Over the past month-plus, we’ve been presenting our RTC Impact Players for the 2010-11 season. From coast to coast and the Canadian border down to Mexico, we’ve selected the sixty players nationally who we believe will have the most impact on the game this year. Each of the ten geographic regions was allotted five “starters” and a “sixth man,” an artificial construct that was easy to fill in some areas while much more difficult in some of the others. In case you’ve missed the series along the way, this post will serve as your wrap-up. We’re rank-ordering the ten “teams” by geographic region and list some of the near-miss players in each one. Each regional post has a much more extensive writeup on each player chosen, so be sure to click on its respective link if you’re looking for additional information. Here’s the view of the 2010-11 college basketball world from 500,000 feet.
The Ten Regions
(* denotes current injury, suspension or ineligibility)
1. Lower Midwest Region (OH, IN, IL). Wow, and imagine if Robbie Hummel hadn’t gotten hurt. Another group of first-rounders has everything, but what really sets this team apart is the inside dominance that Sullinger and Johnson can impose. There isn’t a region on our list this year that would be able to stay out of foul trouble against those two, especially with the heady play of Mack, McCamey and Moore finding the big men in the right spots time and time again. It’s no coincidence that the nation’s best conference — the Big 10 — has its footprint located here.
- Shelvin Mack, G, Butler
- E’Twaun Moore, G, Purdue
- Chris Wright, F, Dayton
- Jared Sullinger, F, Ohio State
- JaJuan Johnson, C, Purdue
- Demetri McCamey, G, Illinois (6th)
Near Misses: William Buford, Ohio State; Maurice Creek, G, Indiana; John Shurna, Northwestern
2. South Atlantic Region (VA, NC, SC). Obviously, if you can’t find a space for a likely all-american like Nolan Smith, this is a sick team. Its only weakness is that other than Tracy Smith, it is extremely perimeter-oriented. Granted, nobody can put a more talented five on the floor, but if a team like the above can pound the ball inside on them, that could make the difference.
- Kyrie Irving, G, Duke
- Malcolm Delaney, G, Virginia Tech
- Kevin Anderson, G, Richmond
- Harrison Barnes, F, UNC
- Kyle Singler, F, Duke
- Tracy Smith, F, NC State (6th)
Near Misses: Nolan Smith, Duke; Andrew Goudelock, College of Charleston
3. Plains/Mountains Region (KS, CO, WY, OK, TX). This is a ridiculously talented region, with first-rounders everywhere on the floor. The only possible issue would be who would be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team, but if Selby is eligible to run the show, we’re not sure there’s a much better group anywhere else in America. This region is so strong we had to leave a high-major conference POY (Culpepper) off the team. Wow.
- LaceDarius Dunn*, G, Baylor
- Jacob Pullen, G, Kansas State
- Perry Jones, F, Baylor
- Marcus Morris, F, Kansas
- Cory Higgins, F, Colorado
- Josh Selby*, Kansas (6th)
Near Misses: Alec Burks, Colorado; Gary Johnson, Texas; Randy Culpepper, UTEP
4. Upper Midwest Region (MI, WI, MN, IA, NE, SD, ND). This group encapsulates the word toughness from top to bottom, with MSU’s Lucas running the show and a number of gritty workhorses putting in work inside. On pure talent alone, this region may not match up well with some of the others, but does anyone believe that a team including Lucas, Butler and Leuer wouldn’t have a chance?
- Kalin Lucas, G, Michigan State
- Blake Hoffarber, G, Minnesota
- Jimmy Butler, F, Marquette
- Jon Leuer, F, Wisconsin
- Keith Benson, C, Oakland
- Draymond Green, F, Michigan State (6th)
5. Mid-Atlantic Region (NJ, PA, WV, DE, MD, DC). This region is somewhat reminiscent of the Northwest in that there are so many talented perimeter scorers, but very little inside in that regard. Jones and Allen will make sure that their guards get plenty of opportunities, though — can we enlist Jay Wright to coach this team of gunners?
- Austin Freeman, G, Georgetown
- Talor Battle, G, Penn State
- Corey Fisher, G, Villanova
- Jeremy Hazell, G, Seton Hall
- Kevin Jones, F, West Virginia
- Lavoy Allen, F, Temple (6th)
Near Misses: Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh; Damian Saunders, Duquesne; Chris Wright, Georgetown
6. Deep South Region (GA, FL, AL, MS, LA). It’s pretty much an all-SEC team here with Singleton carrying the lone ACC flag. The athleticism is off the charts with Leslie and Singleton flying all over the court, but we’re not sure about the backcourt play and there’s really not a lot of beef up front. Honestly, we’re not really sure what to make of this team; a Sidney/Thompkins front line could potentially match up with just about anyone, but who will get them the ball?
- Chris Warren, G, Ole Miss
- Trey Thompkins, F, Georgia
- Travis Leslie, F, Georgia
- JaMychal Green, F, Alabama
- Chris Singleton, F, Florida State
- Renardo Sidney*, F, Mississippi State (6th)
Near Misses: Anatoly Bose, Nicholls State; Gus Gilchrist, South Florida; Erving Walker, Florida
7. Mid-South Region (KY, TN, MO, AR). The backcourt in this region is extremely talented but young — they’d likely get exposed by some of the more experienced groups on this list. And while the frontcourt is athletic and talented, it’s light on beefy bodies to clear space and snare boards. Of course, if Enes Kanter becomes eligible, we reserve the right to re-assess this group’s ranking.
- Brandon Knight, G, Kentucky
- Will Barton, G, Memphis
- Marshawn Powell, F, Arkansas
- Kenneth Faried, F, Morehead State
- Jeffery Taylor, F, Vanderbilt
- Scotty Hopson, F, Tennessee (6th)
Near Misses: Enes Kanter*, Kentucky; Kwamain Mitchell*, St. Louis; Kim English, Missouri
8. Southwest Region (NM, AZ, NV, HI, SoCal). Assuming we can get everyone eligible among this group, there’s a nice mixture of inside and outside play, but not a lot of pop on the wing. Even though the frontcourt of Williams, Leonard and Nelson is strong, talented and ranks by itself among the best regions, the backcourt needs some help to compete with the groups above this team.
- Jio Fontan*, G, USC
- Tre’Von Willis*, G, UNLV
- Dairese Gary, G, New Mexico
- Derrick Williams, F, Arizona
- Kawhi Leonard, F, San Diego State
- Reeves Nelson, F, UCLA (6th)
Near Misses: Rihards Kuksiks, Arizona State; Drew Viney, Loyola Marymount; Troy Gillenwater, New Mexico State
9. Northwest Region (UT, WY, MT, ID, AK, WA, OR, NorCal). This region is Washington-centric, as both the Huskies and Zags should have top 25 teams this year. And if you need scorers, the northwest might be the region of America where you’d start your search with players like Fredette, Thompson, Thomas, Green and Oliver all capable of putting up big numbers. The problem with this team is that there’s only one basketball and we’re not sure if this group would ever get a rebound, much less play any defense.
- Jeremy Green, G, Stanford
- Isaiah Thomas, G, Washington
- Jimmer Fredette, G, BYU
- Elias Harris, F, Gonzaga
- Klay Thompson, F, Washington State
- Adrian Oliver, G, San Jose State (6th)
Near Misses: Tai Wesley, Utah State; Mickey McConnell, St. Mary’s
10. Northeast Region (ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY). There are quite a few do-everything kinds of players in this region with Trapani and Rossiter leading the way. If Walker takes on a leadership role at the point guard position and Melo can become a beast off the bench, this group could surprise some people. However, on paper, this is one of the weaker regions in the nation.
- Kemba Walker, G, Connecticut
- Charles Jenkins, G, Hofstra
- Joe Trapani, F, Boston College
- Ryan Rossiter, F, Siena
- Kris Joseph, F, Syracuse
- Fab Melo, C, Syracuse (6th)
Near Misses: Scoop Jardine, Syracuse; John Holland, Boston University