Jimmy Chitwood
Hall of Famer
i love basketball, and it's that time of year again. college basketball is just around the corner! consequently, i thought i'd do a very quick write-up to get the juices flowing for those who care.
few people realize that the top two returning scorers in Division I basketball are White kids, as are 3 of the top 4. to go along with that, there are numerous interesting story lines to follow and many talented (albeit, obviously unheralded) White athletes to follow.
the big story this year will be Doug McDermott. already a two-time First-team All-American, the true Mickey D All-American (despite not being considered a D-I prospect coming out of high school by all the "experts") returns for his senior season prepared to re-write the record books, having already set virtually every meaningful scoring record in school history. to make things even more challenging for the nation's returning leading scorer, his Creighton team is moving to the Big East.
a legitimate candidate for National Player of the Year honors, McDermott's legacy takes on an even greater perspective when you realize that he will play this year while not on scholarship ... so his teammate Grant Gibbs, who was granted a medical redshirt year by the NCAA, can be on one. else, Creighton would've been over the scholarship limit. you can't make up incredible stories of selflessness like that. if it were a movie script, no one would believe it.
i'd be surprised if you could name the #2 returning scorer in the nation without doing some digging, because to say he's flown under the national radar is like saying a submarine flies. but despite the media blackout, Travis Bader just keeps lighting up the scoreboard.
perhaps the nation's premier long-range shooter, "Darth" Bader has a shot to break JJ Redick's 3-point record. with a coach who believes in him, a system that plays very fast and encourages the three-point shot, and with uncanny accuracy from long range, if he stays healthy the Flam3 Thrower (he wears number 3, you see) should be torching the opposition as his Oakland team makes the leap from the Summit to the Horizon League.
smooth 6-5 two guard Tyler Haws is the total package offensively. with the ability to attack the rim, pull up for a mid-range jumper, knock it down from behind the arc, or quietly knock 'em down at the free throw line, Haws just kills you. without a bunch of talking. quietly. like a White mormon ninja.
the volatile scorer from Ole Miss Marshall Henderson rounds out this initial post. the SEC PoY a year ago after leading the league in scoring, Henderson is known as much for his big mouth as for his big scoring prowess. he's also been troubled with drug use in his personal life. it will be interesting to see if the Land Shark has learned to not bite the hand that feeds him and will fuel his aggression into better basketball, or if he will bite off more than he can chew due to his poor decision making and self destruct.
here's hoping for an exciting college basketball season!
few people realize that the top two returning scorers in Division I basketball are White kids, as are 3 of the top 4. to go along with that, there are numerous interesting story lines to follow and many talented (albeit, obviously unheralded) White athletes to follow.
the big story this year will be Doug McDermott. already a two-time First-team All-American, the true Mickey D All-American (despite not being considered a D-I prospect coming out of high school by all the "experts") returns for his senior season prepared to re-write the record books, having already set virtually every meaningful scoring record in school history. to make things even more challenging for the nation's returning leading scorer, his Creighton team is moving to the Big East.
a legitimate candidate for National Player of the Year honors, McDermott's legacy takes on an even greater perspective when you realize that he will play this year while not on scholarship ... so his teammate Grant Gibbs, who was granted a medical redshirt year by the NCAA, can be on one. else, Creighton would've been over the scholarship limit. you can't make up incredible stories of selflessness like that. if it were a movie script, no one would believe it.
i'd be surprised if you could name the #2 returning scorer in the nation without doing some digging, because to say he's flown under the national radar is like saying a submarine flies. but despite the media blackout, Travis Bader just keeps lighting up the scoreboard.
perhaps the nation's premier long-range shooter, "Darth" Bader has a shot to break JJ Redick's 3-point record. with a coach who believes in him, a system that plays very fast and encourages the three-point shot, and with uncanny accuracy from long range, if he stays healthy the Flam3 Thrower (he wears number 3, you see) should be torching the opposition as his Oakland team makes the leap from the Summit to the Horizon League.
smooth 6-5 two guard Tyler Haws is the total package offensively. with the ability to attack the rim, pull up for a mid-range jumper, knock it down from behind the arc, or quietly knock 'em down at the free throw line, Haws just kills you. without a bunch of talking. quietly. like a White mormon ninja.
the volatile scorer from Ole Miss Marshall Henderson rounds out this initial post. the SEC PoY a year ago after leading the league in scoring, Henderson is known as much for his big mouth as for his big scoring prowess. he's also been troubled with drug use in his personal life. it will be interesting to see if the Land Shark has learned to not bite the hand that feeds him and will fuel his aggression into better basketball, or if he will bite off more than he can chew due to his poor decision making and self destruct.
here's hoping for an exciting college basketball season!
