The best prospects at the FOUR in the 2017 NCAA Tournament
Bonzie Colson - Notre Dame. 6'5" 226 Jr. ...Colson is among the most unique players to come through college basketball in the last decade. He is a power forward that stands 6'5". However, he is the poster child for our theory about measuring prospects not by the top of their heads, but by their standing reach. While their is no official measurement yet of Colson's standing reach, his wingspan was measured at 6'11.5" in 2013. ...Colson can play as a traditional "four" in beast mode or he can stretch defenses with his 40% three-point shooting. The deep ball is a new aspect to Colson's game. Last season he shot just a dozen threes. This season he is 22 of 54 (.407) from beyond the arc. Colson has also improved as a decision maker. This 2016-17 season is the first in his three-year Notre Dame career in which he has more assists than turnovers. Additionally, Colson has improved his free throw percentage with each season, now hitting 79%. ...Colson was a member of Boston Amateur Basketball Club (BABC) AAU team for six years and won four AAU national championships with that program. ...Bonzie's father was a four-year starting center at the University of Rhode Island and one of the Rams' career shot block leaders.
Justin Patton - Creighton. 6'11' 215. freshman. ...The highest rated freshman power forward in the tournament (Hoop Obsession) is Justin Patton. He is shooting an amazing 69% FG on the season! His shot-blocking and quickness with the second jump stand out. Patton is averaging 13 points, and six rebounds per game. He shows a mix of finesse, length and quickness that will give him a chance to be special in the NBA. He grew nine inches between his high school freshman season, and his first year on the Creighton campus. Patton needs to improve his free throw shooting (just 51% on the season), and his ball-handling/decision-making. He will also, like most freshman, need to beef up physically. ...Patton spent 2015-16 as a redshirt at Creighton.
Caleb Swanigan - Purdue. 6'9" 246 soph. ...The most productive power forward in college hoops is Caleb Swanigan. He averages 18 points (53% FG, 79% FT), and 12 rebounds per game. Swanigan was a decorated high school player that came into college ball overweight as a freshman. Since then he has worked hard to change his body and the results on the court have been phenomenal. Swanigan comes from a tough upbringing. His father had addiction issues and Caleb spent time in homeless shelters as an escape from an abusive household. Swanigan's father (now deceased) weighed in the neighborhood of 500 lbs. Caleb, himself was near 400 lbs. in eighth grade! A breakthrough came at age 13 when Caleb was adopted by former NFL player Rosevelt Barnes. Barnes put Caleb through intense workouts, getting the prospect known as "Biggie" down to 260 lbs. as a high school Senior. ...Swanigan could be better as a decision maker. He has more turnovers than assists.
Next nine...
TJ Leaf - UCLA. 6'9" 215 - freshman.
Mike Daum - South Dakota St. 6'9" 245 sophomore.
Moses Kingsley - Arkansas. 6'10" 230. Senior.
Carlton Bragg - Kansas. 6'9" 220. sophomore.
Cameron Oliver - Nevada. 6'8" 220. sophomore.
Lauri Markkanen - Arizona. 7'0" 230. freshman.
Gary Clark - Cincinnati. 6'7" 230. junior.
Derek Willis - Kentucky. 6'9" 216. Senior.
Wenyen Gabriel - Kentucky. 6'9" 197. freshman.