Markedman
04-15-2013, 02:32 PM
ESPN insider piece predicting what the All american teams might look like next year. He has DG on his 2nd team. Doesn't list Vander or Jamil.
With all this in mind, we have the additional challenge that as of this writing, the best college players still have two weeks to decide whether to turn pro. In my predicted first and second All-American teams that follow, I'm leaving out guys in the top 50 of Chad Ford's Top 100 who appear to be seriously contemplating turning pro.
Obviously, players like Doug McDermott and Kelly Olynyk are going to be solid favorites to be first-team All-Americans if they decide to return for their senior seasons. This also eliminates three-fifths of Michigan's potential starting lineup, and guys like Michigan State's Adreian Payne, Georgia's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tennessee's Jarnell Stokes, each of whom could put up monster numbers if he decides to come back.
There is no doubt that some of the undecided prospects will opt to return, but instead of filling All-American teams with a bunch of players who might not actually play, what follows is a group of the 10 best players who are expected to play next season.
Davante Gardner, F, Marquette Golden Eagles
The only thing holding Gardner back from recognition is playing time, which will continue to be a challenge because of his size (6-foot-8, 290 pounds). He's a beast in the middle, shooting better than 55 percent on 2-pointers in each of his three seasons, and drawing oodles of fouls in the process. He's also a consistent producer on the offensive glass. If Marquette wins the Big East, Gardner figures to be an important reason for it.
With all this in mind, we have the additional challenge that as of this writing, the best college players still have two weeks to decide whether to turn pro. In my predicted first and second All-American teams that follow, I'm leaving out guys in the top 50 of Chad Ford's Top 100 who appear to be seriously contemplating turning pro.
Obviously, players like Doug McDermott and Kelly Olynyk are going to be solid favorites to be first-team All-Americans if they decide to return for their senior seasons. This also eliminates three-fifths of Michigan's potential starting lineup, and guys like Michigan State's Adreian Payne, Georgia's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Tennessee's Jarnell Stokes, each of whom could put up monster numbers if he decides to come back.
There is no doubt that some of the undecided prospects will opt to return, but instead of filling All-American teams with a bunch of players who might not actually play, what follows is a group of the 10 best players who are expected to play next season.
Davante Gardner, F, Marquette Golden Eagles
The only thing holding Gardner back from recognition is playing time, which will continue to be a challenge because of his size (6-foot-8, 290 pounds). He's a beast in the middle, shooting better than 55 percent on 2-pointers in each of his three seasons, and drawing oodles of fouls in the process. He's also a consistent producer on the offensive glass. If Marquette wins the Big East, Gardner figures to be an important reason for it.