OPINION

By Mike DeCourcy

updated 5:43 p.m. ET Oct. 7, 2007

Mike DeCourcy

All those years of big men wanting to play like guards brought us some really bad basketball, but at last it is producing quite a few big men who can play like guards.

Teams want power forwards who are comfortable away from the basket so they can open up space on the floor and make it harder to double-team in the post. (It's hard enough to find guys who can score inside against one guy, let alone two.)

So it isn't only Germany and Spain producing big men who like to step outside and shoot a little bit. There are fellows like that coming out of California, Maryland and Washington state.

If you want to make this list now, you probably better be able to hit a 15-footer -- and you absolutely have to be able to run down the rebound if you miss.

1. Darrell Arthur, Kansas
How do you make a star disappear? Yeah, I'm still wondering about that after Arthur's freshman season with the Jayhawks. After averaging 16 points in his first half-dozen games -- and a star-making performance against Florida's eventual champions -- Arthur's minutes dwindled. There's no Julian Wright to get in his way now. Arthur will be the most reliable offensive weapon on a team that has many.

2. Brook Lopez, Stanford
If Lopez wants to define himself as a forward, that's great, but he'll have to learn to use his ridiculous length and athleticism to position himself for more rebounds. He was good at the defensive end, but could be productive on the offensive boards.

3. Mike Beasley, Kansas State
Every indication is that he'll be an offensive machine for the Wildcats. He is lefthanded, overpowering, dynamic and tough. When everybody else of his ilk was turning down USA Basketball to focus on improving their own games, Beasley accepted the invitation to spend nearly a month in Serbia playing for the U-19 World Championship. That's a player to love.

4. Ryan Anderson, California
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2006-07 season, he might have gained more notice had not teammate DeVon Hardin's injury spoiled Cal's drive toward the NCAAs. Anderson is a versatile big man who can score inside and out, and he rebounds relentlessly. Who else out there had 60 3-pointers and 274 rebounds?

5. Brandon Costner, N.C. State
Um, remember that question I just asked? Well, here's your answer. Costner hit 61 3-pointers and gathered 264 rebounds. He is not the rebounding machine that Anderson is, but Costner might be the most skilled big man in college basketball. He passes, handles, shoots and plays strong along the baseline.

6. Earl Clark, Louisville
This is all about potential. Clark delivered only nine double-figure scoring games as a freshman and only twice got there in the rebounding category. But he played huge down the stretch, and his development helped get the Cards into the NCAAs. He might be a small forward, depending on how Rick Pitino decides to use his deep frontcourt, but Clark has a genuine chance to be one of the Big East's best.

7. Jon Brockman, Washington
If he were two inches taller, he'd already been an NBA lottery pick. Inch-for-inch, he is the best rebounder in Division I.

8. Deon Thompson, North Carolina
After a stellar summer with the U.S. junior national team, Thompson will take Brandan Wright's place and try not to bump into Tyler Hansbrough too often. Here's a little secret for you: Thompson actually is a more skilled low-post player.

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9. Tyler Smith, Tennessee
Coach Bruce Pearl had great success turning Dane Bradshaw into an undersized power forward, and Smith could fit nicely into that role. For one thing, he's not quite as undersized. He is a more dynamic athlete. He'll have to improve his rebounding to fit the part, but if he does the Vols will be even more dangerous.

10. Raymar Morgan, Michigan State
For Michigan State to become the Big Ten title contender it plans to be, Morgan has to become a full-time force. Whether he's playing power forward or on the wing, Morgan must improve his rebounding -- always a personal weakness -- so that his offensive production becomes more consistent.

Almost, not quite: Othella Hunter, Ohio State; Kyle Singler, Duke; Randal Falker, Southern Illinois; Will Daniels, Rhode Island; James Gist, Maryland; James Mays, Clemson; Marty Leunen, Oregon; Sam Young, Pittsburgh; Geoff McDermott, Providence; Damion James, Texas; Jeff Adrien, Connecticut; Robert Dozier, Memphis.

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