The Holy Land of Hoops

Lots of the talking heads picking Josh Hart. Interesting.

Not sure who I would go with. Good race between Hart, Blueitt, Whitehead, Bentil and Dunn. I know most anointed Dunn as the impending choice, similar to the way Hillary was supposed to win the Dem ticket with ease....


Freshman of the year debate also heating up. Right now I go with:
(1)(a) Sumner;
(1)(b) Brigdes;
(1)(c) Ellenson;
(4) Cheatham
(5) Brunson

Great group of freshmen no matter how you look at it.


And while we are at it, this is how I am ranking the NBA prospects:
1. Sumner
2. Dunn
3. Ellenson
4. Bridges
5. Hart
6. Whitehead
7. Ochefu
8. Bentil
9. Copeland
10. Cheatham
11. Blueitt
12. Brunson

I don't think DSR is going to make it. If Delgado keeps progressing, then maybe. Same with Jalen Reynolds, but he seems to have hit a wall.

This is just one man's opinion. Feel free to disagree. However I think we can all agree this league is ooooozing talent at this point

Summer in front of Dunn is quite a stretch. Give Summer 1-2 more years before the NBA

I don't know why Bridges gets so much praise. He's gonna be great but right now he's just alright

Bridges is better than alright. Realize Villanova has 10 players who average 10 or more points, it is a team that really spreads the wealth and gets everybody involved and Mikal is averaging 7 points / 4 rebounds a game coming off the bench. It is hard to really stick out on a team that plays the way Villanova does. Even the announcers last night were saying Josh Hart, a player who averages 15 points a game, almost does it silently because there are so many other players scoring as well.

Mikal's length has already caused issues for teams and he causes a bunch of turnovers, he can shoot the 3, and he is athletic. He just needs to bulk up a little more. Mikal wasn't some under the radar player. He was a 4 star / Top 100 recruit coming out of High School.

I know you aren't bashing the kid, but he is better than alright. I can promise you that. Not taking a shot here either, but he scored 13 against St. John's this year as well.

I'd probably vote Bentil for BE POY at this point, but he won't get it. I think he's the best player in the league and he is ridiculously consistent, even when not 100%.

Yes, I'd probably go with Bentil as well. It is getting more difficult, though. Over anyone else, Dunn is a clear second and may still even be leading. Hart will obviously get some love as the best and most important player on the league's best team, but I think there are too many other guys that have had far more impressive individual seasons for him to win it, but who knows especially if Villanova keeps it up and Providence continues to slide.

Rookie of the Year: I'd have to go with Ellenson at the top by quite a bit and then Sumner and Brunson battling it out for number two. I think this is the most clear cut of the three debates, honestly. It's tough to make an argument for anyone else. I don't think Bridges is really that good right now, but a 6'7" guard with his athleticism has some scary potential, so he'll get some play in the next category.

NBA prospects:
1. Ellenson
2. Dunn
3. Sumner
4. Bridges
5. Whitehead
6. Bentil
7. Hart
8. Bluiett
9. Brunson

Of the group of forwards, I don't really see any of the forwards making it in the league between Reynolds, Ochefu, Delgado etc. Agreed that unless DSR starts playing like his hair's on fire every game, he's not making it. Copeland's got to deliver on his talent at some point as well I would think, but it hasn't stopped people from getting drafted before, so who knows. This is a heck of a group of guys though, especially in this year when the individual talent seems to be down across the country.

Ben Bentil without a doubt should be POY.

Barring a complete collapse from Marquette, Ellenson is going to win FOY. Too much publicity not to. Sumner is really his only competition at this point. He's averaging over 16 points and over 10 rebounds. I

Ellenson is so nice to watch. His fundamentals are fantastic.

Also love Sumner's game, kid is going to be a star next year.

Will Bentil and Dunn split the vote, leading to a Josh Hart or Trevon Bluiett victory?

hmmmm.....