Diaper Dandies

Nothing excites me more than finding out which freshman is going to be the next Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley or Greg Oden. As is the case every year, a number of diaper dandies should intrigue us and excite us. Here are a few in particular that I feel will have a huge impact on their team this year.

Avery Bradley- Ranked #1 in the ESPNU 100 rankings for the 2009 class, and is expected to be the leading scorer for the #3 ranked Longhorns this year. The 6-3 shooting guard is known as a harassing ball defender, and a great mid-range shooter. His wing span and heart will make up of for his lack of height on the defensive end. It will be interesting to see how Barnes plays him because of Texas' loaded backcourt. Bradley will be the key for a National Championship run because we all know March Madness comes down to guard play. A great game to watch will be when #1 Kansas visits #3 Texas, a square off between Sherron Collins and Avery Bradley.



John Wall- The best point guard in the 2009 class, and maybe the best overall athlete. Draws comparisons to Derrick Rose because of his ability to get from end- line to end-line in a matter of seconds. Originally committed to Memphis but then decided to follow Callipari to Kentucky over the summer. He is able to consistently finish above the rim, both in transition and in traffic. In Callipari's offense he will have the flexibility that Rose and Tyreke Evans had to create for themselves and others. Wall is still a very raw player but in a system where you are running up and down the whole time it shouldn't be an issue. Watch out for this extremely talented Kentucky squad...



Jack Cooley- The next Harangody? From a physical standpoint he definitely looks like it. At 6-9 and 245 lbs, Cooley will provide a strong defensive presence for Notre Dame off the bench. What makes him so special is his toughness and competitiveness on both ends of the floor. Never will you see him give up on a loose ball or not take the charge. Cooley shot over 70% from the line throughout his high school career and averaged over 4 blocks a game. Has the potential to develop into a dominant low-post scorer, but for now he will concentrate on the defensive side. His overall IQ of the game is far above any freshman which already gives him an advantage. Seems to get better each time he plays, so he should be a key contributor come tournament time in March. Draws comparisons to Kevin Love because of his work ethic and motor.