2012 College Basketball Picks and Predictions: Top 5 Power Forwards: As players get bigger and faster, there have been some devastating power forwards making their way through the collegiate ranks in recent years. Tyler Hansbrough and Blake Griffin are probably the two best at the position in recent years, but even last season, names like Thomas Robinson and Jared Sullinger graced the All-American team and helped their teams reach the Final Four. The power forward position remains loaded heading into the 2012-13 college basketball season, and here is a look at how the top players stack up.
2012 College Basketball Picks and Predictions: Top 5 Power Forwards
1. Doug McDermott, Creighton Blue Jays
Plain and simple, McDermott is the most dominant offensive weapon at the power forward spot in the country. In fact, the guy is on the short list of players to lead the country in scoring and take home Player of the Year honors. Last year, McDermott averaged 22.9 points on 60.1 percent shooting, and he knocked down 1.5 3-pointers at a 48.6 percent clip. Throw in his 79.6 free throw percentage, and there is little doubt that he is one of the most efficient scorers around. He isn’t too shabby on the boards either, averaging 8.2 rebounds a year ago. Whether in the post, on the perimeter or at the foul line, McDermott will find ways to put a bunch of points on the board.
2. Mike Moser, UNLV Rebels
He does a little bit of everything on the court, and Moser has established himself as one of the more reliable double-double threats in the country. Last year, he averaged 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, along with 1.0 blocks and 1.9 steals. Moser’s biggest strength is his tenacity on the glass, but even with limited range on the offensive end, he manages to be a reliable scorer. Throw in his contributions on the defensive end, and Moser is definitely one of the best all-around players at the power forward spot.
3. James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina Tarheels
McAdoo was trapped behind three first-round picks in North Carolina’s frontcourt last year, but he will be given the keys to the offense as a sophomore. Even in limited action, he displayed an excellent combination of explosiveness and strength to go along with a solid mid-range game. McAdoo’s skill set is so impressive that he likely would have been a lottery pick last season. He will likely boost his draft stock even higher this year when he is asked to shoulder the scoring load for the Tarheels.
4. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Possibly the most physical, strong big man in the country, Mbakwe isn’t afraid to bang bodies and do the dirty work on either end of the court. Last season, he averaged 14.0 points on 60.4 percent shooting to go along with 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals. He also attempted almost eight free throws per game and shot a career-best 72.7 percent from the line. Mbakwe doesn’t have a lot of range as a scorer, but he can score with his back to the basket and in the paint all day long. Forget about finesse. He is an old school grinder in the post.
5. Tony Mitchell, North Texas Mean Green
After a slow start to his freshman season, Mitchell rallied to showcase the skills that have NBA scouts drooling. He ended up averaging 14.7 points on 56.7 percent shooting to go along with 10.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. The fact that he shoots 73.9 percent from the foul line is just icing on the cake. Mitchell is physical player in the post, and he has athleticism to spare. Playing in a smaller conference inflates his numbers a bit, but he would be a constant double-double threat wherever he played.
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