3. Shabazz Napier, G, Connecticut Huskies
Napier affects his team more than any player in the country. He not only has a high basketball IQ, but every intangible a coach looks for in a leader. He leads the Huskies in points (15.3), rebounding (7), steals (2.1) and assists (5.9) per game, and when the Huskies need a big play, he always delivers. Napier shoots the ball with range, sees all five defenders in ball screens and can play through contact and finish at the rim.
Despite being just 6-foot-1, he’s a great defensive rebounder and many times converts defensive rebounds into transition opportunities, one of the toughest actions to prepare for. UConn coach Kevin Ollie runs a lot of "drag" ball screens for him, which puts tremendous pressure on the defense. Most importantly, he understands the flow of the game and picks his spots. It is not uncommon for him to be a facilitator first, making sure he gets his teammates engaged. Game planning for Napier is a 40-minute, possession-to-possession challenge.
