NCAA UNDERGROUND weekly: Gary Bell jr. &....

YOU DON’T KNOW (OR MAYBE YOU KNOW….) HOW GOOD IS…

G – Gary Bell Jr. (Gonzaga)

He’s no flashes. All business. He does everything on a basketball court that you cannot measure, unless you look to the opponents box score. Against BYU, Tyler Haws 4-for-12 from the field has something to do with him and his defense, deflections, switches, lateral movements, 50-50 balls recovered, boxing out… he’s the king of intangibles, hitting threes when Wiltjer is double-down’d, getting the toughest assignment on Defense to keep Pangos out of foul troubles and serving Karnowski inside with the right timing. No single-digit scoring average guards in Division I has got more pro future than him.

SPORTANDO-U. TEAM OF THE WEEK (UNRANKED TEAM)

G – Sterling Gibbs (Seton Hall)

Usually scores penetrating inside the pain and attacking the rim. Obekpa and a wonderful shooting night made him a different type of danger against the Johnnies. 25 with 8 assists and 70% from three speak for themselves. That #15 next to St.John’s will disappear soon.

G/F – Treveon Graham (VCU)

The letter G next to his name it’s a gift for draft perspective. He looks more like a combo forward to our eyes, with lethal offensive game for any pro league outside the US starting from next June. In the last game before the Atlantic-10 starts he scores 20 with 9 rebounds and the usual variety of moves in the offensive end; to justify the G he also got another 50% game from the three point arc.

F – Aaron White (Iowa)

Too few people talk about him. Shows the nation why Ohio State is overrated scoring 18 out-running regularly the Buckeyes frontline. Against Matta zone defense finds always the right spot to hit with flash cuts and smart moves off the ball. His free throws and athleticism are additional sauce.

F – Jameel Warney (Stony Brook)

How could we not fall in love with Jameel leading his team to the most prestigious win in their history vs #13 Washington. Going against Upshaw he couldn’t even see the rim, being much shorter, a bit lighter and far behind in terms of pro perspective. Touching. Hits the game-winning floater and brings the W back in the State of New York. By the way, meet the Nation leaading rebounder…

C – Aly Ahmed (CS-Bakersfield)

Cult-player the egyptian in Baskersfield. He destroys Cal frontline playing 80’s basketball; he loves to touch the ball, has two soft hands to finish around the rim, has court vision few other bigs in the NCAA have. If you have the chance, have a look at his bank shot and the way he uses the glass on the baby-hook. In the meantime, 19pts and 10 rebs against those of the Pac-12.

SPORTANDO-U. TEAM OF THE WEEK (RANKED TEAM)

G – Tyler Ulis (Kentucky)

Most physical game of the history of college basketball, won by a player struggling to reach 160 pounds… it’s clear the wildcats play better with his direction than with the texan twin in charge; this time he scores his career high, has three stitches on his eye and refreshing zero turnover.

G – Dez Wells (Maryland)

Senior’s stuff. First Big Ten game for Maryland with a heavy win in East Lansing, possible thanks to a game-saving three from Dez with 2.2 seconds to go. In the offense he’s not a master of spacing and discipline but you rarely find a more gifted passer than him at two-guard.

F – Anthony Gill (Virginia)

If the Cavs are the most “Spursesque” team of the NCAA this is their Kawhi Leonard, the one giving a different athletic dimension and versatility on both ends of the floor. 25 and 13 vs Davidson is just a glimpse of what he’ll be. He’s got other 18 months of college basketball to add an outside dimension to his offensive game.

F – Kyle Wiltjer (Gonzaga)

If Gary Bell is our underground player, he’s already been on more than one cover. Best footwork in college basketball, perfectly made for Coach Few offensive style, he scores 24 on BYU showing the variety of moves he’s got. A stretch four with few peers at this level.

C – Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin)

On his NBA upside we stay cold and skeptical. We can’t deny though that such a mix of size, soft hands and offensive versatility is quite rare in the NCAA nowadays. 25 with 11rebs and 6block vs Buffalo last Sunday, and if you think with UB it’s an easy win, please ask the number 1 team in the Nation.

Written by Marco Ridolfi