My Four Underrated College Basketball Players

1.Romain Sato - Xavier - I have seen Sato play on many occasions this year and each time he has given me my money?s worth. Sato is a 6-5 shooting guard from the Central African Republic. He has only played basketball for a short time and that is obvious. He has poor shooting, but that is his only downside. He is very athletic and very raw. He reminds me so much of Jason Richardson that it is freaky. He has the same leap, the same body structure, and the same competitive drive. At 6-4 people will also be concerned with his height. As far as I am concerned this may be a problem in the NBA, but a 6-4 shooting guard is acceptable in NCAA Basketball. He has very long and lengthy arms with a huge wingspan so he can play defense against the taller guards.

2.Paul Davis - Michigan State - I have also seen Davis play on very many occasions. Davis is always overlooked and underrated because he was a backup and a Freshman last season. Davis would have started, but Michigan State?s frontcourt was overpopulated with experienced and talented Seniors. In just 17 minutes a game last season Davis got eight points per game and five rebounds per game while shooting an above average 44% from the field. In High School Paul Davis, who average 30 points per game and 14 rebounds per game, was ranked by Rivals and ESPN as the #1 Power Forward in the nation. Davis was a High School All-American and the Michigan Basketball Player of the Year over Anthony Roberson of Florida. Davis has great fundamentals and a soft touch around the inside. His greatest strength is his rebounding. This year when Davis starts he should be an All-American and open a lot of eyes. Davis is currently playing on the College USA team this summer, playing against the toughest competition in the world.

3.Mike Helms - Oakland - Mike Helms is a 6-0 point guard out of Detroit, Michigan. He will be entering his Senior year at Oakland this year. He is surprisingly unknown despite his superstar stats. Helms averaged 26.9 points per game last season, including a forty-two point performance against Southern Utah, while shooting and outstanding forty-five percent from the field. Last year he was named Mid-Continent Conference of the Year. He finished off the year being named to the Associated Press? All-American Honorable Mention Team. With all of these accolades one would think Helms should be a household name. I think so too.

4.Pierre Pierce - Iowa - Pierre Pierce attended Iowa for his Freshman season. He earned All Big Ten Freshman honors and he had a very bright future. This all changed later that summer when Pierce was charged with third-degree sexual assault, and then pleaded guilty to the lesser assault charge. Pierce spent time in jail and was forced to sit out his Sophomore season at Iowa. Pierre is a 6-4 Point Guard who is shockingly similar to Allen Iverson. He is very quick, fast, and athletically gifted. Before I learned about his assault charges I was ranting and raving about how Pierre Pierce would be the 2003 College Player of the Year. If Pierce gets cleared to play this year, which might be unlikely, he should be an All-American.

Sato -


Davis -


Helms -


Pierce -

 

what about ike diogu

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "AzBalla17":</div><div class="quote_post">what about ike diogu</div>Ike Diogu is a magnificant basketball player and I loved watching him destroy the University of Memphis in the NCAA Tournament, but he isn't underrated by anyone I know. He is expected to be a future draft pick and an All-American, but the four players I listed were special underdogs. Sato was an international player trying to adjust to the American game who has played his whole career as the second man next to David West. Next season he will be given a chance to lead Xavier and show his true abilities. Davis was a High School star who went into Michigan State as one of the best players in the nation but came out as a backup for a fifth year Senior. This season he will take on a starting roll and he will be Michigan State's number one scoring option. Helms has played his whole career at a small school in the middle of Michigan. Next year will be no different, but after being the second leading scorer in the nation he will get more media attention and respect this season. Pierce hasn't played on National TV in over a year and a lot of people have forgotten about him. He hasn't come up at all in preseason All-American talk with most people. He will be given a great chance to prove himself again this season.

 

I agree completely about Romain Sato. I just love how that guy plays, but he got no pub because the whole season for Xavier was just a big spotlight for David West. I don't think Paul Davis should be number two. All the publications and people who follow college b-ball know what he's about. It's a shame he didn't get to play big minutes in the McD's game due to his injury at the time because people would've gotten a taste of what Davis can do. The fact that he came off the bench is why he didn't get a lot of due credit to his game. People who casually follow the game don't know team situations and such so they think he's benched because he sucks. I think his performances in the NCAA tournament turned some heads so he will be getting a lot of attention. I never paid attention to Pierce, but I love the Ricky Helms pick. Instead of Paul Davis I would try to squeeze in Ricky Minard of Morehead State. He averaged 22.5 points a game, good enough to be ranked in the top twelve in the country. He's going to be a senior. He won Ohio Valley Conference player of the year (over Henry Domercant), and got honorable mention for the All-America team by the AP. He's a very solid rebounder and has a pretty decent passing game.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "sunsfan1357":</div><div class="quote_post">I agree completely about Romain Sato. I just love how that guy plays, but he got no pub because the whole season for Xavier was just a big spotlight for David West. I don't think Paul Davis should be number two. All the publications and people who follow college b-ball know what he's about. It's a shame he didn't get to play big minutes in the McD's game due to his injury at the time because people would've gotten a taste of what Davis can do. The fact that he came off the bench is why he didn't get a lot of due credit to his game. People who casually follow the game don't know team situations and such so they think he's benched because he sucks. I think his performances in the NCAA tournament turned some heads so he will be getting a lot of attention. I never paid attention to Pierce, but I love the Ricky Helms pick. Instead of Paul Davis I would try to squeeze in Ricky Minard of Morehead State. He averaged 22.5 points a game, good enough to be ranked in the top twelve in the country. He's going to be a senior. He won Ohio Valley Conference player of the year (over Henry Domercant), and got honorable mention for the All-America team by the AP. He's a very solid rebounder and has a pretty decent passing game.</div>I 100% agree with you Sunsfan1357. However, I do have to say one thing. I think that Henry Domercant should have been the runaway Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year. He was a Senior and one of the top five scorers in the nation. Minard still had another year of college basketball to play despite briefly entering his name into the NBA Draft. I think Domercant should have gotten the Ohio Valley Conference POY award over him, because he scored more and because he was a Senior.

 

good point Spartanfan

 

That would've been a great note for Domercant to go off on. It just seemed like a tough year for him in terms of getting noticed. He doesn't get the POY in his conference and he doesn't get drafted, must've been tough to go out on his note. He even got more boards than Minard. However, I don't think that takes anything away from Minards talent. He's just another unknown from the Ohio Valley Conference.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "sunsfan1357":</div><div class="quote_post">That would've been a great note for Domercant to go off on. It just seemed like a tough year for him in terms of getting noticed. He doesn't get the POY in his conference and he doesn't get drafted, must've been tough to go out on his note. He even got more boards than Minard. However, I don't think that takes anything away from Minards talent. He's just another unknown from the Ohio Valley Conference.</div>Yes, you are right. Talking about bad notes to go out on, what do you think of Butler's Darnell Archey? I saw him when I drove down to the NCAA tournament in Birmingham. Archey has the record for consecutive freethrows. He made 99 out of 100. Archey also won the NCAA Senior's three point contest. His team then upset Mississippi State University in the first round, (BTW - I was in the middle of their celebration in the locker room. I made it on Sportscenter) but after proving that he was the best three point and freethrow shooter in the whole NCAA as well as a great team leader, Archey did not get one NBA workout invite. Archey is a 6-4 shooting guard so that may have hurt him, but Dwyane Wade who was drafted fifth was also a 6-4 shooting guard. What do you think about that?

 

Him not getting an invite to atleast one workout is pretty bad. The guy is a great leader, he has the desire to succeed wherever he goes, and he is a specialty player; a shooter. There should always be room for a specialty player like Archey. The thing is that he isn't that great of a physical specimen like a Dwayne Wade so scouts back off a lot. Though I just think it's stupid that a guy like Steve Kerr can still find a spot in the NBA, but Darnell Archey can't. I think some team with a wing player that handles the ball a majority of the time (e.g. the Magic have the ball in McGrady's hands most of the time) can just list him at point guard and go tell him to shoot the lights out.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "sunsfan1357":</div><div class="quote_post">Him not getting an invite to atleast one workout is pretty bad. The guy is a great leader, he has the desire to succeed wherever he goes, and he is a specialty player; a shooter. There should always be room for a specialty player like Archey. The thing is that he isn't that great of a physical specimen like a Dwayne Wade so scouts back off a lot. Though I just think it's stupid that a guy like Steve Kerr can still find a spot in the NBA, but Darnell Archey can't. I think some team with a wing player that handles the ball a majority of the time (e.g. the Magic have the ball in McGrady's hands most of the time) can just list him at point guard and go tell him to shoot the lights out.</div>Exactly. I think he is like Steve Kerr too. If the game is on the line you can just put the ball in Archey's hands and you know he will score. I don't think the physical aspect would be a problem. So what if he gets tossed around? He will draw a foul and go to the line for guarunteed freethrows. I am suprised that noone even mentioned his name though. Another player who I feel got overlooked and snubbed draftwise was Brent Darby of Ohio State University. He was a great leader and a prolific scorer, but he didn't get any invites and there was no buzz about him. He has a rough life. He is already a father.

 

I never really paid attention to Darby either. However, it is sad that he has a kid already and didn't make it. Luckily he got his degree (hopefully in a major that would actually get him somewhere unlike some players at some schools) , but even in today's job market that might not even be enough.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "sunsfan1357":</div><div class="quote_post">I never really paid attention to Darby either. However, it is sad that he has a kid already and didn't make it. Luckily he got his degree (hopefully in a major that would actually get him somewhere unlike some players at some schools) , but even in today's job market that might not even be enough.</div>True. I once felt very bad for kids like Darby, but you have to realize how many people there are in the world who are living worse lives. Darby will make a nice living playing basketball somewhere on the French Coast. I have no pitty for him.

 

I'm not saying I feel pity for him or anything because these guys have been spoiled since they were teenagers with clothes, and shoes and stuff. It just irks me that the people surrounding these guys fill the players up with so much hope and confidence of making it to the ultimate level when reality is that a majority of them won't make it.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "sunsfan1357":</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not saying I feel pity for him or anything because these guys have been spoiled since they were teenagers with clothes, and shoes and stuff. It just irks me that the people surrounding these guys fill the players up with so much hope and confidence of making it to the ultimate level when reality is that a majority of them won't make it.</div>What you just said reminds me of a television show that I was watching yesterday. It was called, "The Life: the NBA Draft 2001" and it was about Horace Jenkins, a former Junior College basketball player from New York. Horace's agent was always around him telling him that he would be a first round pick. The draft came and Horace's whole family gathered in a room to watch the draft. Jenkins had no idea where he was going to go. He even stated that he may be the number one pick. I don't think he had seen any papers or mock drafts. He lived in a very bad area of New York. As he watched David Stern announce the first round picks on his tinny Television his expression changed from one of absolute joy to one of absolute horror. Some of his family members started crying when the Draft went into the second round and then the draft finished without Horace Jenkin's name being called. I felt very bad for him at the time. I think he was expecting to be a top ten pick and a millionaire. It was just another example of a basketball player being surrounded by the wrong people.

 

Was that part of the ESPN2 Block Party thing that comes on every Friday? I always miss that because it comes on at 4 o'clock over here and I'm usually doing something at that time on Friday's.

I think I remember hearing the name Horace Jenkins somewhere. Anyway, that stuff just goes on way too often in sports. It happens so often that people really are starting to turn a blind eye to these cases which won't help in improving anything.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "sunsfan1357":</div><div class="quote_post">Was that part of the ESPN2 Block Party thing that comes on every Friday? I always miss that because it comes on at 4 o'clock over here and I'm usually doing something at that time on Friday's.

I think I remember hearing the name Horace Jenkins somewhere. Anyway, that stuff just goes on way too often in sports. It happens so often that people really are starting to turn a blind eye to these cases which won't help in improving anything.</div>Yes, it was a part of the ESPN 2 Block Party. It was the first time I had seen it. I just got home from a trip to see my best friend in Kentucky and it was on the television.

Getting back on topic, another player who is underrated is Deng Gai from Fairfield. He is a big and lengthy Power Forward. He stands tall at 6-9. I saw him play once against Saint Peter?s. He got twenty points and fourteen rebounds along with a decent three blocks. He really impressed me. He averaged about thirteen points and seven rebounds as a Sophomore last season. Recently Gai was picked for the All-Metro League Conference Team. I think playing for a small school like Fairfield is the main reason why he is underrated, but he also doesn?t put up the stats that a superstar puts up every night. None the less I saw something in him which made me believe he would be a great player some day. He is raw talent right now, but he has a great future.

 

I know this guy graduated this year and all, but Darrell Tucker from San Francisco was the most underrated player I thought last season. He was just a great low post scorer and rebounder. It's amazing how this guy was overlooked even by the pros. I really enjoyed reading about him and watching his game the past couple years.

Moving on. Since we're talking about Fairfield, I'll mention someone from a team in the same conference. Luis Flores is very underrated. He is the PG from Manhattan. He's another AP Honorable Mention for the All-American team. He is a great scorer and rebounder for a man his size. SLAM also wrote a tiny snippet about him in their magazine. Forgot which issue it was.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "sunsfan1357":</div><div class="quote_post">I know this guy graduated this year and all, but Darrell Tucker from San Francisco was the most underrated player I thought last season. He was just a great low post scorer and rebounder. It's amazing how this guy was overlooked even by the pros. I really enjoyed reading about him and watching his game the past couple years.

Moving on. Since we're talking about Fairfield, I'll mention someone from a team in the same conference. Luis Flores is very underrated. He is the PG from Manhattan. He's another AP Honorable Mention for the All-American team. He is a great scorer and rebounder for a man his size. SLAM also wrote a tiny snippet about him in their magazine. Forgot which issue it was.</div>I have not watched Tucker play, but I have read about him in SLAM, and his stats are awesome. I was thinking about having Flores on my list. I hope next year he will get more recognition.

 

wheres j.j. reddick?

 

Well the fact that we are discussing underrated basketball players might answer that question.