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Wahoo757
redsoxfreak724James Michael McAdoo will play a huge role for the Tar Heels in 2012-13.
Patience is a virtue that is in short supply among most college players, particularly those who were heavily sought-after coming out of high school. So it’s always nice to see when a player who hasn’t had instant success waits his turn then takes advantage of the opportunity to become a star.
Thomas Robinson and Jeff Withey combined for three total starts in their Kansas Jayhawkscareers prior to this season. Both played behind future NBA first-round picks Cole Aldrich, Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris, and while they certainly improved by playing against those guys in practice, few knew what those younger players were capable of.
When this past season ended, Robinson, a consensus first-team All-American, and Withey had become two key components to the Jayhawks’ great run to the national title game. Robinson will be an NBA lottery pick in June, and Withey has a chance to be one a year from now.
Who are some players who will step out of the shadows and become stars next season? Here is my list of a few guys who are capable of having major impacts on their teams and on college basketball in 2012-2013:
James Michael McAdoo, F, North Carolina Tar Heels
The 6-foot-9 McAdoo went from Dec. 19 to March 9 without a double-figure scoring game for the Tar Heels, and he didn’t enjoy a double-figure rebounding game all season. This was, in part, I noticed, because of a serious adjustment to the physicality of the college game. In fact, the thought of him being an NBA first-round selection seemed premature for much of the season, even though he was in numerous mock draft scenarios.
McAdoo had his coming-out party in the ACC tournament against Maryland when junior John Henson left the game early with a wrist injury. The freshman ended up scoring 14 points and pulling down eight rebounds in 29 minutes of action and displayed the potential that made him a coveted recruit. He added two more double-figure scoring efforts in the NCAA tournament.
Next season, with the mass exodus on Roy Williams’ front line, McAdoo is expected to be the Heels’ go-to scorer inside, and while he still has to get stronger, he has shown that ability. And like Robinson, he’s had to go against future NBA players every day in practice. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t go to school on those lessons and break out in a big way.
Michael Carter-Williams, G, Syracuse Orange
It’s not easy to get a former McDonald’s All-American to come off the bench and play only 10 minutes a game as a freshman. In fact, Carter-Williams did not play in any of Syracuse’s four NCAA tournament games. However, Orange freshmen often have to wait their turn under coach Jim Boeheim because he plays a notoriously short bench.
However, the 6-foot-5 point guard has shown flashes of brilliance in his short stints on the court, and I believe he will have a major impact for Syracuse next season. He is an outstanding passer with excellent basketball acumen. His 54 assists and only 16 turnovers attest to that.
Carter-Williams played only 269 minutes in his first season at Syracuse, but with Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters leaving, expect him to become a household name next season.
Wayne Blackshear, G, Louisville Cardinals
Blackshear missed the Cardinals’ first 24 games after recovering from shoulder surgery. When he did play, the 6-foot-5 Chicago native played sporadically. It wasn’t the type of start to his Louisville career that was expected of ESPN’s 27th-ranked player in the Class of 2011.
Blackshear did finally play in 15 of Louisville’s last 16 games. And his coming-out party actually took place at the Final Four, when in 14 minutes against Kentucky he scored nine points and had a thunderous dunk over Anthony Davis.
Blackshear should blossom in coach Rick Pitino’s system. He is a fearless competitor who has Big East-ready athleticism. He attacks the basket and is an excellent rebounder. As his perimeter shooting improves, he will have a key role in the Cardinals’ offense next season. That means he should be an important part of a team that is capable of getting back to the Final Four.
Adonis Thomas, G/F, Memphis Tigers
Thomas, like Blackshear, was a high-level recruit who was sidelined by an injury that caused him to miss an important part of his freshman season. At 6-foot-6, the Tigers’ homegrown newcomer was expected to have to same type of impact that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had at Kentucky. He may have had he not been sidelined by ankle surgery for two months.
The good news for coach Josh Pastner is that he will have a healthy Thomas back for his sophomore year. Despite his size, Thomas should dominate around the rim with excellent athleticism, toughness and a motor that revs at full throttle. In fact, he has double-double potential.
Tigers fans are hoping to see that player who was considered one of the top-10 recruits coming to the college level a season ago. He should live up to that potential this season.
Amir Williams, C, Ohio State Buckeyes
Williams will never be a great scorer for the Buckeyes, but he has a chance to play a key role on coach Thad Matta’s front line in 2012-13, especially now that Jared Sullinger is departing for the NBA.
A bigger role seems to be asking a lot out of a freshman who averaged 1.7 points and 2.1 rebounds. Like Carter-Williams, Williams was a McDonald’s All-American who saw limited minutes on a top-5 team. But he has the potential to dominate defensively the way Carter-Williams has the potential to dominate offensively.
Even in limited minutes, the 6-foot-11 Williams had a block rate of 14 percent (14 blocks for every 100 2-point field attempts by the Buckeyes’ opponents). His rebounding numbers per minutes played were very good as well. In fact, he had moments of defensive brilliance in games against Kansas, Michigan State, Gonzaga and Syracuse — all high-level opponents.
It won’t surprise me if Williams shows Withey-like improvement next season and does for Matta’s interior defense what Aaron Craft does for the Ohio State’s perimeter defense.
Zay Jackson, G, Murray State Racers
The 6-foot freshman guard out of Hammond, La., was a defensive demon off the bench for the 31-2 Racers and, at times, showed signs that he will be coach Steve Prohm’s next great Ohio Valley Conference player.
Jackson’s speed, quickness and, hopefully, improved decision-making as a sophomore should make the game easier for senior all-American candidate Isaiah Canaan in 2012-13. Canaan, in turn, will be able to co-pilot the offense as Jackson grows into a star. Jackson has that type of potential.
The Racers will miss Donte Poole and Ivan Aska, but with Canaan and Jackson back, along with a solid nucleus, don’t expect much of a drop-off from Murray State.
Sam Dower, F/C, Gonzaga Bulldogs
The 6-foot-9 sophomore will certainly not surprise anyone if he becomes a star for the Zags next season, even though he has never started a game in his first two seasons in Spokane backing up Robert Sacre. The reason he won’t shock anyone is because in Gonzaga’s 33 games this past season, he reached double figures 11 times, showing a deft shooting touch inside and out.
The left-handed Dower’s 20-point, 10-rebound performance against Xavier on New Year’s Eve was an indication of the type of player Dower can become for coach Mark Few in his last two seasons. In that regard, he has more of a track record than of the other guys on this breakout list.
Amath M’Baye, F, Oklahoma Sooners
The 6-foot-9 Wyoming transfer, who averaged 12 points and six rebounds as a sophomore before leaving the Cowboys, may have been Oklahoma’s best player in coach Lon Kruger’s first season in Norman. Unfortunately, the only people who know that are those who watched the Sooners practice, including a number of NBA scouts.
M’Baye, a member of the 2009 French junior national team for which he teamed with NBA players Nicholas Batum and Kevin Seraphin, will instantly help Oklahoma rebuild next season. He is a talented and versatile forward who can score inside and out, is an excellent rebounder and plays with relentless intensity.
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