The Top Ten Players in College Hoops
6. Drew Gooden, Kansas – He is the best power forward in the nation, and utilizes his quickness as well as any post player in the country. He has an explosive leap that leaves defenders flat-footed. Nearly every time he gets the ball near the hoop, it’s either two points or a trip to the line. As the college game has seen a shortage of big men, Gooden has been as rock-solid an inside presence as Kansas needs. He has great anticipation for rebounds, and is a solid defensive player. He adds a dimension to the Jayhawks that most teams would die for.
5. Caron Butler, Connecticut – Maybe it’s my UConn bias, but this is the best all-around player in the nation today. He’s not as explosive a scorer as Rush or O’Connor, but he possesses a sweet shot, a beautiful post-up game, and great moves on the drive. He will still be the go-to guy next season, as should improve even more as he improves his ball-handling and pull-up jumper. He is a marvelous rebounder and passer, which set him apart from the other players who play his position, as he is a serious threat for a triple-double every night. His defensive play is outstanding, and he does all of this with a calm demeanor. If things go right, he could take the Huskies back to sniffing range of a national championship.
4. Carlos Boozer, Duke – At 6’9”, 270 pounds, Boozer is the best center in college basketball on the best team in college basketball. Taking advantage of 7-footers going pro, Boozer is physically bigger and tougher than most other centers in the country. In the Final Four matchup with Maryland, Boozer proved that he was a monster by shutting down Terps star Lonny Baxter in the second half. He has great footwork in the paint, takes high-percentage shots, and is simply too tough to handle for smaller defenders. Although he is far from polished, as he must improve his shooting and ball handling, his sheer size and quickness allows him to be an excellent scorer and magnificent rebounder. His defense is stifling, as opposing centers last season already found out. With another year under the belt, he should be a terror this season for the defending champs.
3. Frank Williams, Illinois – The former Mr. Basketball in Illinois is a hoops phenom. There is no doubt that he has unlimited potential, and he still has
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