Preseason Sweet 16 Rankings
12/01 - Since rankings are the most joyous thing in college basketball after the Maui Invitational and Dick Vitale's dome Littyhoops has decided to rank the top 16 college stars. Unlike the BCS or the RPI, our formula shuns Intel processors and takes a bit more of a subjective approach. If you can carry your school on your proverbial back, if you get fans to turn on ESPN and watch, if the student section cheers your name, and if you future career earning are greater than the GNP of a third world nation than you might just find yourself in the rankings. Sweet!
| 1. Julius Hodge | NC State |
 Hodge can effectively play four different positions in Herb Sendek's Princeton-style offense. He led the Pack in just about every statistical category last season but more importantly became one of the few charismatic team leaders in the college game. Hodge has been able to transform his game from the streets of NYC to Sendek's deliberate, ball-control offense. Perhaps the only thing better than Hodge's game are his sound bytes. Whether it's lobbying the committee for a 16 seed, continuously hyping newcomer Tony Bethel, or commenting on Rashad McCants locker room activities, Hodge head-scratchers keep the media entertained.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Clyde Drexler |
| 2. Wayne Simien | Kansas |
 Wayne's World. Wayne's World. Party Time. Excellent. The Jayhawk faithful will not be worthy if Simien steps up to become the preeminent excellent force in college ball. Simien has the strength and experience to dominate the paint. Combine that with his skill and touch and you got the perfect big man in Coach Self's high-low offense. With a talented and experienced supporting cast, Simien is the favorite in vegas to be on the cover of you favorite college basketball video game next year. Party on, Jayhawks.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Karl Malone |
| 3. Hakim Warrick | Syracuse |
 With a Championship belt already in his back pocket, Warrick returns for his senior season with the hopes of adding another. Warrick got mad length, which means he'll get more tips than your local waitress, more blocks than a spam mailer, and enough bounce to soften your clothes. Warrick has turned his raw talent and athleticism into controlled play and efficient movement. He's always around the ball and can makes plays on both sides of the court (much like he did when he rejected Aaron Miles three to clinch the title game) to win games for the Orange people.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Kevin McHale |
| McCants/Felton/May | UNC |
   All three of these reformed misfits are talented enough to be elite individual players. The key is for them to form like voltran and deliver the wrath of Optimus Prime on their ACC brethren. McCants is the most prolific scorer in the college game. He is also the most prolificer moper/pouter in Chapel Hill and has the body language of a pissed off Shannon Doughrety. May has trimmed down and toned up and should now be effective throughout a full 40 (minutes, that is). Felton is an enigma wrapped in a conundrum. He is the most natural point guard in the ACC and has all the ingredients (great floor vision, controls tempo) to be as good as shrimp wrapped in bacon. Instead he manages to disappear for long stretches during games.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Kidd/Masburn/Jackson |
| 5. Lawrence Roberts | MSU |
 Should he stay or should he go now? Roberts flirted turning pro like Paris Hilton flirts with mankind. Roberts game is legit, even if his expense report might not be. He stepped right into the go-to-guy role as a transfer leading MSU out of the blocks on fire last year. Roberts is a versatile big man who can score in different ways and will continue to be the focal point of the Bulldogs offense. Early season injuries have hindered his start and have made him the latest member of the Freddy Kruger facemask club.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Xavier McDaniel |
| 6. Ryan Gomes | Providence |
 Gomes arrived at Providence four years ago as a pudgy kid out of prep school with few Division 1 offers. He will leave as arguable the best Friar in sports since Tony Gwynn. Gomes can do it all for a team that needs it all to be done. He is a versatile scorer with an ever-improving jump shot and he can dominate a game on the boards. The emergence of Dwight Brewington will give Gomes enough space to do his thing and will have the friars dancing once again.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Terry Cummings |
| 7. Ike Diogu | Arizona St. |
 I like Ike. His teammates on the other hand are as hopeless as Adlai Stevenson's presidential campaign. Diogu is a coordinated force of muscle with a velvet touch. He will most likely fight for his points against double and triple teams and have little help to bail him out. Diogu averaged monster numbers of almost 23 points and nine rebounds last year but ASU won only 10 games. Oh, the humanity.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Waymen Tisdale |
| 8. Chris Paul | Wake Forest |
 Yes, we get it. Paul was great in high school. We know he is quicker than a NYC taxi meter and has a better handle than Martha Stewart's cabinets (pre-incarceration).But Chris Paul must prove that he is able to lead an immensely talented group of Deacons each time he steps on the floor. He must be a factor whether he drops 25 or doesn't attempt a shot. Paul should be judged by his consistency, which is essential if Wake hopes to consistently win. Can you ever really trust a guy with two first names?
| | NBA Doppelganger: Kevin Johnson |
| 9. Francisco Garcia | Louisville |
 The Cisco kid is great entertainment for Cardinals fans. His smooth stroke improves under pressure. Garcia can take the ball to the hoop and finds open teammates. With little backcourt depth besides running mate Taquan Dean, Garcia will need to display a multitude of skills if Louisville hopes to compete for a C-USA crown.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Scotty Pippen |
| 10. Bracey Wright | Indiana |
 When Wright is right, he makes the Hoosier faithful holler. His unlimited range and silky smooth stroke could land him a role in a Hoosier remake as Jimmy Chitwood. Unfortunately, Wright has been plagued with a back you wouldn't wish upon your mother-in-law and a supporting cast that would make even Pacino look bad.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Joe Dumars |
| 11. John Gilchrist | Maryland |
 Gilchrist is a dark horse player of the year candidate and might have the most star potential of any player in a loaded ACC. He exploded into stardom by helping the Terps steal the ACC title. Gilchrist is always heading towards the basket and can dominate the game from the point position. If he can keep his emotions in check, he may work his way to the top of this list.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Tim Hardaway |
| 12. Taylor Coppenrath | Vermont |
 Coppenrath enters his senior season with the Catamounts as the reigning two-time player of the year in the the America East Conference, and that's just the tip of the Ben & Jerry's cone. After breaking his wrist last Febuary, Coppenrath went Incredible Hulk on Maine in the America East title game by scoring 43 points in his first game back and only three days after having his cast removed. With an experienced lineup, a wacky coach, and a moptop cut, Coppenrath's plight to take Vermont back to the dance for the third straight season might be one of the most enjoyable stories to follow in college basketball this year.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Tom Chambers |
| 13. Rony Turiaf | Gonzaga |
 We still can't figure out what country he is from, what's up with his hair or how Gonzaga became such a national power. We do know that Ronny Turiaf has given the big men of the West Coast Conference a four-year education that an Ohio State athlete can only dream about. Turiaf has returned for his senior season and will team with Adam Morrison to form a forward combination that would make even the Supersonics drool.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Corliss Williamson |
| 14. Chuck Hayes | Gonzaga |
 With a name like Chuck and a game with no-frills, Hayes may be the most underrated player in the nation. Although undersized for a power forward, Hayes' tenacity and defensive effort make him the key reason why Kentucky has been a top five team for the last two seasons. Hayes is the perfect lead-by-example role model for Tubby's talented newcomers.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Buck Williams |
| 15. Tim Smith | ETSU |
 What Mr. Smith lacks in size he makes up for in age. The 24-year-old junior is the quickest thing out of Newport since The Answer. Last March it seemed as though Smith took on the entire Bearcat roster in one of the most thrilling and frenetic games of the tournament. As far as the Southern Conference is concerned, Smith is the problem by helping ETSU hog the conference titles two years running.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Allen Iverson |
| 16. J.J. Redick | Duke |
 We have to include Redick on this list because it will feel oh so good when we can kick him off next month. There is also the chance his redickulous jumper is more pure than a primary color and we'll have to hitch a ride on the Cameron bandwagon. Like Anna Nicole Smith, Redick has slimmed down by a good 25 pounds, and now has the ability to guard Lee Melchionni (the current day Marty Clark) in practice.
| | NBA Doppelganger: Danny Ferry |
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