore can post up or step outside and knock down three-pointers. He is hitting a mind-blowing 57.8 percent from beyond the arc (26 for 45).

Power Forward: Arnett Moultrie (Mississippi State)

Two words why Mississippi State is off to a 12-1 start: Arnett Moultrie

The 6'11" 230 lbs junior is a double-double beast, leading the Bulldogs in both scoring (17.8 ppg) and rebounding (11.7 rpg; currently No. 6 in the nation).

While Moultrie may not be the most hulking PF in the country, he uses his length, quickness and athleticism to beat his opponents.

Power Forward: Herb Pope (Seton Hall)

Don't look now, Big East...Herb Pope is tearin' it up!

Pope is scoring (20.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.4 rpg; currently No. 8 in the nation) like a man on a mission.

The 6'8" 236 lbs senior is a huge reason that the Pirates are 11-1 as they open conference play against Syracuse, West Virginia and UConn.

Power Forward: Thomas Robinson (Kansas)

Thomas Robinson stayed in school to take his game to the next level, and Bill Self is glad that the 6'9" 237 lbs junior did.

Even though he faces double and triple teaming from the KU opponents, Robinson leads the Jayhawks in both scoring (17.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.8 rpg; currently No. 4 in the nation).

Kansas has two more pre-conference games before they open Big 12 play against cross-state rival, Kansas State.

Power Forward: Kevin Jones (West Virginia)

Bob Huggins likes to pound the ball inside and he has the bruiser inside to do just that.

Kevin Jones (6'8" 260 lbs) thought about going to the NBA after last season but decided to come back to Morgantown for one more year.

Jones leads the Big East in scoring (21 ppg; tied for No. 10 in the nation) and rebounding (11.9 rpg; No. 2 in the nation).

Power Forward: Jared Sullinger (Ohio State)

Jared Sullinger gets the full attention of every team that Ohio State (12-1) plays and he still just gets things done.

Sullinger (6'9" 280 lbs), averaging 16.9 ppg and 9.2 rpg, dominates the paint by taking the ball strong inside and drawing tons of fouls every game.

Sullinger makes the Buckeyes' opponents pay when they send him to the line. He is hitting 80.6 percent of his free throw attempts.

Post: Cody Zeller (Indiana)

Cody Zeller is a textbook post-player that has helped Indiana basketball back into the Big Ten and national discussions again.

Zeller leads the Hoosiers in scoring (15.1 ppg), rebounding (7.3 rpg), blocks (20), steals (25) and field goal percentage (66.3 percent; currently No. 12 in the nation).

IU is 12-0 as they head into Big Ten play on the road against Michigan State.

Post: Tyler Zeller (North Carolina)

Is it cool or what that two brothers are both among the best players in the post?

Tyler Zeller has developed into a classic post-player with an array of post moves and shots to match anyone's in the country.

One of the least demonstrative players on this list, Zeller uses his size (7'0" 250 lbs) and skills to control the lane, scoring 14 ppg and grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game.

Post: Andre Drummond (UConn)

Andre Drummond is another in a long line of UConn Bigs who dictate what happens in the paint.

The 6'11" 275 lb freshman is steadily establishing his domain and is becoming one of the most fierce post players in the nation.

Don't let Drummond's current stats (10 ppg and 6.5 rpg) fool you. He is a scary shot-blocker (32) and a menacing defender.

Post: Anthony Davis (Kentucky)

It's hard to do a good job defining Anthony Davis' position. He has the length of a center (6'10") and the skills of a wing.

Regardless, Davis is posting some eye-catching numbers in his first collegiate season.

He averages a double-double: 11.8 ppg and 10 rpg (leads the team).

But what may be most impressive is his anticipation and shot blocking skills. He averages 4.3 bpg (tied for No. 2 in the nation).

Post: Patric Young (Florida)

Patric Young's game typifies the word "explosive" more than any other player on this list.

He is an absolute physical freak (6'9" 245) who has great and quick hops.

While Young only has 16 blocks on the season, he has altered countless other shots by his ability to instantly get to wherever the ball is.

Young averages 11.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg on a team that emphasizes perimeter play with three backcourt players averaging 14 points per game or better.