Some of these guys have been backed by their coaches. Elton Brand, who would be a junior next season, was said by many, including Coach K, to be ready for the NBA. Richard Hamilton, who had already led Connecticut to its first ever Final Four and championship, was said to have "already graduated", in the eyes of Coach Jim Calhoun. Other guys, such as William Avery, have been discouraged to jump into the higher ranks so early. Others have opted to stay in school, such as the trio of three excellent point guards: Mateen Cleaves, Khalid El-Amin, and Scoonie Penn. Only time will tell whether the NBA is the right place for these players.
For Player of the Year Elton Brand, everything went right until the championship game. If UConn had not pulled off the upset, the 1999 Duke Blue Devils would have gone down in history as one of the best teams ever. Still, Brand deserves great recognition for the monster season he had in the midst of stars, namely Trajan Langdon, William Avery, and Chris Carrawell. He was unstoppable in the paint, and having excellent backcourt mates only made the job easier. His only criticism would be his lack of size, but just look at Danny Fortson.
Richard Hamilton could not have envisioned a better season. For the first time in Connecticut's history, the Huskies rode all the way to the championship, through a Cinderella and then a powerhouse. "Rip" will probably be ready to rip it up in the big league, and another year of college play would be helpful, but would probably mean one less year of big money. He has already received the grand prize, and he was a major contributor to it. Like Brand, he was flawless for most of the season, and make some noise in the pros.
Like his teammate, William Avery was a sophomore who was destined for a great season. He and Elton Brand hooked up on what seemed like a great quarterback to great wide receiver combination all season long. Add Langdon, Carrawell, Shane Battier, and freshman standout Corey Maggette, and there is a huge team capable of being the deepest team ever. Unfortunately, a lapse against UConn cost the Blue Devils the championship, and after losing underclassmen for the first time in team history, it may take more than a year to regain Number 1 status. Unfortunately for Avery, Coach K doesn't support his decision to leave, and many people agree. Although Avery has plenty of talent, some say that his skills are still a bit raw. Maybe he'll prove them all wrong.
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