Many argue that College Basketball has lost its charm with all the one-and-done superstars becoming the new trend. High-profile recruits (who are no longer able to enter the NBA right after high school) have the spotlight thrust on them immediately after setting foot on a college campus, as people eagerly wait to see what the NBA's future stars will do for their schools. That college success likely lasts only about 6-8 months, though, as most of these kids bolt for the NBA draft after just their freshman year. New recruits come in, and the cycle repeats.
Is this strategy different from those previously used? Very. Has it killed college basketball's charm? While the one-and-done era has forced out some lovable aspects, quite a bit of charm remains in the college game. It comes in the form of underdogs. The media will focus on the Marvin Bagleys and Michael Porters each year, but behind the scenes lurk the giant killers: players who, while not well-known, can be a nightmare for teams that don't give them their due respect. Here are five of those players. They are some of the most underrated names in the 2017-2018 college basketball season.
Zach Thomas, F, Bucknell Bison
Bucknell is always a threat to be an NCAA tournament Cinderella story (see their upset of Kansas in 2005), and Zach Thomas will be the force driving that.
Thomas has quietly had one of the best starts to the season of any player this year. He's averaging a whopping 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, all while shooting 49 percent from the field and an incredible 51 percent from three. He's a threat inside the paint, as he can score on defenders much taller than he is (he is 6'7"), but he also has Stephen Curry-like range.
This makes him an incredibly tough match-up for even the league's best defenders. Bucknell is currently 0-3 on the season, but, behind Thomas, they will be a tough out for big-name teams in the tournament.
Matt Farrell, G, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Bonzie Colson will get much of the credit for the Irish's success, but their continued excellence is also owed to senior Matt Farrell.
Farrell was thrust into a starting role after the departure of star guard Demetrius Jackson in 2016-2017. He delivered. Farrell was arguably the most improved player on that team, upping his scoring averages from 2.6 points per game to 14.1 points per game. Farrell has maintained that scoring average but has also proven to be a passing wizard and defensive stopper. Farrell averaged 5.4 assists per contest last season and boasts a 3.4 assist per game mark this season. He forces a ton of steals, as well, which lead to easy fast break buckets on the other end. Notre Dame looks to finish in a good position in arguably the best basketball conference in the NCAA (ACC). With Farrell aiding Colson, they'll get their opportunity.
Chris Clemons, G, Campbell Fighting Camels
Chris Clemons has been a scoring prodigy since his first season as a college athlete. His freshman season, he averaged 18.5 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the floor and 37 percent from deep. The scary thing is, he's improved his scoring each season. Last year, Clemons averaged an insane 24.5 points per game (the third-highest average in the entire NCAA) on 45 percent shooting overall and 35 percent from three. Through two games this season, Clemons has upped his average to 33 points per game (currently the second-highest average in the NCAA) on 50 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from deep. His first game this season saw him drop 39 points on Penn State, which, while impressive, comes nowhere near his insane career-high of 51 points.
One thing is for certain for every big team out there: if you play Campbell, you had better guard Chris Clemons.
Reggie Lynch, C, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Reggie Lynch is a rim-protecting machine. If the perimeter defense is broken, he's the guy every team wants waiting in the paint. Lynch finished second in the NCAA last year with an average of 3.5 blocks per game. He currently leads the NCAA in blocks now, after a monster 9 block outing against Niagara. In addition to his defensive prowess, Lynch has a knack for grabbing rebounds for easy put-backs. This season, he's averaging 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 5.7 blocks per game. Minnesota starts their season 3-0 with a number 14 ranking.
Led by Lynch's defense, they will look to take down the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, and Michigan State to reclaim the Big 10 championship.
Markell Johnson, G, North Carolina State Wolfpack
Markell Johnson is one of those point guards who can do a bit of everything on the court. His passing and defense especially have proven to be invaluable to the rebuilding Wolfpack team. Johnson has quietly become one of the NCAA's best drive-and-kick guards. After a mediocre freshman season, he's flourished under the leadership of newly-hired head coach Kevin Keatts. Keatts runs a no-nonsense system that emphasizes ball movement, hustle, and defense, which fits Johnson's game perfectly. Johnson starts this season averaging 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 9.7 assists, and 2.7 steals per game.
His assists average currently ranks fifth in the nation. NC State is only projected to finish 13th in the ACC, but, behind the effort of guys like Markell Johnson, they may surprise quite a few of the ACC's elite.
Bring on the rest of the season
If the first week of college basketball's return has shown us anything, it's shown that heroics can come from even the most unexpected people. A player's name may not always be in the spotlight, but that doesn't mean he can't shine. These five guys have proven that more than anyone so far. They've gotten the job done without the deserved recognition. They aren't all-stars. They aren't one-and-done players. They aren't future NBA stars. But that's all part of their charm.
