Written by Gary Parrish at CBSSports.com
CBS Sports college basketball writers Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander spent the July evaluation period at NCAA-sanctioned events, where they talked with coaches from all levels. They asked for honest opinions on players, coaches and issues in the sport. They’ll be sharing those opinions over a three-week period.
There isn’t a single First Team or Second Team AP All-American from last season playing college basketball this season, meaning the sport is missing obvious star power — especially when you combine the lack of established high-level players with the fact that no incoming freshman is as hyped as Ben Simmons was a year ago.
So what’s the best way to predict which players might fill that hole this season?
By asking college coaches the following question:
If you could pick any Division I player and put him on your team for this season, which player would you pick?
- 1. Grayson Allen (Duke): 13 percent
- 2. Markelle Fultz (Washington) 12 percent
- 3. Harry Giles (Duke) 10 percent
- 4. Melo Trimble (Maryland): 9 percent
- 5. Josh Hart (Villanova): 8 percent
- 6. Monte Morris (Iowa State): 6 percent
- T7. Nigel Hayes (Wisconsin): 5 percent
- T7. Dillon Brooks (Oregon): 5 percent
- T7. Josh Jackson (Kansas): 5 percent
- T7. Jayson Tatum (Duke): 5 percent
- T7. Kris Jenkins (Villanova): 5 percent
- 12. Dennis Smith (North Carolina State): 3 percent
- T13. Jaron Blossomgame (Clemson): 2 percent
- T13. Devonte Graham (Kansas): 2 percent
- T13. Ivan Rabb (California): 2 percent
- T13. Malik Monk (Kentucky) 2 percent
Players who received only one vote are not listed
FIVE QUOTES THAT STOOD OUT
- On Grayson Allen: “I think Grayson Allen will be the best scorer in college basketball playing for the best team in the country. He has that attitude similar to Draymond Green. He just doesn’t give a crap and plays with a swagger.”
- On Markelle Fultz: “Fultz is a game and program changer. He’s like a Swiss Army knife. He can and will do whatever he needs to help his team win on both sides of the court. He’s an elite-level passer who has an incredible feel for how to play the game. When you have point guards like him that are also super-humble, it makes everyone else feel two inches taller when they are playing with him.”
- On Harry Giles: “I think Harry Giles is as good of a talent as there has been out of high school in a long time. He will have a Chris Webber/Kevin Garnett type of a career … if healthy.”
- On Melo Trimble: “Most people would consider last season a poor outing for Melo, but I didn’t. Maryland added new players, and he held his own. People said the same things about Yogi Ferrell a year ago and look what did last season. Melo is battle-tested. He’s seen every look known to man from opposing defenses, has played in every hostile environment there is, and most of the time he had his team right there at the end with a chance to win it. He excels in all facets to me. He can shoot it with range when he’s feeling it, go by you off the bounce, handle it by getting where he wants to go with it, and he can pull up mid-range off pick-and-rolls and put it in the pocket on passes. Bottom line, is I trust him with the ball and my team.”
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