Basketball season is rapidly approaching and no one could be happier than I. This time of year is consumed by Football and Basketball and for years Fantasy Football Leagues have been a tradition for many men and women across the country, and all over the world for that matter. Well here at scACChoops basketball is king, and one of the great parts of this site is the ACC Fantasy Basketball feature. Pro Basketball has had its version of fantasy leagues for awhile, but only now are college hoops leagues starting to form and gain in popularity. This site provides one of the premier leagues available out there, and they do so for the best conference in college sports, the ACC. With options such as live or automated drafts, trades and trade deadlines, auto scoring, and stats galore, it is one of the most comprehensive ACC sports and fantasy sites available today. I encourage anyone who wants to make their ACC Basketball season a little more fun, to grab some friends and give it a try. Its fun and best of all its FREE!
...And now its time for Casey's Top 20..Where I will give you and idea of who I think will be the top 20 Fantasy Players that could lead your scACChoops.com fantasy team to a title! So here goes....
1. Greivis Vasquez : PG/ Maryland: Sticking around for a senior season will help whoever gets him on their team. His points, rebounds, assists and steals make him one of if not the strongest player in fantasy to put points on the board. However turnovers have been a problem for Vasquez in the past, if he is able to limit these he will have another strong fantasy campaign.
2. Kyle Singler : SG/SF Duke: Dukes Kyle Singler should see more of the offense come his was this season, with the departure of Gerald Henderson. Last season saw his points, rebounds and assist per game averages rise from his freshman season. With his work load increase and a switch to the perimeter this season, his rebounding totals may dip a bit but his scoring, assists and steals averages could very easily rise.
3. Trevor Booker : PF/C Clemson: Booker does have an injury to deal with in this his last season at Clemson. This could hurt his abilities in some aspects of his game so this ranking may be a little high. I as well as others have watched him over the past three seasons, and I have seen how tough a competitor he is, which leads me to believe that he can and will put the injury behind him. Healthy, he is a threat to go for a double double against anyone, as he almost averaged that a season ago. He is also a good shot blocker for his height and can pass the ball reasonably well. A great pickup in the middle to late first round if some are scared to pick him up.
4. Gani Lawal : F Georgia Tech: I really think that this will be a breakout season for Gani Lawal. If a freshman year of nearly averaging a double double in points and rebounds wasn't a breakout season. Georgia Tech will make great improvements with the talent that Paul Hewitt has brought in, but Lawal is already one of this teams leaders and most important players. He may need to cut back on turnover numbers from a season ago, which could have come as a result of trying too much too soon. His scoring may take a dip a bit due to Techs added offense, but if he can maintain his rebounding numbers and increase his assists per game, he will be a great all around fantasy pick.
5. Al-Farouq Aminu : PF Wake Forest: Aminu is very much a carbon copy of of Gani Lawal, and there numbers from a season ago were very similar. Aminu had a very successful run as a freshman, on a very talented Wake team which reached number one in the country. Aminu struggled early in the season with turnover problems, which he seemed able to control better later in the season. With key departures on his team, he will be counted on to score more as well as rebound well on both ends of the floor. He did well with both last season, and I see no reason that those number can't and won't improve this one. He is a good start at forward or center for any fantasy team.
6. Ed Davis : PF/C North Carolina: Davis does not have the numbers that many if not all of the rest of the players on this list have from a season ago. What he does have though is what they all wish they did..a National Championship ring. Davis earned this ring too. He did not sit at the end of the bench and collect the hardware. He was a big reason that Carolin hung another banner, and very well could have been a lottery pick had he left at seasons end. All that needs to be said is that he is back, with a seven point and seven rebound per game average in very limited minutes in comparison to what he will see this season. He has great timing on defense and is a very good shot blocker, averaging almost two a game last year. He may prove me wrong, and warrant a higher ranking but if you can get him at six, you could do a lot worse.
7. Jeff Allen : PF/C Virginia Tech: Jeff Allen is a load in the post, and night in and night out he can bang with the best down low. He has a very good combination of footwork and strength in his post moves, which have allowed him to score with touch and with power, as well as position himself well on the offensive and defensive glass. Along with nearly recording a double double in points and rebounds every night, Allen also averages nearly to steals a game. Turnovers were a problem for Allen though at nearly three a game, which can hurt in fantasy if that trend continues. All in all a very good fantasy pickup for any team
