Inside the College Game: Power Forwards Headline 2010 Draft ClassBy:

College basketball is just around the corner and the same familiar names are all looking strong. The defending champs, North Carolina Tar Heels are looking like a very deep team despite losing three 1st round picks to the NBA, including ACC all-time leading scorer Tyler Hansbrough. 2008 national champs, Kansas Jayhawks should be one of the best teams in the country again, returning all their core players and adding one of the best high school players in the nation, Xavier Henry. Another prominent basketball school that should be putting themselves right back in the national spotlight is the Kentucky Wildcats. John Calipari is bringing in one of the best freshman classes college basketball has seen in a longtime to help during his debut season.

It seems like this could be the year of the power forward. Many teams are led by the play of their four-man, including almost all of the top teams. To start off the year, let’s take a look at who could be the top power forwards in the game:

Ed Davis, 6-10, Sophomore – North Carolina

Now with Hansbrough off to the Indiana Pacers, it is time for Davis to step right in and assume the star role. Last year, he was very efficient (51.8% from field) in limited minutes and showed plenty of signs to get Tar Heel fans excited for this upcoming season. Davis is long, athletic, and could end up being one of the best shot blockers in the nation when all is said and done, but we will find out soon in the year if he can be a consistent scoring option in the post for the defending champs.

Derrick Favors, 6-10, Freshman – Georgia
Tech

Favors is an extremely hyped player from the state of Georgia who will step in and play big minutes immediately. He is an elite athlete and a great shot blocker. His frame (245 lbs) allows him to absorb contact and finish plays. Teamed up with Gani Lawal, the Yellow Jackets should greatly improve in the competitive ACC. Favors is most likely a one-and-done player. So, Jacket fans, enjoy Favors while you can.

Greg Monroe, 6-10, Sophomore – Georgetown

Monroe had a good freshman year despite the lack of team success. This year, he will be depended on to lead the Hoyas to the tourney and will need to become more selfish. His averages of 12.7 points and 6.5 rebounds should go up with the departure of Dajuan Summers to NBA. He has a unique set of skills for a big man, especially with is floor vision which works great in John Thompson III’s system because of all the back cuts. Monroe should emerge as one of the top players in the Big East this year.

Craig Brackins, 6-10, Junior – Iowa State

Brackins is a highly skilled big man with nice post moves. He can also step out and make the midrange jumper, which makes him one of the toughest covers in college basketball. Brackins already was getting 20 ppg as a sophomore. This year comes even more responsibility and more touches (as well as defensive focus), which could result in a NCAA tournament berth for the Cyclones.

Larry Sanders, 6-10, Junior – Virginia Commonwealth

It won’t take Sanders long to show everyone that last year’s team wasn’t just 1st round pick Eric Maynor doing everything. Sanders established himself as one of the best shot blockers in the nation. He possesses an unconscionable 7-7 wingspan. Combined with a good vertical and sound timing, Sanders is one of the best paint defenders in the nation. This year it’s his team and everyone will know it early in the year.

Michael Washington, 6-10, Senior – Arkansas

Washington came out of nowhere last season. His scoring average jumped from 4.3 ppg to 15.5 ppg in his junior year. This year, he won’t surprise anyone, but should be one of the best players in the SEC. He is an excellent rebounder who seems to play better with contact. His offensive game is polished, with good post moves and a solid midrange jumper. The Razorbacks will go as far as Washington goes this upcoming season.

Patrick Patterson, 6-8, Junior – Kentucky

Patterson may lead the best frontcourt in the nation. Last year, he was all alone in the paint for the Wildcats, but did more than hold his own, averaging 18 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks while shooting a very efficient .603 from the field. This year, with some help from the freshman class, Patterson won’t have to do everything, but don’t expect his production to go down. He already has an NBA body. The Wildcats are back in the national title hunt, and Patterson will lead them.

DeMarcus Cousins, 6-11, Freshman – Kentucky

Most of the help that Patterson will be receiving will be coming from freshman Cousins. He is a much hyped player, but comes in with other highly prized freshman, so the pressure won’t be there for him to produce immediately. Still, he should get lots of minutes and help anchor one of the biggest and top producing frontcourts in the nation. Offensively, he has good post moves, and can step beyond the arc and make a three. His combination of skills makes him a very difficult cover. Cousins will be loved in Kentucky once he gets his feet wet. It shouldn’t take too long.

Gani Lawal, 6-9, Junior – Georgia Tech

Lawal was one of the few bright spots for the young Yellow Jackets last year. He has all the physical tools that any basketball player could ask for. He is very strong, great vertical, and has a really high motor. If he develops a few ball skills, he could be trouble for opponents at the next level. This year should be different for Lawal because he’ll receive plenty of help from one of the top freshman in the game, Derrick Favors. The combination should have the Yellow Jackets playing in March.

Jarvis Varnado, 6-9, Senior – Mississippi
State

Varnado is one of the best shot blockers in the nation, if not the best. Varnado
blocked a ridiculous 4.7 shots per game last year. An absolute human eraser. He
has the perfect length for a shot blocker and possesses great athleticism. He
needs to add a few more pounds and a little bit more of an offensive game in order to
become dominant on both ends of the court. But, in terms of an exciting player
and game changer, there won’t be too many more than Varnado this year.

Europe’s top two prospects Donatas Motiejunas
and Jan Vesely also happen to be power forwards.

After these excellent prospects, another handful of extremely talented prospects
exist:
Lavoy Allen 6-9 230 PF Temple Jr.,
Nemanja Bjelica 6-10 PF Red Star (Serbia) 1988,
Trevor Booker 6-7 245 PF Clemson Sr., Derrick
Caracter 6-8 260 PF UTEP Jr., Dwayne Collins
6-8 240 PF Miami Sr., Mario Delas
6-9 200 PF KK Split (Croatia) 1990, Michael
Dunigan 6-9 235 PF Oregon So., Tiny Gallon
6-8 280 PF Oklahoma Fr.,Yancy Gates 6-9 255
PF Cincinnati So., Xavier
Gibson 6-10 250 PF Florida St. So. , Augustus
Gilchrist 6-11 240 PF South Florida So., Jerai
Grant 6-8 225 PF Clemson Jr., JaMychal Green
6-9 225 PF Alabama So., Luke Harangody 6-7
246 SF/PF Notre Dame Sr., Terrence Jennings
6-10 225 PF Louisville So., Gary Johnson
6-7 220 SF/PF Texas Jr., JaJuan Johnson
6-10 215 PF Purdue Jr. , Mac Koshwal
6-9 240 PF DePaul Jr., Milan Macvan 6-8 260
PF Hemofarm (Serbia) 1989, Nikola Mirotic
6-10 220 SF/PF Real Madrid (Montenegro) 1991, Arnett
Moultrie 6-10 250 PF UTEP So., Tim
Ohlbrecht 6-11 220 PF Brose Baskets Bamberg (Germany) 1988, Kelly
Olynyk 6-11 220 PF Gonzaga Fr., Alex Oriakhi
6-8 230 PF UConn Fr., Daniel Orton
6-10 240 PF Kentucky Fr., Samardo Samuels
6-8 245 PF Louisville So., Sylvester Seay
6-9 225 SF/PF Fresno St. Sr., Renardo Sidney
6-10 270 PF Mississippi St. Fr. , Deshawn
Sims 6-7 225 SF/PF Michigan Sr., Dante Taylor
6-8 220 SF/PF Pittsburgh Fr. , Howard
Thompkins 6-8 225 PF Georgia So., Deon Thompson
6-8 245 PF UNC Sr., Ekpe Udoh 6-10
230 PF Baylor Sr., Ludovic Vaty 6-9
240 PF Pau-Orthez (France) 1988, Mouphtaou
Yarou 6-9 210 PF Villanova Fr. , Artem Zabelin
7-1 208 SF/PF CSKA Moscow (Russia) 1988, Tyler
Zeller 6-11 220 PF/C North Carolina Fr.