Top Five NC-Double-Eh Players of the Decade - The Prelude

With the starting five list only days away, check out the NC-Double-Eh players that almost made the cut for The Can Ball Report's Top Five Players of the Decade right here ...

After a few weeks of late nights, checking links of links from a link, pouring over my vast collection of basketball periodicals and quite a few litres of Coke, I have finally finished it.  I have finally compiled The Can Ball Report's Top Five NC-Double-Eh Players of the Decade. But they aren't here.  This is the prelude to the list to help build the anticipation.  The actual awardees of the top five spots will be coming in the next few days individually so that they can get the well deserved spotlight they have earned largely playing well in relative anonimity.  For now, I leave you the players that made the first and second cuts; players that would be welcome additions to any NCAA team right now.  Read, remember and appreciate the talent that, despite what the mainstream media may have duped you into thinking magically begins now with Tristan and Cory, Canada has been sending talent to the NCAA level for years.  Check out our list here and get ready for the Top Five in the coming days ...

High Honorable Mention

Andrew Nicholson, St Bonaventure – Nicholson has only played two season in NCAA his career but he has a shot at making a serious mark on the college landscape and possibly as a pro in the NBA.   He has already been Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year including a nod on the 2^nd Team this season so expect him to be on the next list.

Denham Brown, Connecticut – this guy could have been on the first team but he wasn’t an All American selection.  He had a very good career in between NBA Draft picks his four years in Storrs including winning a ‘chip in 2004.  He has pro size, shooting ability and all he has to do is stick with a pro team longer than a playoff series.

Kai Williams, South Dakota State – Williams has been the Jack Rabbits’ version of Anthony Parker:  steady on both ends, often overlooked on the boxscore and underappreciated.  Though he didn’t have a superstar college career, he definitely had a very good one.  If he had played on a different team he may have been on the first team. 

Jamie McNeilly, New Orleans – McNeilly was a workhorse for the Privateers, period.  This guy played 35 minutes a game on the regular and was very productive choosing to stay in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina swept through.  He was an All Sun Belt Second Team selection his junior year and actually had a very good senior year having to carry the team when top player Bo McCalebb went down with a serious injury for that season.  It was a crime that he wasn’t on any of the all conference teams that year.

Majak Kou, Loyola, Ill. – Hamilton native Majak Kou quietly had a great career at Loyola, Ill.   In his four years as a Rambler, he was named to the Horizon League All Defensive First Team in his junior and senior seasons and scored over 1000 points. 

Carl English, Hawaii – English could have been on the first team as for sure had he stayed for his senior season.  He was named All Western Athletic Conference Second Team as a redshirt sophomore and then to the First Team as a junior when he averaged 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists to go with his 39.2% from behind the arc.  Who knows what he could have accomplished with a senior season. 

Honorable Mention

Kyle Landry, Northern Arizona

Scott Morrison, Portland State

Jared Mintz, Lafayette

Corey Muirhead, Western Carolina

Joel Anthony, UNLV

Levon Kendall, Pitt

Vlad Kuljanin, UNC-Wilmington

Steve Sir, Northern Arizona

Jermaine Bucknor, Richmond