Top 10: Overlooked college stars
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Each week, Rivals.com recruiting analysts Jerry Meyer and Eric Bossi break down the top 10 in a different category. This week's top 10: underrated prospects coming out of high school. All of these college stars were three-stars as seniors in high school.
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1. Jimmer Fredette Glens Falls, N.Y., BYU
The Big East passed on Fredette, so he headed west and is now the leading candidate for Player of the Year, averaging 27 points per game for BYU, ranked No. 7 by the AP heading into the week.
2. Derrick Williams La Mirada, Calif., Arizona
Considered a borderline high-major prospect coming out of high school, Williams is now leading Arizona, the Pac-10 leaders, in scoring and rebounding.
3. Alec Burks Grandview, Mo., Colorado
Burks came out of high school with very little fanfare, but he is now the star of a surging Colorado basketball program and is projected as a first-round draft pick.
4. Ben Hansbrough Poplar Bluff, Mo., Notre Dame
When Hanbrough signed with Mississippi State, most scouts considered him a mid-major prospect. Since then he has transferred to Notre Dame and become an impact player, averaging over 17 points per game.
5. Marshon Brooks Stone Mountain, Ga., Providence
Brooks didn't play 10 minutes per game his freshman year, but now as a senior he is averaging over 24 points per game in more than 35 minutes per game.
6. John Shurna Glen Ellyn, Ill., Northwestern
Shurna hit his stride at Northwestern as a sophomore and over the past two years has averaged 18 points per game and more than five rebounds per game.
7. Jacob Pullen Maywood, Ill., Kansas State
Pullen has become the face of the Kansas State program, averaging close to 20 points in both his junior and senior seasons.
8. Khris Middleton Charleston, S.C., Texas A&M
Middleton received little attention from the ACC and SEC, but he is now averaging 15 points per game as a sophomore in the Big 12.
9. Kenneth Faried Newark, N.J., Morehead State
The big boys passed on Faried and over the past three years he has averaged more than 13 rebounds per game. He is also averaging more than 17 points per game this year for Morehead State.
10. Damian Lillard Oakland, Calif., Weber State
The Pac-10 passed on Lillard, so he headed to Weber State and averaged 19.9 points per game as a sophomore and 17.7 points per game as a junior. His impact became more evident after a broken foot in December sent him to the sidelines, and Weber State struggled without him.
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