WHY JAZZ FANS SHOULD WATCH COLLEGE B-BALL

I’m about to head out the door to catch a midnight madness kickoff special of college basketball.  Truthfully, I am not a huge fan of college basketball until the first week of March.  But at the start of this college season, I am feeling the excitement that Memphis and Clipper fans feel every year:  the excitement of being able to draft a top-flight college prospect in next year’s draft.  Thanks to Isiah Thomas, the Jazz own the Knicks oft-mentioned, first pick in the 2010 draft.  And looking at the Knicks, that pick could turn out to be in the top 5 and most likely a lottery pick.  So here are a handful of players to keep an eye on this college year, as possible future Jazzmen.

1. John Wall, Freshman-Kentucky /PG, 6-4, 185/

John Wall is the Derrick Rose of 2010 in more ways than one.  He is the early consensus Number one overall pick, they have similar games and are both going to get the chance to showcase in John Calipari’s uptempo, high-octane offense.  Wall is probably going to be even better than Rose is.  Wall is longer, taller, and a better athlete.  If the Jazz really lucked out and won the draft lottery, they probably wouldn’t draft John Wall and keep him.  But I wouldn’t count out the Jazz taking him and making it work in that scenario.  In any case, he will probably be the most exciting college prospect to watch this season.

2.  Derrick Favors, Freshman- Georgia Tech /PF, 6-9, 215

There is a reason that this draft may be the best in awhile.  Wall may be future Derrick Rose, and Favors may be the future Amare Stoudemire.  Favors is long, athletic and attacks the hoop ferociously.  He’ll have a year learning to battle some talented bigs in the ACC and he will also be in the hunt for Freshman of the year.  If Wall isn’t the number one overall pick, then Favors will be.  If the Jazz can land Favors, then they will feel a lot better about losing Carlos Boozer.  Millsap and Favors would make a killer duo for the next several years.

3. Al-Farouq Aminu, Sophomore- Wake Forest /SF, 6-8, 205

The Jazz need a long term replacement for Andrei Kirilenko and Aminu would be a good candidate.  Aminu has a similar build to AK, but he is quicker, a better athlete and has a longer wingspan.  He struggles similarly with a long-range jumper, but this season will be an important one for Aminu.  Last year, he was the third wheel on his team, but with the departure of Jeff Teague and James Johnson, Aminu will get a chance to be “the man” in Winston-Salem.  If he is up to the challenge, he will be a top 5 pick next June.

4. Solomon Alabi, Sophomore, Florida State /C, 7-1, 245/

If Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko don’t pan out, then the Jazz might be willing to take a long look at Alabi, who is just a sophomore at Florida State.  He is tall, long, and athletic.  He isn’t going to be a great offensive threat in the NBA, probably ever, but for all of the Jazz fans who wanted the Jazz to trade up to draft Hasheem Thabeet, Alabi is going to be a better defender and rebounder than Thabeet in their NBA careers.  He is a defensive force in the paint and would be a great backup center for Okur.

5. Xavier Henry, Freshman- Kansas / SG, 6-7, 220/

The Jazz really need an upgrade at the shooting guard position and although fellow SG Evan Turner is the higher prospect right now, Henry would be the better fit for the Jazz.  Henry is huge for a shooting guard both height and strength- wise.  He isn’t super quick, but he has great body control and a great jump shot with NBA 3 point range.  He could play either of the swing positions for the Jazz.  His biggest knock is that he isn’t a great ball handler, but neither was Jeff Hornacek, the Jazz’s best shooting guard the last 20 years.  Jazz SG’s just need to hit open threes and make hard cuts to the basket.