Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2014-15 college basketball season fast approaching, a preview series will be rolling out detailing who I believe the top five players in each major conference are with reasoning that hopefully helps back up those assertions. First up was the ACC. Next up is the B1G.
1) Sam Dekker (SF), Wisconsin Badgers
There is nothing flashy about Dekker’s game, which is fitting for a player on a team coached by Bo Ryan. He’s fundamentally sound in every area, and therein lies much of his value. Dekker is at his best when he can utilize his sturdy frame (6’9″, 229) to muscle his defender backwards and work his way to the rim. At the college level, Dekker simply poses too many matchup issues for everybody that attempts to guard him. If a small forward is defending him, he likely has a size and strength advantage. On the flip side, if a big man is guarding him to push him away from the rim, he can either step out and shoot jumpers or utilize his quickness to go right around his man. His draft stock would be helped a great deal if he could develop a more consistent three-point shot, but he will have plenty of value nevertheless because of his versatility. There aren’t many players that are capable of guarding four of the five positions on the defensive end while being able to slot in nicely at multiple positions offensively, but that’s the position Dekker is in.
2) Caris LeVert (SG), Michigan Wolverines
In what will be LeVert’s first season as big man on campus after serving in a secondary role behind the likes of Trey Burke and Nik Stauskas the last two seasons, the junior shooting guard is ready to break out. At 6’7″, LeVert possesses great size for a two guard, and he employs it well on the offensive end. He can shoot over anybody if given an inch of space, and that’s a terrifying situation to be in for defenses given that he has been a 38.4% three-point shooter in two seasons at Michigan. LeVert brings so much more than perimeter shooting, though. He’s not — and shouldn’t be — a primary ball-handler, but he’s capable of making great passes on a regular basis to set teammates up for open looks. LeVert’s slim frame and lack of strength make him a bit of a sieve defensively, but his offensive arsenal more than makes up for any defensive deficiencies. Entering the season, there is no reason to believe LeVert can’t be the best two guard in college basketball. Now all he has to do is prove it. No pressure.
3) Frank Kaminsky (C), Wisconsin Badgers
Frank the Tank showed out in the NCAA Tournament last season, and he was a huge reason the Badgers made a run to the Final Four. An incredibly skilled big man like Kaminsky is difficult for defenses to handle because of his versatility. He can score in the post with a plethora of moves, but he can just as easily step out and shoot a jumper, as his shooting range extends to the three-point line. He’s not particularly explosive, but he compensates for playing below the rim with great footwork. His mobility and ability to stretch the floor as a true seven-footer intrigues NBA teams, and those two things make him one of the best big men in college basketball. If the Badgers are to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament this season, Kaminsky will need to lead the charge.
4) Terran Petteway (SG), Nebraska Cornhuskers
Head coach Tim Miles has put Nebraska basketball on the map since taking over the program in 2012, but he might not have done so without a tremendous amount of help from standout guard Terran Petteway. He’s listed as a shooting guard, but he’s the definition of a combo guard. He’s incredibly smooth with the ball in his hands, and he can create for himself a variety of ways. He possesses a quick first step that allows him to slash to the rim, and when his defender cuts him off he can rely on his myriad skill moves to continue his route to the basket. Additionally, he’s capable of knocking down mid-range jumpers and three-pointers all night if given a little bit of space. He has plenty of room for improvement in terms of shooting efficiency, but he’s a streaky shooter that can get hot without notice. Scoring has to come from somewhere, which is why coach Miles lives with Petteway’s chucking ways. After all, if the Cornhuskers make the NCAA Tournament for the second season in a row, it will be thanks to Petteway.
5) Branden Dawson (PF), Michigan State Spartans
Health has been Dawson’s biggest pitfall in his stint at Michigan State. Dawson has been a bit underwhelming in three seasons for the Spartans after entering college as one of the most highly-touted players in the country. Instead of being a bonafide star, he’s been more of a glue guy who does a little bit of everything. Despite tearing his ACL back in 2012, Dawson remains an athletic freak who can make his impact felt during a game with sheer physicality. He rebounds the ball at a high rate, and many of his points come on tip ins. With so many key players from last season’s team gone (Adreian Payne, Keith Appling, Gary Harris), Dawson will finally be forced to step fully into the spotlight. He hasn’t been a particularly good perimeter player in his tenure at Michigan State, and if he can prove that he can thrive outside, both the Spartans and his draft stock could soar.