| 16 October 2011
Forget about those millionaire players and billionaire owners fighting over how to split up the billions of dollars we've paid to them - real basketball is soon to begin once again in North America. The college basketball season is just days away, and with no NBA games on the horizon there are sure to be more eyes than ever watching the college kids ball. With tip-off just around the corner, The Hoops Manifesto presents its guide to the NCAA season, our "2011/12 NCAA Cheat Sheet", where we'll highlight what to look out for this upcoming year. First up: The Super Sophs
It used to be worn like a scarlet letter, the equivalent of a big red 'REJECT' stamped on their foreheads. To be a sophomore college basketball player wasn't something that players strived for. The expression 'superstar sophomore' wasn't in basketball's lexicon. When the NBA instituted its age limit starting with the 2006 NBA Draft, it become very uncool to stay in college more than one year. If you were a superstar, you bolted for pro basketball riches after only a few months on a college campus. If you signed up for a second year of college, your game was considered questionable and suspect; you were damaged goods. Of course there were a few exceptions to that rule (see Griffin, Blake), but for the most part college coaches understood that they would only get to coach their star player(s) for one season. The college game became one dominated by precocious freshman. Yes, the veterans normally still ended up winning the NCAA title at the end of the season, but individually the 18-year-olds were the game's star attractions.
Which all makes the upcoming 2011/12 NCAA basketball season so special. Yes, there are still more than enough superstar freshman dotting rosters (more on that in a future story), but for the first time in years (decades?) there are also superstar sophomores. Whether it was the impending NBA lockout or a genuine love of college life or a combination of both, not one, not two, but THREE players who were considered potential first overall picks in this past June's NBA draft decided to forgoe the pros and keep their noses in their textbooks for a few more months. These three (Jared Sullinger, Harrison Barnes and Perry Jones), plus a NCAA champion and a NCAA Final Four vet, round out our five super sophs to keep an eye on this upcoming season.
Jared Sullinger - Ohio State - Power Forward
Despite being only 18-years-old, Jared Sullinger played like a man among boys last season. The best freshman in all of college basketball, Sullinger relied on an old school post game, using his size, strength and multiple post moves to terrorize his opponents. And watch out college basketball world - it appears like the bruiser has finally gotten into shape. In the offseason he lost 20 pounds (from 285 to 265) and cut almost 5% off his body fat totals (16.7% to 12.1%).
Harrison Barnes - North Carolina - Small Forward
The projected first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft for years, it is shocking to see Harrison Barnes return to Chapel Hill for Year 2. However, it was the right choice for him, as his uneven play last season had his draft stock plummeting. The first freshman to be named to the AP's preseason All-American Team, Barnes wasn't able to live up to the immense hype and got out of the gate slow for Roy Williams' squad. However, he got better and better as the season progressed, culminating in a 40-point, 8-rebound game versus Clemson in the ACC Tournament. Perhaps Barnes' preseason All-American nod was just a year too soon.
Perry Jones - Baylor - Power Forward
It was very surprising, for a couple of reasons, that Perry Jones III decided to return to Baylor for his sophomore season: his immense potential had him pegged to go in the top three in the 2011 NBA Draft, and an NCAA violation will have him suspended for the first five games this season. However, returning to the Bears is probably the smart move for Jones, as his skills and production still haven't caught up to his potential. And with LaceDarius Dunn (and his 15 shot attempts a game) graduated, this will be Jones' team now.
Terrence Jones - Kentucky - Small Forward/Power Forward
Often overshadowed by his more hyped freshman teammates, Terrence Jones was probably the Wildcats' best player for most of last season. Despite slowing down as the season wore one, Jones ended up leading the team in rebounding and blocks and was second in scoring. The versatile lefty has the size and skills to play either forward spot, which will come in handy as John Calipari has once again recruited an amazing freshman class that Jones will have to compete with for minutes and touches.
Jeremy Lamb - Connecticut - Shooting Guard
Compared by coach Jim Calhoun to former Husky Rip Hamilton, Jeremy Lamb had a freshman season to remember as he helped UConn to the NCAA title. The long, athletic wing player got better as his freshman season progressed, increasing his scoring average from the regular season to the Big East Tournament, then again from the Big East Tournament to the NCAA Tournament. Alongside freshman Andre Drummond, Lamb has UConn poised to put up a good fight in defending their title this season.
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