Archive for the ‘Better Know a Baller’ Category
Better Know a Baller: Dwayne Anderson, Villanova
With apologies to Stephen Colbert, we present another in our 2,117-part series, “Better Know a Baller.”
Dwayne Anderson
Villanova University (bio — photos)
Senior guard/forward • 6-6, 215 • Silver Spring, Md.
Season stats: 9.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, .839 FT%
– Grew up nine houses down from Villanova teammate Dante Cunningham, whom he calls his “godbrother.” The two played on the same D.C. Assault AAU team, and were briefly teammates on a squad at St. John’s College High School that also included Duke point guard Nolan Smith. It was through the observation of Smith and Anderson that Villanova coaches first came to know about the late-blooming Cunningham.
Better Know a Baller: Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
With apologies to Stephen Colbert, we present another in our 2,117-part series, “Better Know a Baller.”
Scottie Reynolds
Villanova University (bio — photos)
Junior guard • 6-2, 190 • Herndon, Va.
Season stats: 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.6 steals, .353 3pt%
– He provided the most memorable moment of the tournament so far, hitting a driving lay-in with 0.5 seconds left to beat Pittsburgh and send the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 1985.
– Adopted shortly after birth because his teenage mother could not provide for him, Reynolds values trust and dedication more than other virtues, and “bristles at the thought that [his adopted family] is anything but a regular family.” Has never met his biological mother, a woman from Huntsville, Alabama, and doubts that she is aware of the level of his success. He does plan on contacting her, however, and has researched her contact information.
Better Know a Baller: JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
With apologies to Stephen Colbert, we present another in our 2,117-part series, “Better Know a Baller.”
JaJuan Johnson
Purdue University (bio — photos)
Sophomore forward/center • 6-10, 215 • Indianapolis
Season stats: 13.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, .544 FG%, .735 FT%
– Blocked two shots in the final minute against Washington to help Purdue eke out a two-point victory. He has been arguably their best player throughout the NCAA tournament, using both his post-up moves and outside game (his range extends to 15 feet) as well as dominating defense.
– Led the Big Ten in blocked shots per game. Blocked 34 shots last season, the fourth-most for a Purdue freshman. His 72 blocks this year are the fourth-most in a season in program history.
Better Know a Baller: B.J. Raymond, Xavier
With apologies to Stephen Colbert, we present another in our 2,117-part series, “Better Know a Baller.”
B.J. Raymond
Xavier University (bio — photos)
Senior guard/forward • 6-6, 226 • Toledo, Ohio
Season stats: 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, .421 3pt%, .804 FT%
– Entering Xavier after a star-studded career at St. John’s Jesuit High School, he had a tough time finding his way in his first two years but has since blossomed into a leader. He’s the epitome of a player who’s grown into adulthood over four years in college.
Better Know a Baller: Willie Warren, Oklahoma
With apologies to Stephen Colbert, we present another in our 2,117-part series, “Better Know a Baller.”
Willie Warren
University of Oklahoma (bio — photos)
Freshman guard • 6-4, 207 • Fort Worth, Texas
Season stats: 14.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals, .380 3pt%
– Former McDonald’s All-American and projected 2009 NBA lottery pick, but he says he’ll return for his sophomore season unless the Sooners win the national title. We’ll see if said promise holds; would be refreshing if it did.
– Has had to live down an attitude reputation, which includes various high school indiscretions and talking smack to Kobe Bryant at the NBA star’s elite summer camp. Kansas coach Bill Self says he’s as talented as any guard in college basketball right now, but Warren still knows he’s got some public image issues he needs to prove wrong.
Better Know a Baller: Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State
With apologies to Stephen Colbert, we present another in our 2,117-part series, “Better Know a Baller.”
Jarvis Varnado
Mississippi State University (bio — photos)
Junior center • 6-9, 210 • Brownsville, Tenn.
Season stats: 13.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.7 blocks, .551 FG%
– He’s the best eraser in college basketball and a likely NBA lottery pick this year or next year. He leads the nation with 165 blocked shots (4.7 per game) in a conference that doesn’t take a lot of shots. Only UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet (142, 4.6) is close.
– If he was a team, he’d rank 20th nationally in blocks.
– First player to be SEC defensive player of the year for two straight seasons.
Better Know a Baller: DeMarre Carroll, Missouri
With apologies to Stephen Colbert, we present the first of our 2,117-part series, “Better Know a Baller.”
DeMarre Carroll
University of Missouri (bio — photos)
Senior forward • 6-8, 225 • Birmingham, Ala.
Season stats: 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals, .378 3pt%
– No less a sage than Joe Posnanski, the venerated columnist for the Kansas City Star, called him “every myth about college basketball come to life.”
– Transferred from Vanderbilt to help his uncle, head coach Mike Anderson, rebuild a Missouri program left in disgrace and shambles by Quin Snyder.
– Endured lots of losses, saw teammates kicked off the team and took a bullet in the ankle in a wrong-place, wrong-time shooting before he even took the court for Mizzou.
– Limited by ankle problems last season, he made the all-Big 12 first team this year and helped the Tigers win their first conference tournament title in 16 years.
