BJ Mullens

2009 NBA Draft: Best Rebounders

CHN — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:20:59 -0700

2009 NBA DRAFT: NBA Mock Draft - Top 100 Prospects - NBA Team Needs/Capsules - 2010 Draft

2009 NBA Draft Skills Challenge: Best Rebounders

While the 2009 NBA Draft isn't particularly strong at the center position, there's a good amount of power forwards and larger wings who can rebound the ball. The lone exceptional big man is Hasheem Thabeet, and though he isn't a dominating rebounder yet, he can hold is own. The best rebounder is Blake Griffin, the probable #1 pick, and he's followed by the likes of DeJuan Blair and Jordan Hill. Less-heralded prospects like Jeff Adrien, Jon Brockman, and Jeff Pendergraph grabbed a ton of rebounds in college, while wings like Earl Clark and Damion James can do damage on the glass as well.

As part of our NBA Draft Skills Challenge series, CHN experts rank the Best Rebounders in the Draft. Click on player name for profile & scouting report. Our experts rankings will be updated once the official Entry list is finalized.

Jason Brubaker

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill

4) Hasheem Thabeet
5) Jeff Adrien
6) Tyler Hansbrough
7) Jeff Pendergraph
8) Sam Young

Jeff Fox

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) John Bryant
4) Jon Brockman
5) Luke Harangody
6) Hasheem Thabeet
7) Jordan Hill
8) Diamon Simpson

Jason Hirschorn
1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet
3) Tyler Hansbrough
4) DeJuan Blair
5) Luke Harangody
6) Jordan Hill
7) Earl Clark
8) Taj Gibson

Raphielle Johnson

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jeff Adrien
4) Jordan Hill
5) Tyler Hansbrough
6) Luke Harangody
7) Hasheem Thabeet
8) Jon Brockman

Tim Kemper

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill
4) Gani Lawal
5) Terrence Williams
6) Earl Clark
7) Hasheem Thabeet
8) Damion James

Shawn Siegel

1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet

3) Jordan Hill

4) DeJuan Blair

5) BJ Mullens
6) Earl Clark

7) Slava Kravstov
8) Jeff Adrien

Jon Teitel
1) Blake Griffin
2) Hasheem Thabeet
3) Jon Brockman
4) DeJuan Blair
5) Tyler Hansbrough
6) Damion James
7) Chris Johnson
8) Jordan Hill

Jason Tomassini

1) Blake Griffin
2) DeJuan Blair
3) Jordan Hill
4) Hasheem Thabeet
5) James Johnson
6) Earl Clark
7) Gani Lawal
8) Tyreke Evans

NBA Draft Skills Challenge Series

- includes top scorers, rebounders, passers, shot-blockers, and more.

Also see Top Ten Prospects by Position & Top Ten Prospects by Class & Top Ten Prospects By Age.

Prospect Report: Top 10 College Prospects

Joey Whelan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:29:55 -0800

Joey Whelan's prospect report ranks the best in college hoops every other week. The previous ranking is in parentheses.

1. Blake Griffin – Oklahoma (1)

The name of this column should be changed to “Top 10 Prospects After Blake Griffin” because barring injury, the Sooner big man will not be supplanted from his lofty perch; not while competing at the college level. Since entering conference play in the Big 12 the sophomore has averaged 22.4 points and 13.2 rebounds while shooting nearly 54% from the field. It isn’t just the numbers though, it’s the out of this world athleticism that makes Griffin one of the few players in the country who I will make me stop whatever I am doing to watch.

2. James Harden – Arizona State (2)

For the first time all year Harden looked human after his 4-point, 0-8 performance in a loss versus USC. The nation’s top shooting guard has rebounded nicely though, going over the 20-point mark in the Sun Devils last two games; wins over UCLA and Arizona.

3. Greg Monroe – Georgetown (3)

Likely the top freshman in the country at this point, Monroe is continuing to post consistent, solid numbers in Big East play. In his last five games he has accumulated averages of 12.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists, not overwhelmingly impressive alone, but when taking into account the amount of talent on Georgetown, it’s safe to say Monroe would post higher numbers elsewhere. His near triple-double in a win over Providence was one of his best showings of the season.

4. Jordan Hill – Arizona (5)

Hill just seems to be getting better and better each time he steps out onto the court. He almost single handedly carried Arizona to a come from behind win over Houston on Saturday, netting a season high 30 points to go along with 18 rebounds and 4 blocks. In seven Pac-10 games, Hill has four double-doubles.

5. Jeff Teague – Wake Forest (NA)

NBA scouts love to see good players step up in big games; Teague has done just that. In the two biggest games of the year for the Demon Decons (wins over UNC and Clemson) the sophomore guard averaged 29 points, 4 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He had an excellent run during Wake’s non conference schedule, and has been nothing short of red hot since ACC play has started. This combo guard is getting more and more popular by the game.

6. Earl Clark – Louisville (7)

The Cardinals are on a roll, standing atop the Big East at 6-0 including wins over four ranked conference opponents. Clark may be on an even bigger roll after posting double-doubles in all four wins over ranked teams. In fact, the only game that Clark hasn’t recorded a double-double in the past 2+ weeks came in a win over Rutgers last Wednesday.

7. Hasheem Thabeet – Connecticut (6)

Given his massive frame, shock blocking ability and enticing potential, it is going to take a lot to knock Thabeet out of the top ten. With that said, the senior center hasn’t exactly been putting together strings of great game lately. His 15 and 17 showing in a win over Seton Hall last week was his first big game in several weeks.

8. Stephen Curry – Davidson (8)

Curry looks like he may have regained his shooting touch, albeit against the less than competitive SoCon, but he is hitting his shots nonetheless. Davidson has won six straight, and their star has recorded back to back 30-point games while shooting a stellar 13-22 from beyond the arc in those two games.

9. Ty Lawson – North Carolina (4)

Lawson’s scoring consistency as started to waiver somewhat recently, and he had a poor shooting performance in the biggest game of the year so far for the Tar Heels; a loss to Wake Forest. The assist numbers have stayed up though, as the junior has still managed to heavily influence the action on the floor, dishing out more than 7 assists per game in his last four games.

10. B.J. Mullens – Ohio State (NA)

The thing about being a physically gifted 7-footer with loads of potential is that with the faintest signs of developing on the court and your stock starts climbing again. After a slow start where he wasn’t seeing much playing time, Mullens has reached double figure scoring and played at least twenty minutes in his last six games.

Dropped Out: Kyle Singler (9), Gani Lawal (10)

Next in Line: Kyle Singler, Duke; Patrick Patterson, Kentucky; Demar DeRozan, USC; Willie Warren, Oklahoma; Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech

Rising

Jodie Meeks – Kentucky

Ok, so clearly at this point this shouldn’t come as a shock to see his name here given the last two weeks, but Meeks has yet to be mentioned in this space. The 54 points dropped on Tennessee was ridiculous, there is no other word for it. But combine that with a 28-point showing against Louisville and the fact that he has yet to fail to eclipse 20 points just once in over a month, and Meeks’ stock is scorching right now.

At 6’4” he will be an undersized shooting guard at the next level, so to really help his stock he needs to improve on his ability to distribute the basketball, become more of a combo guard. His range and ability to create off the dribble though are more than enough to entice teams to take a good long look at Meeks and at the very least invite him to participate in the summer league.

Falling

Greivis Vasquez – Maryland

Ever since the Terps reeled off seven straight wins in their non conference schedule Vasquez has been struggling to find the basket. Over his last six games the junior is shooting just 27.9% from the field and an abysmal 15.6% from beyond the arc. Making matters worse he has been getting into it with Maryland fans and prior to the drubbing the Terps received at the hands of Duke, Vasquez was popping off about owning Cameron Indoor Stadium. In Maryland’s toughest test of the season their floor general managed 4 points on 2-10 shooting with 2 assists.

Poll: Who Has Been the Most Disappointing Freshman?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:28:43 -0800

College Basketball: Top Centers

Joey Whelan — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:39:20 -0800

The true center in college basketball is a rarity these days. The game that used to be dominated by giants of the paint is now all about up tempo play, the fast break, and hybrid players that can start at multiple positions. That isn’t to say that the great post players of the game are no longer in existence, it’s just that many of these big men have started to add more versatility to their game or are simply just more athletic than their predecessors. Here is a look at the best of the bigs in college hoops this season.

Pick Six: Top Centers

Throughout the week, check back for articles highlighting the Top 6 players at each position. Tomorrow we’ll be rolling out the Top 6 at shooting guard.

1. B.J. Mullens – Ohio State

That’s right, the first newcomer to top one of the positions lists. Not only is Mullens arguably the top freshman in the country this season, he could wind up being the top pick in the NBA Draft come June. Standing a legitimate 7-feet and possessing a freakishly explosive vertical jump, Mullens has the physical attributes that could allow him to dominate the Big Ten right away. His hands are excellent and he has a nicely developing post game, though much of it still relies on his athleticism around the rim. Perhaps most intriguing at this point about the youngster is his ability to step away from the basket and still be an effective scorer. Mullens exhibits a very smooth jumper that almost no one in college basketball will be able to contest on a regular basis. His game is still very much a work in progress as he is still learning how to completely utilize his physical gifts. Mullens will have to show more enthusiasm on defense than he did at the high school level in order to be an impact player on the other end of the floor as well.

Stats: DNP Freshman

2. Hasheem Thabeet - Connecticut

The tremendous improvement that Thabeet showed from his freshman to sophomore seasons was almost enough to put him atop this list. Another monster of the middle, the junior stands 7’3” with an enormous wingspan, and packs 260 pounds onto his frame. He runs the floor surprisingly well for a player of his size and shows great explosiveness around the rim; it’s a given he will dunk if given the space. His post game is very far from being finished, as he still attempts less than six shots per game. His footwork is raw and he lacks any real pivot moves, though he does have the ability to finish with contact inside, a major plus. Defense is where Thabeet really makes his mark. His man-to-man coverage isn’t great, due to his lack of upper body strength, but his shot blocking abilities make him a game changer on this end of the floor.

Stats: 10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.4 apg

3. Andrew Ogilvy – Vanderbilt

What a freshman season for the Aussie. Ogilvy burst onto the scene in the SEC as probably the most fundamentally sound center in the country. His footwork is phenomenal, and he has the ability to light it up with a jump hook that he can consistently hit with either hand. His overall offensive repertoire in the post is very impressive and his quick feet make him a difficult match up for most big men. What hinders Ogilvy though is a lack of great athleticism. He isn’t very explosive, so in many situations where he would be better suited elevating over defenders for an easy score, he looks to draw contact or finish with a finesse move off the glass instead. He doesn’t have a face up game with the ball at this point, but look for that to continue to develop in the upcoming seasons. The biggest key for Ogilvy this season will be staying on the floor; he struggled with foul problems last season.

Stats: 17.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.2 apg

4. Jordan Hill – Arizona

Despite being a real impact player for the Wildcats last season, Hill managed to go largely unnoticed by most of the country. The junior posted averages of 13 point and 8 rebounds in 29 minutes of work while shooting an outstanding 62% from the field, the 13^th best mark in the country. Hill’s back to the basket game is still a work in progress, as it is for many big men at this level, but he shows some nice promise with a right-handed jump hook, and has proven to be a fairly effective passer out of the post. He needs to work on reading when double teams are coming and how to avoid them. Hill showed great improvement in his range from last season, showing the ability to step away from the basket more often. While his handles aren’t great at this point, he exhibits an outstanding first step for a frontcourt player, able to beat most big men on a regular basis to the basket where he shows a soft touch.

Stats: 13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

5. Jeff Pendergraph – Arizona State

Another player having flown under the radar for the last couple of seasons as a result of other talented big men in the Pac-10, the senior could finally emerge this season as one of the top centers out west. Pendergraph has great physical attributes: a solid 6’9” 230-pound frame and well above average athleticism. He has a nicely developing post game, highlighted by a right-handed jump hook that he hits regularly thanks to his soft touch. Pendergraph as a whole is a very efficient low post scorer, connecting on nearly 60% of his shot attempts last season. The biggest wrinkle he has added to his game over the years is the ability to catch and shoot from mid-range, able to knock down the open 15-footer on a fairly regular basis now. Pendergraph is a tough defender inside, but ASU primarily goes with a zone look, so he isn’t in too many one-on-one situations. A slight bump in his rebounding numbers this season would be a big boost to the Sun Devils.

Stats: 12.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 0.9 apg

6. Jerome Jordan – Tulsa

Jordan is a mid-major big man just waiting to be noticed by a larger audience. A 7-footer who moves well, the junior had an inconsistent year for the most part, but turned things on down the stretch, posting three double-doubles in his last six games, and had an impressive 17-point, 9-rebound, 4-block performance against Memphis in his last game. Jordan shows flashes of some nice post moves, particularly a strong drop step and a developing hook shot that could prove to be nearly impossible to stop if perfected. His game is still very raw though and will need a lot more polish. Defensively Jordan was a shot blocking machine last year, finishing 5^th in the country at 3.7 per contest. He has great mobility as already mentioned and shows a real knack for timing his jumps to contest shots.

Stats: 10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

Next in Line: Luke Nevill, Utah; Josh Heytvelt, Gonzaga; Taj Gibson, USC; Cole Aldrich, Kansas; Aron Baynes, Washington State.

Love it or hate it, let’s hear it!

Preseason All-Freshman Team: 2008-09

CHN — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:45:37 -0700

CollegeHoops.net's Preseason All-Freshman Team is led by a pair of unanimous selections: UCLA's Jrue Holiday and Ohio State's BJ Mullens. Holiday, a West Coast point guard and Mullens, a Mid-West big man come from the opposite ends of the college basketball spectrum.

The CollegeHoops.net All-Freshman teams are voted on by staff writers.

CollegeHoops.net Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year: Jrue Holiday (UCLA) & BJ Mullens (Ohio State)

CollegeHoops.net First Team All-Freshman

Jrue Holiday	UCLA	G
Demar DeRozan	USC	G
Scotty Hopson	Tennessee	G
Greg Monroe	Georgetown	F
BJ Mullens	Ohio State	C

CollegeHoops.net Second Team All-Freshman

Willie Warren	Oklahoma	G
Tyreke Evans	Memphis	G
Al-Farouq Aminu	Wake Forest	F
Delvon Roe	Michigan State	F
Samardo Samuels	Louisville	F/C

CollegeHoops.net Third Team All-Freshman

Kemba Walker	UCONN	G
Iman Shumpert	Georgia Tech	G
Devin Ebanks	West Virginia	G/F
JaMychal Green	Alabama	F
Luke Babbitt	Nevada	F

CollegeHoops.net Honorable Mention All-Freshman

Dee Bost	Mississippi State	G
William Buford	Ohio State	G
Ed Davis	North Carolina	F
Yancy Gates	Cincinnati	F
Drew Gordon	UCLA	F
Kenny Kadji	Florida	F
DeAndre Liggins	Kentucky	G
David Loubeau	Texas A&M	F
Darius Miller	Kentucky	G/F
J'Mison Morgan	UCLA	C
Markieff Morris	Kansas	F
Travis Releford	Kansas	G
Mike Rosario	Rutgers	G
Chris Singleton	Florida State	F
Tyshawn Taylor	Kansas	G
Jordan Theodore	Seton Hall	G
Elliot Williams	Duke	G
Jeff Withey	Arizona	C

All-America Team: 2008-09

High-Major All-Americans: 2008-09

Mid-Major All-Americans: 2008-09

Big Ten Basketball: Top Six Players

Jeff Fox — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:46:02 -0700

Despite Michigan State and Purdue looking like they will be among the nation’s best teams this season, it appears that it’s a down year coming up for the Big Ten. Additionally, talent-wise the league doesn’t have the boatloads of “superstar” prospects the other BCS conferences do. Because of this, a freshman has snuck his way into number one on this list.

Pick Six: Big East

Throughout the week, check back for Pick Six articles highlighting the Top 6 players in each BCS league. Then next week we’ll be rolling out the Top 6 at each position.

1. B.J. Mullens – Ohio State – Freshman

The latest in the “one-and-down” superstar big men to materialize onto Ohio State’s campus is native son B.J. Mullens. His size and skill level will be unmatched not just in the Big Ten but in the NCAA as a whole. Look for him to be a top three pick in next June’s draft.

Stats: DNP - Freshman

2. Raymar Morgan – Michigan State – Junior

With Drew Neitzel off playing for pay in Germany (and not playing very well by the way), the Spartans will be Raymar Morgan’s team this season. After averaging 14 and 6 last season he looks primed to lead the way. Izzo and company will need even more from him this year if they hope to make a deep March run.

Stats: 14.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.6 apg

3. Robbie Hummel – Purdue – Sophomore

There is not much Robbie Hummel can’t do on a basketball court, as he showed Purdue’s opponents last season. Able to pass, hit the three (an impressive 44%) and do the dirty work down low (6.1rpg last season), Hummel is a multitalented threat. He very well could end up being named Player of the Year for the Big Ten this season and will have the Boilermakers in the national conversation of the country’s top teams.

Stats: 11.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5 apg

4. E’Twaun Moore – Purdue – Sophomore

Just as important to Purdue’s success last season – and expected success this year – is Hummel’s fellow sophomore E’Twaun Moore. He’s a stat sheet stuffer who is deadly from long-range (66-152 3Pts, 43%).

Stats: 12.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.6 apg

5. Manny Harris – Michigan – Sophomore

Speaking of guys who cram the stat columns, Manny Harris is a prime example. Take last season’s stat line for instance – 16.1ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.7apg, 1.4spg. And that was from a freshman. For John Beilein’s team to have any hope in the Big Ten this season, Harris will have to improve on those numbers while also increasing his shooting percentage and cutting down on the turnovers.

Stats: 16.1ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.7apg

6. Marcus Landry – Wisconsin – Senior

Just like big brother Carl (now with the Houston Rockets), Marcus Landry plays bigger than his height and weight measurements would lead you to believe. With big man Brian Butch graduated Landry will have to play big for the Badgers to get back to the Sweet 16.

Stats: 10.8 ppg, 5.4 ppg, 1.4 apg

Next in line: Kalin Lucas, Michigan State; Kevin Coble, Northwestern; Jamelle Cornley, Penn State; Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin.

Tomorrow: Pac-10

Pick Six Archive -- The Big List: CHN's Preview Index

Clip of the Day: BJ Mullens Highlights

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:30:24 -0700

Clip of the Day

Thanks to the genius of YouTube, the world has access to thousands of great college basketball videos to keep us busy every second of every day. We'll be featuring daily movies to whet your college basketball appetite. Even if you've seen them before, some clips are just too good not to watch again and again.

BJ Mullens Highlights

Not familiar with Ohio State's incoming big-man, one of the Top 5 recruits in the country? Enjoy..

- Watch all of CHN's favorite College Basketball Videos!

- Also check out past Cheerleaders of the Day!

- And finally the Picture of the Day!

Picture of the Day: Ohio State Recruit BJ Mullens

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:09:03 -0800

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, we now have access to thousands of great college basketball photos to use on the site. Each day, CHN will feature a Picture of the Day, which might include a newsworthy, funny, or simply interesting subject. At the bottom will be a caption or headline that might be informative or amusing. The possibilities are endless!

BJ Mullens

After almost fielding an NBA starting five last year, Ohio State has come back down to Earth with actual college-level athletes. At 17-12 overall and 8-8 in Big Ten play, the Buckeyes are basically on the same level as Minnesota. But hope springs eternall.. and Buckeye nation welcomes another monster class next year led by BJ Mullens (a wide-bodied future NBAer) and William Buford.. both Top 20 prospects.

- Check out recent Pictures of the Day!

- Also check out the Cheerleader of the Day!