In my last post, I went over future NBA talent, focusing on a chosen few to build up for the draft in June. It was a big success. I missed a few players and you, the reader, pleasantly filled the void.

College basketball has been fantastic this year with scintillating and courageous performances. The games have been gritty and relentless with superb finishes and shocking upsets. The game continually gets better, even with that stupid player control foul rule. Players are stepping up and becoming prospects for a future NBA champion. It all starts here, you can’t come from high school anymore. College basketball is the stepping stone for the NBA (besides Europe), and I couldn’t be more pleased. So without further ado, The Future is Ready.

ACC

Duke

Nolan Smith- 18 ppg, 4 apg. Nolan’s explosiveness is the key to the Blue Devils success. When he plays well, they’re one of the best teams in the country. He is shooting an amazing 49% from the floor including 50% from 3, and with the three point line pushed back, Smith should have no problem to translate that range in the NBA.

Georgia Tech

Derrick Favors- 12 ppg, 9 rpg, & 2 bpg, The numbers may not say much, but Favors has terrific upside and provide teams with instant offense. The kid is shooting 59% from the floor.

North Carolina

Deon Thompson- 15.1 ppg & 7 rpg, Mr. Thompson is leading a struggling Tar Heels team by shooting an impressive 52% from the floor.

Ed Davis- 15 ppg, 10 rpg, & 3 bpg. Davis is doing everything he can to make up for the lack of guard play on a Tar Heels team that has lost more games already this year than all of last. He is shooting 60% from the floor, but should take more shots since he is the go to guy.

Big 12

Colorado

Alec Burks- 17 ppg & 5 rpg, The freshman all star is overlooked due to his school of choice and lack of coverage for team, but I assure you, he is up there with Derrick Favors, Avery Bradley, and John Wall. He is also shooting an amazing 54% from the floor.

Kansas

Sherron Collins-16 ppg & 4 apg, Collins is the College ‘Mr. Big Shot’ .

Xavier Henry- 15 ppg & 4 rpg, The Freshman continues to improve, but was a no show against Tennessee. He should develop even more as the season goes on, but I feel he should stay another year to solidify himself as a first round pick.

Kansas State

Jacob Pullen- 19 ppg & 2 spg, A solid guard that will be a second round draft pick. He needs to show up in the big games to illustrate his worth. 2-15 FG against Texas is not going to help you.

Texas

Damion James- 17 ppg, 11 rpg, & 2 spg, James solid frame, 6-7 225 lbs, makes him a handful to deal with as a combo shooting guard/forward and established himself as a sure first round draft pick. I feel San Antonio will somehow wrap him up.

Big East

Cincinnati

Lance Stephenson- 12 ppg, 5 rpg, & 3 apg, the All-Time High School leading scorer is starting to assert himself after he started the year injured. Stephenson is a potential lottery pick, but may scare teams away with his attitude. A true and natural scorer who is terrific around the rim.

Connecticut

Stanley Robinson- 17 ppg, 7 rpg, & 2 bpg. Robinson has a NBA ready body, and his numbers will translate as well. A Gerald Wallace type player with a Stephen Jackson type attitude. How ironic, they’re on the same team.

Jerome Dyson- 19 ppg, 5 rpg, & 5 apg- He is a just winner. Dyson understands the game. He knows when to take over, how to take over, and executes his take over. A fun player to watch. I look forward to his future.

Georgetown

Greg Monroe- 15 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 spg, & 2 bpg- Everybody is talking about John Wall (inlcuding myself), but Monroe can help a team with his 6-11 frame and amazing hand eye coordination.

Louisville

Samardo Samuels- 16 ppg & 8 rpg, Samuels is probably going to stay another year, but it’s for the best. He is improving in Rick Pitino’s system and Pitino is a producer of NBA ready players. Terrence Williams and Earl Clark for a small example.

Notre Dame

Luke Harangody- 25 ppg & 10 rpg, Everyone says he can’t bring his game to the big time. Well, how is that. He plays in the hardest conference in College Basketball and dominates. He is been averaging a double-double for 3 years now. Give the man is DAP. He is the white Carlos Boozer.

Seton Hall

Herb Pope- 12 ppg, 11 rpg, & 2 bpg. A 6-8, 236 lb frame and the ability to drill a three. Pope is shooting an amazing 46% from downtown. He can score down low and handle the ball. A sick prospect.

Jeremy Hazell- 23 ppg & 2 spg, Crazy Ears and Crazy Range. The man can shoot from anywhere, and plays like an NBA player already. However, I find him to be a late first rounder/ early second rounder.

Syracuse

Wesley Johnson- 17 ppg, 9 rpg, 2 spg, & 2 bpg. A savvy scorer, a solid defender, and NBA ready style of game is enough for me. Johnson already plays in a translative system and his arm length is scary. A Scottie Pippen type body, but has a lot of work before he gets there.

Villanova

Scottie Reynolds- 19 ppg, What makes Scottie so good is his ability to make the big shot. He is arguably the best closer in College Basketball. I think he is, and how can anyone forget that game winning lay up against Pitt in the big tournament last year.

West Virginia

Da’ Sean Butler- 16 ppg & 6 rpg, He is going to be the steal of the draft. Similar to Chris Douglas-Roberts, he is ready, can help a team immediately, and can shot from long range. One of my favorite players in the college game.

Big Ten

Michigan

Manny Harris- 19 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg, & 2 bpg, a quick 6-5 guard who has a knack to score in bunches. He can create for himself and his teammates. However, he needs to improve his shot selection and 3 point range (28%).

DeShawn Sims- 17 ppg & 8 rpg, Sims is not only valuable for his size: 6-8, 235 lbs, but his ability to shoot from deep, post up, and rip down the boards is what makes him a sure NBA player.

Michigan State

Kalin Lucas- 16 ppg & 4 apg, Lucas provides a slasher type of style to a team needing a point guard who can create for himself and teammates. He just needs to take care of the ball more: 3 Tos/g is not going to cut it.

Ohio State

Evan Turner- 19 ppg, 10 rpg, 6 apg- Just look at that stat line. It’s incredible. Turner just recently returned from a serious back injury and is supposedly only 70% of himself. Scary #%^& for a guy that was 2 assists away from a triple double against a tough Northwestern team. He is still going to win the Player of the Year award.

PAC-10

Washington

Quincy Pondexter- 20 ppg & 8 rpg, a 6-6, 215 lb SF who can score from anywhere. A terrific tandem of shooting and post presence. He can get to the line, and score at will. He has alwa shown up in big time games. 27 and 25 in big games against PAC-10 rivals California and Stanford.

Washington State

Klay Thompson- 23 ppg & 5 rpg, A terrific scorer, fierce competitor and only a sophmore. He probably will play out his last tow years to receive more notice. He’s a 6-6 shooting guard with outstanding shooting ability. Look forward to seeing him play in the future.

SEC

Kentucky

John Wall- 17 ppg, 7 apg, 4 rpg, & 2 spg, Honestly, can he be dratfed right now. He is too good. I look forward to watching every game. I stop what I do. It’s an event. I haven’t enjoyed watching a college player since Kevin Durant.

Patrick Patterson- 16 ppg & 8 rpg, He has declined a bit from his hot start, but still is solid player and a definite draft pick in June. A solid 3-4 man who plays within himself. A terrific teammate.

DeMarcus Cousin- 15 ppg & 9 apg, A sure Top 10 draft pick when it comes to talent and upside. However, he has a terrible attitude and depicts a Black Hole personification. A future Clipper for sure.

Well, there it is. Round 2, if you will, for scouting NBA Talent. The players are continually improving their games and establishing a static foundation for the future of the NBA. This year’s draft is going to be good, and has potential to be as solid as lasts.

We can now only wait.

This is The Ref signaling I’m until next time and remember: We miss calls, you miss lay ups.