NCAA UNDERGROUND weekly: Cinmeon Bowers &...

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

F – Cinmeon Bowers (Auburn)

The Round Mound of Rebound 30 years later… listed 6-7, well maybe with his Under Armour on, barely at 50% from the line and even worse percentage from 3point line. However, he’s the most exciting player in the NCAA nobody talks about. Let’s make it clear, a Tight-End body with dancer’s feet. On defense he mainly directs the traffic, but on the offensive end he’s on continuous movement and every single rebound out there is next to his hands (constantly in double digit for rebounds). The boy is not an easy one but has good heart, plays a basketball style you don’t catch in textbooks but when he gets the ball back to the basket uses his body in a way you can’t do anything about. Front to the basket he shows an unexpected quickness off the dribble going on his right where he can finish or pass out on the perimeter. If he fixes a couple of things in his shooting form, he’ll be a first rounder for the NBA.

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

G – Angel Rodriguez (Miami)

A (maybe) 5-10 fighter from PuertoRico. He’s here this week having destroyed Duke at home scoring 24 with technical arrongance and getting to the rim continuously against the best big man of NCAA basketball. Starting next week you may find him on the other Sportando-U team (ranked team) as the Hurricanes are basically unbeaten in conference (would you consider a L, the one vs Virginia in 2OT?) and they play a wild style of basketball for pace and physical impact, they live on the heartbeat of this marvelous 23-years old guy with still one year of college basketball available.

G – D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Georgetown)

G’Town has ups and downs but is globally on a positive start. Not too many ups and downs for Smith-Rivera who won a game in Chicago against DePaul scoring 25 with 8rebs and 4ast. First scoring option of the Hoyas since last year playing next to Markel Starks (this year seen in Italy at Ferentino), he’s got of the finest pullup jumper execution of NCAA basketball in terms of stroke and effectiveness. Not a great athlete, he makes up for that with above the average quickness of hands and game reads. Perfect down the stretch when, with his 85% from the line, you don’t want to foul him…

G – Anthony Brown (Stanford)

Another great week for him. His Cards are 4-1 in conference, pretty unexpected and he’s averaging 20 with 45% from 3’s. You know about his elegant game and effectiveness from long-range, now take notes abuot how many times he’s gonna be around 10 rebounds per game. Perfect fit for pro basketball to punish from the perimeter any double guarding…

F – Troy Williams (Indiana)

Some behavioural issue this year in Bloomington… now we got some good news. Both Ohio State and Penn State lost vs the Hoosiers and let’s give credit to Coach Crean for his ability to manage talented but not easy bunch of guys… Troy is a first round pick in the making, and if the teenager from Chi-Town (Blackmon Jr.) is the one has to score 20 every night, he is the one bringin the physical and athletic tone of the game to a different level where few teams in Big Ten can get.

F – Rakeem Christmas (Syracuse)

Coach Boeheim Orange also didn’t get too many good reports before the season. Now, few weeks later we got them on top of their conference and with no losses, thanks to a) easy schedule b) big men of high impact. For point b) let’s go to Rakeem, who in few months has brought his game to a different level. Now his sweet hands, explosive jump and footwork make him look like a  player with 10 years of pro basketball waiting for him.

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

G – Frank Mason III (Kansas)  

A scorer now turned into a true Point-guard by coach Self. He’s shooting almost 50% from 3’s and playing defense like any coaching staff will dream of. You’ll never see him beaten off the dribble and he’s also improving his shot selection. You’ll see him more and more interested about sharing the ball rather than shooting… in the meantime he leads the Jayhawks (unbeaten) on top of the best conference in the NCAA.

G – Marcus Paige (North Carolina)

Maybe not a lottery pick but when it matters, the Tar Heels turn to their number 5. Against Louisville and NC State leads his team to wins already pretty heavy in Big Dance perspective. He brings leadership, key points and hi-level decision making. Something needed in a chaotic but talented group.

F – Brice Johnson (North Carolina)

Here’s one memeber of the chaotic and talented group. This has been the Carolina week with two key wins, give credit to BJ. Brice can get high for the rebound and has strong hands with heart and athleticism… he scored two points vs Louisville that were key for the win. With 20 pounds and a single reliable move back to the basket, the NBA will make him a 1st round pick. A pretty high one.

F – Bobby Portis (Arkansas)

Razorback are in the ranking, led by this big man with high upside, dangerous both front and back to the basket with interesting defensive moves far from the basket, one of the few defensive versatile big man in college basketball. Has got mentality, he’s vocal and brings good emotions at the game.

C – Rico Gathers (Baylor)

Nephew of legendary Hank, it’s a 280 pounds 6-7 center but if you think he can’t move around and cannot contribute in many ways you’re definitely off track. He destroyed both TCU and Iowa State this week under a big amount of rebounds and muscles that Rico always brings when competing.

Written by Marco Ridolfi