HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

A new year may be starting, but the college basketball season is just about at the halfway point. Conference play is already underway for most, meaning the countdown to the NCAA Tournament has begun and is just a couple months away. As we’ve been doing at the beginning of each month, it’s time to take a look at how the action so far has impacted a select group of player’s stock in our monthly stock watch:

Up

Jeremy Lamb (UConn) – 6’5, 185 lbs. Shooting Guard

Unlike his freshman year when he came in with nothing more than quiet expectations, Lamb had the world expected from him this season and so far he’s been delivering. Lamb has led the Huskies to a 12-1 start overall and has them on top of the Big East at 2-0. He’s averaging a team high 19 points a game on 51% shooting from the field and 40% from deep while also grabbing four rebounds.

Lamb has handled the transition from being the team’s secondary option last year to their primary option this year seamlessly. Improvements in his ball handling skills are noticeable, but he still relies on his silky smooth jumper from distance first and foremost.

At the shooting guard position there is no better prospect in college basketball right now than Lamb. Florida’s Bradley Beal is a close second, but the way Lamb has stepped up to the call this year clearly puts him past the talented freshman.

Thomas Robinson (Kansas) – 6’9, 237 lbs. Power Forward

Like Lamb, Robinson was asked to take over a leadership role this year at Kansas and he has responded very well. No longer stuck behind the Morris twins, Robinson has thrived in his new featured role. Robinson is posting up 16 points and 11 rebounds a night en route to surpassing many of the power forwards ranked ahead of him on mock draft boards.

Kansas has played the sixth toughest schedule in the nation up to this point in a year where they don’t have the type of talent that they typically do from top to bottom. Yet, they’ve managed to go 10-3 largely thanks to Robinson’s dominance.

The athletic lefty plays at a high intensity level and is getting better with each and every game. He’s currently a lottery pick who is consistently climbing even higher.

Meyers Leonard (Illinois) – 7’1, 245 lbs. Center

You would have to do a lot of searching in order to find impressive footage of Leonard from his freshman year. He really had a hard time adjusting to the increased level of competition, which kept him on the bench for all but eight minutes a night. At times his confidence waivered, but he’s a changed man this season.

Thanks to a summer of hard work Leonard has emerged as one of the premier centers in the country. He’s upped his averages from three points and three rebounds a contest as a freshman to 13 points, eight rebounds and nearly three blocks a night now as a sophomore.

Leonard’s skill level for his size is extremely intriguing. He’s quite athletic and well rounded. With centers being at a premium on draft night, Leonard has put himself in a position where he’s definitely a first round pick. If he continues his strong play in Big 10 play, he’ll be knocking on the door to be a lottery pick.

Neutral

Jared Sullinger (Ohio State) – 6’9, 280 lbs. Power Forward

Sullinger knew all along that there was going to be a downside to returning to Ohio State for his sophomore year and passing on a definite spot in the top five of the 2011 NBA Draft. He set the bar very high as a freshman and up to this point has failed to reach it statistically. Sullinger’s points and rebounds have dropped off slightly, although he is shooting better from the field now and showcasing an improved stroke on his jump shot.

As a team the Buckeyes are one of the best and in contention for a national championship, mainly because of Sullinger. There’s a lot to be said about his importance to the team, which is why he’s still projected to go anywhere from 3-6 just like he was last year.

After missing two contests due to back issues, Sullinger has played in six consecutive games and has looked healthy in doing so.

Anthony Davis (Kentucky) – 6’10, 220 lbs. Power Forward

As the saying goes, when you’re at the top there’s nowhere to go but down. So far, Davis hasn’t done anything to warrant moving him down the draft boards despite the fact that UConn’s Andre Drummond is starting to pick things up.

Davis is doing a little bit of everything for the Wildcats, averaging 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 blocks a night. His presence is felt primarily on the defensive end right now, but the potential is obviously there for him to be a bigger factor offensively as well. He’s surrounded by a group of teammates who are quiet potent offensively, so Davis’ defense is always needed more than his offense.

An unfinished project at this point of his career, Davis has shown enough so far to justify being projected as the top overall pick in the 2012 draft. He’s a scary player already, but down the line he could become unstoppable.

Down

Alex Oriakhi (UConn) – 6’9, 240 lbs. Power Forward

One of the unsung heroes during UConn’s run to the national championship last year, Oriakhi has seen his minutes and production drop off in his junior season. Oriakhi was never one to jump off the box score as he’s a blue-collar player who focuses on the little things. However, the addition of Drummond inside has taken away from his effectiveness rather than improving it like many thought it would.

Oriakhi hasn’t been playing much alongside Drummond, instead serving as backup. With Drummond being the better player and likely only being around for just this year, Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun is understandably going to try to get the most out of him. That’s limited Oriakhi’s opportunities.

Oriakhi would have been a second round pick in last year’s draft. He could still be selected late, but all signs right now are pointing to him staying for a fourth year.

Quincy Miller (Baylor) – 6’9, 210 lbs. Small Forward

Through the first five games of the season few freshmen in the country were as impressive as Miller, who got off to a great start after a year-long absence from live game action due to a torn ACL his senior year in high school. Miller showed why he was such a highly-regarded prospect, displaying versatility at his size that few players have.

A noticeable drop off in his game has coincided with the return of Perry Jones III, who served a five-game suspension handed down from the NCAA during the first five games of the season. Miller has remained efficient offensively, but is nowhere near as assertive now that Jones is back.

Baylor cannot afford for him to be a spectator for the Jones show, as fun as it may be to watch. In order for them to have the year that they’re wanting to have, he’s got to revert back to the way he was playing early on. He was a lottery pick then, now he’s falling back slightly into the middle portion of the first round.