20 Players to Watch For in the 2013-14 NCAA Basketball Season

It's time for yet another go-round on the NCAA Basketball carousel. A sport that's uniqueness stems from the fact that the best players hardly ever stay for over a year (oh, and of course that tournament at the end). There's so much turnover in college basketball that you'd be forgiven to not be able to name enough players to fill two hands. In the spirit of college we thought we'd catch you up on a cliffnotes version of the most exciting players to watch for this upcoming seaon.

Whilst many "fans" will wait several months to start giving a crap about these amateurs, you can get a head start on filling out your hypothetical brackets. It's a little early, with conference play well over a month away, but all that studying will pay-off big time when you win your $75 office pool. So whether you're a diehard pulling for your alma mater, or a downtrodden NBA fan looking forward to the lottery; here are 20 Players to Watch For in the 2013-14 NCAA Basketball Season.

Year: Junior
Position: Power Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: 14.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.5 SPG
Strengths: At times he looks like a low post beast.
Weaknesses: Considered "soft." Not as good a rebounder as he should be.

Don't ever say Complex gave up on you. Lots of people have soured on McAdoo after a "disappointing" season, but we don't blame him for the fact that he was overrated by others. He still has the potential to be a poor man's Kevin Durant, and the fact is a poor man's Kevin Durant is still pretty damn good.

Year: Sophomore
Position: Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 15.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 2.2 SPG
Strengths: Stud scorer who should get more looks with two starters leaving for the NBA.
Weaknesses: Scouts say he's "one-dimensional."

Shabazz and Larry Drew are gone, and with their exit, Bruin Nation will watch their most consistent option carve up opposing defenses like a mohel at a bris.

Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 15.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.9 BPG, All-SEC 1st Team, Jay Bilas', Jimmy Dykes' and Seth Davis' choice for SEC Player of the Year.
Strengths: SEC leading scorer potential. Has an NBA body.
Weaknesses: Ball handling. Shooting inconsistency.

Apparently Jordan McRae is none too happy that incoming Kentucky freshman Julius Randle was chosen as the preseason SEC Player of the Year. Lucky for him they get to play an actual season. Look for McRae to combine with fellow stud Jarnell Stokes on the path to a deep tourney run for the Volunteer State.

Year: Sophomore
Position: Point Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 18.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, All Pac-12 Team.
Strengths: Crazy elevation leads to unexpected dunks. Speed merchant.
Weaknesses: He's 5'10".

Tempe should enjoy their star because it's already been stated that this will be Carson's final season playing for the Sun Devils. Like every other (returning) player on this list, his extra experience will only make him that much more of a threat to his on-court foes. We'd still like to see him work a little harder and add some inches to his height before making a b-line to the pros.

Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: 14.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Strengths: Fits into Syracuse's defensive scheme perfectly. At 6'8" he can do most everything on the court. Can score consistently from mid-range and in. Three-point game is improving exponentially.
Weaknesses: With three starters leaving, Fair will have to produce as the focal point of opposing defenses.

Fair hit one three-pointer as a sophomore, then hit 30 last season as a junior. If he continues this trend he'll hit 900 treys in what many experts will agree is the greatest college season of all time. With that projected output, Fair can finally expect to be a bonified star and get the attention he deserves.

Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 15.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, All Pac-12 Team.
Strengths: Can shoot and dish.
Weaknesses: Needs to "get a lot stronger." Sometimes he's prone to turn the ball over.

Not only is Dinwiddie's upper lip supporting one of the greatest 'staches in NCAA history, but his game on the floor is tight too. For the first time in half a century, Colorado is crashing the Big Dance consecutively and Dinwiddie is the star who's made them nationally relevant. This past summer he played in the World University Games and led the tournament in assists, which means he's as prone to spread the ball for open looks as he is to jab-step and create them for himself.

Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: 13.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 0.9 BPG
Strengths: Peaked against great teams in the NCAA Tournament.
Weaknesses: That's a small sample size, and it'll be interesting to see if he can keep that production up all year.

Early went off late (...) last season and helped Wichita State become a Cinderella. He put up 24 and 10 against eventual champ Louisville in a Final Four loss. It'll be interesting to see what numbers he can stockpile in the Missouri Valley against lower-tier foes before getting a chance to go out with a bang in his final NCAA Tournament. Look for him to, both, attract a lot of double teams and be a darkhorse All-American candidate now that we all actually know who he is.

Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 17.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1st Team All-Big East.
Strengths: Cheetah quick. Takes (and makes) a lot of threes.
Weaknesses: He's not very big.

Losing your junior year tourney run to a postseason ban could drive a man so mad that he could kill (metaphorically). And we expect Napier and Co. to make up for lost time. Napier is on this list, not just because he's good, but because he plays exciting ball. For anyone who chooses the NBA over college (until fairweather March), because the NBA is more exciting, may latch onto a guy like Napier who takes copious amounts of threes and plays with so much speed that he should be up Marshall Henderson's nose.

Year: Sophomore
Position: Small Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: 11.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, Big-Ten Team Honorable Mention, Kyle Macy Freshman All-American.
Strengths: Fast. Strong offensive rebounder. Solid defender. 44 inch vertical.
Weaknesses: With Trey Burke gone, Robinson won't have an All-American at the point feeding him.

A guy who passed up a likely top 10 pick in the 2013 Draft will either prove himself a stud (like his dad) or, blow out his knee and never be heard from again (like a bunch of guys who we've all forgotten). Michigan lost Trey Burke, the best player in college b-ball last year, along with current New York Knick Tim Hardaway Jr. That means it's up to Robinson and Mitch McGary to improve upon their runner-up success (and there's only one way to do that) and keep the Big Ten relevant in the domain of athletics. No pressure.

Year: Junior
Position: Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 21.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, WCC All-Conference Team.
Strengths: Great shooter/scorer. First "complete" basketball offseason.
Weaknesses: Going to have to carry a huge target as the undisputed leader.

Haws spent two years as a missionary without competing in any sort of (organized) basketball activity. This past season was the first year that basketball could be his focal point which means he has the potential to explode in a point scoring frenzy that people are trying not to compare to former Cougar Jimmer Fredette. Like many who (probably) can't hack it in the NBA, BYU students and fans will benefit from Haws' good, but not great, athleticism with a premium player for the next few seasons.

Year: Sophomore
Position: Shooting Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 12.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, 2nd Team All-Big 10.
Strengths: Can drive and shoot the three.
Weaknesses: History of injuries.

The Tom Izzo convoy just keeps on trucking in East Lansing. If you want to know Harris' potential then look at last season, a season in which he was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, was considered disappointing by many a crazy person. He already has some nagging injuries but we expect him to shake it off and shed the freshman part of that accolade. No doubt, some will still be pissed off.

Year: Freshman
Position: Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: California Player of the Year (back-to-back seasons), McDonald's All-American Game MVP.
Strengths: A dunker who'll churn out his own line of posters.
Weaknesses: Hasn't filled out his 6'8" frame yet.

We're up to No. 9 and we finally hit the first frosh on our list. Gordon is a skinny man's Blake Griffin who has all the hype of a Hollywood blockbuster. Whether he becomes The Avengers (likely) or John Carter(unlikely) is what they play the season for. He was the U.S. MVP in the U19 FIBA World Championship which means he better perform up to snuff or a bunch of people who start scouting in middle school will finally have a reason to feel like jackasses.

Year: Senior
Position: Point Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 10.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.1 SPG, Academic All-American.
Strengths: The best defender in college hoops. Clutch shooter.
Weaknesses: Not a great shooter (there's a difference between clutch and great).

You want to see a guy with heart? Well this is a guy with a heart that pumps Red Bull. Watching Aaron Craft play lockdown D is a treat for everyone but the frustrated star he's glued to. Everyone who's ever played basketball has run into that irritant ballhawk that won't ever let you put the ball on the floor. Craft puts us all to shame with his insane amount of effort on every possession.

Year: Freshman
Position: Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: McDonald's All-American.
Strengths: Insane dunker. Big body. Can drive with the best of them.
Weaknesses: Like a lot of freshman on this list we won't know how good he is until he actually plays a college game.

Randle is one-third of the players on this list who somebody screwed over and compared to LeBron. That means that every time he makes a mistake people will scoff and laugh at a comparison that didn't come out of his mouth. His body is domination ready (what?) and he'll look to be another of John Calipari's one-year commits who bolts and leaves the college world thirsting for stars.

Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 20.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG
Strengths: Legit scorer. Three-point machine. Trash talk.
Weaknesses: Cocaine

For the first three games you'll have to watch him on the bench, but when he's finally on the court his Dennis the Menace-like antics will confim why we put him on this list. If ever there was a guy to watch it's Henderson (here's hoping that talk of him learning his lesson is lip service).

Last season he finished second in the nation with 138 threes, and first in the nation in yelling into opposing stands. In a sport that has trouble developing personalities due to one-and-done stars, Henderson's unrestrained assholery is a breath of fresh air. However, he shouldn't be in school for all the times he's been caught with dirty urine. Let's see if he can stay drug-free.

Year: Freshman
Position: Small Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: Led Simeon Acadamy to four straight Illinois H.S. titles. Illinois Mr. Basketball. McDonald's Player of the Year.
Strengths: Everything. Plus he's smart.
Weaknesses: A foot injury helped Andrew Wiggins pass him as the most heralded high school hoopster on the globe.

Now we get to player No. 2 on this list that's been compared to LeBron. We don't want to spoil the No. 1 player on this list to the two people who don't already know it (oh wait...it's up top), but at the moment, some argue Parker is farther ahead. That's high praise for a guy whose game appears holeless. But it also sets him up. If he doesn't appear like the GOAT at Duke (which is a monumental order) he's going to look like a flop in a media that'll be much harsher than it is for Chicago High School hoops.

Year: Senior
Position: Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 18.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 SPG, First Team All-Big East, Third Team All-American.
Strengths: Excellent scorer. Great speed. Plays aggressive defense.
Weaknesses: Inconsistency. "Short."

Not every great college player immediately goes pro. Perhaps, Russ Smith wants to repeat as an NCAA champ, or maybe he wants to polish his floor general skills because he's essentially a shooting guard in a point guard's body. We're not sure how his height will translate in a league with the best of the best but with Peyton Siva leaving, the collegiate throne is officially Smith's. If you want one reason to watch Smith it's the fact that he'll take any shot at anytime. Some go in, while some others make writers look stupid for putting him at No. 4.

Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: 23.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1st Team Consensus All-American.
Strengths: Great shooter (that doesn't even really do it justice). Best offensive player in the country.
Weaknesses: Not explosively athletic like just about everybody else on this list.

Some may wonder "What is this crap? Why does McDermott get rated so high in an year with so many talented freshman?" That's because we'll give the benefit of the doubt to proven college players over (talented) wildcards any day. Especially when that "proven" player shoots 49% from downtown. His propensity to tickle the bottom of the net means he doesn't need to do windmill dunks and have a three-foot vertical.

McDermott is a back-to-back First Team All-American who puts team over self, which he made clear this offseason, by giving up his scholarship and coming back to play this year as a "walk-on." A third straight All-American appearance and a scoring title will cement his place as one of the best NCAA players ever.

Year: Sophomore
Position: Point Guard
Last year's stats and accolades: 15.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 3.0 SPG, Consensus 2nd Team All-American, Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year.
Strengths: Dominant defender. Lighting quickness allows him to create his own scoring opportunities.
Weaknesses: We hate to do it, but we have to question that last name after skipping the 2013 Draft for the deeper 2014 Draft.

Smart was picked by Chad Ford to go No. 1 in last year's draft. For some reason he chose eating Ramen in Stillwater over driving a Bentley in Philadelphia. But, that allows college fans a rare reprieve to watch a special player who's willing to give you two years of highlights instead of the obligatory one. With Smart returning (along with Markel Brown and Le'Bryan Nash) look for the Cowboys to be a fashionable National title pick.

Year: Freshman
Position: Small Forward
Last year's stats and accolades: Mr. Basketball USA, Gatorade Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year.
Strengths: He can shoot from anywhere on the court. Plays outstanding defense. Once in a decade athleticism.
Weaknesses: He's Canadian. Sike. Maybe his weight? None really, he should be allowed to go straight to the league.

We don't like to be predictable, but we also don't want to look insane. Wiggins is the pre-eminent Big Man on Campus. And, if there's one thing Greg Oden taught us, it's that hype always pans out. We don't want to think ahead to the Andrew Wiggins Powerball, we'll just focus on the season at hand. Kansas can expect another stud who many compare to LeBron and whose basement appears to be Kevin Durant. Overstatements aside, he's ESPN's greatest option to push the ratings needle and even casual fans should click over prior to the conference tourneys to see if the built-for-failure hype surrounding the teen is legit. Newflash: He's legit.