Sports Illustrated revealed their list of the Top 20 guards in college basketball with the 2015-16 season right around the corner. Obviously there are a lot of good guards in the NCAA, but apparently Sports Illustrated doesn’t think that NC State’s Cat Barber is one of them. Do I think that Cat is one of the Top 20 guards in college basketball? When he’s playing at his best, there isn’t a question for me. If Cat can play the whole season the way he finished last season, he will show that he belonged on the list from the beginning. In the end, what matters the most are the lists that you’re on when the season is over.
The list of the Top 20 guards is below. What do you think?
Sports Illustrated’s Top 20 Guards
Ryan Arcidiacono – Villanova Grayson Allen – Duke
Ron Baker – Wichita St. Malcolm Brogdon – UVA
Kyle Collinsworth – BYU
Kris Dunn – Providence
Yogi Ferrell – Indiana
Buddy Hield – Oklahoma Demetrius Jackson – Notre Dame
Caris Levert – Michigan
Monte Morris – Iowa St.
Jamal Murray – Kentucky
Malik Newman – Mississippi St. Marcus Paige – UNC
D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera – Georgetown
Isaiah Taylor – Texas Melo Trimble – Maryland Tyler Ulis – Kentucky Denzel Valentine – Michigan St. Fred Vanleet – Wichita St.
Today was the final day graduate players could enter the Portal.
This past season, O’Connell averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wolfpack, starting 22 of the 41 games he played in.
O’Connell took over as NC State’s starting Point Guard on January 30th in a win against Miami.
He only scored in double figures in 9 of his 41 games this season, but 6 of those came in postseason play (5 in the ACC Tournament). O’Connell took things to another level in the ACC Tournament, playing aggressive on the offensive end, looking for his shot, and attacking the rim.
NC State played it’s best basketball of the season when O’Connell was running the show. He ranked 3rd in the ACC in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.5).
Heading into next season, with a lineup filled with new faces, having the calming presence of a veteran leader like O’Connell is reassuring.
ECU Transfer Power Forward Ezra Ausar (6’9″/240) was on an Official Visit to NC State yesterday, and according to analysts at ON3 and 247Sports, things are trending in the right direction for the Wolfpack.
Jamie Shaw of ON3 submitted a prediction for Ausar to eventually commit to NC State yesterday morning.
Cory Smith of 247Sports submitted a crystal ball projection for Ausar to run with the Wolfpack this morning.
Ausar just wrapped up his Sophomore season in Greenville, averaging 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, shooting 51.4% from the field. As a Freshman, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team, averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Ausar is a consensus 4-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and ON3 ranks him as the #60 overall player in the Portal and the #10 Power Forward.
Originally from Atlanta, Ausar played his Senior Season of High School at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. ON3 ranked Ausar as a 4-Star prospect coming out of high school, the #94 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.
Ausar has visited Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, met over Zoom with Georgetown, and had an in-home visit with Utah. John Calipari and his staff at Arkansas have been in touch with Ausar, as well as Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Arizona State, West Virginia, Iowa State and St. John’s. (Link)
At this point, it’s good news that Ausar has no visits scheduled after the visit to NC State.
Ausar has 2 years of eligibility remaining, and NC State currently has 1 scholarship remaining.
NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts and the beloved DJ Burns were both Siren Sounders for the Canes this evening, with Carolina defeating the Islanders 6-3, winning the Round 1 series 4-1.
Me: Were you nervous?
Kevin Keatts: No! I just won nine elimination games in the NCAA Tournament!
Chip…. meet shoulder