Every Tier 1 team has had at least a week to get into the dirty business of conference play. There will only be a few Division II and NAIA teams sprinkled into the schedule for here on out. This is the big time. As such, it's time to profile a handful of players who are stepping up against the competition that should know them the best. Some of these players have been around the block a few times and others are just taking off the training wheels. Whatever the case, they are stepping up and if they are available in your league, they should be snapped up.
Devan Downey, G, South Carolina Gamecocks
Downey's three-year stint as a Gamecock has featured a lot of highs, but he has never had a stretch in which he scored 97 points as he has in three games. To say that the 5-foot-9 senior is dialed in would be an understatement. In the hot streak, he has 13 three-pointers on 27 attempts (48.1%) to go along with 13 steals. I detailed the dearth of frontcourt options for South Carolina last week, so it is easy to say that Downey has once again taken more of the offensive load. He is scoring 20.9 points, which tops the SEC, and he is converting two three-pointers per game. Downey is also the best thief in conference at 3.2 steals. His increased scoring has come at the expense of his passing, resulting in a career-low 3.8 assists per game. Enjoy the hot streak while it lasts.
Marshawn Powell, F, Arkansas Razorbacks
In an odd way, it almost makes sense that in a herky jerky season like the Razorbacks have been through, a freshman would be their most consistent player. Arkansas has already had two four-game losing streaks and a five-game winning streak, but rain or shine the freshman Powell has delivered. The 6-foot-7 forward has taken the disappointing Michael Washington's place as the go-to frontcourt player and is averaging 15.9 points on 51.5% from the field along with 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Powell's one deficiency, no surprise, is free throws where he only connects 61.9% of the time. In his first two games against SEC competition, Powell has provided 21.5 points and 9.0 rebounds, so it seems unlikely that he'll hit the freshman wall.
Travis Leslie, G, Georgia Bulldogs
The 6-foot-4 Leslie made a name for himself on January 9 against Kentucky when he threw down a thunderous dunk on the head of DeMarcus Cousins. While that play (and that game in which the sophomore provided a season-high 20 points) may have put the exclamation point on his breakout season, Leslie has been a great find for fantasy owners. Leslie jumped to the starting lineup at the beginning of the season and has only been held to single-digits twice this year (including a naught in the opener against New Orleans where he played just 12 minutes). As shown by the dunk, Leslie has excellent hops, and he has scored most of his 13.6 points on slashes to the basket. Leslie is also coming off his first double-double: a 14-point, 15-rebound game in a loss to Mississippi State.
J.P. Prince, G, Tennessee Volunteers
Last week I detailed a pair of Volunteers I thought would receive a hike in value with the suspensions. I glanced over the 6-foot-7 Prince and it was as if he took offense. He had a fantastic game against Ole Miss on January 16 with 16 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Along with the great production came another important number: 38 minutes. The former Arizona Wildcat has always had a nice mix of interesting skills, but has rarely been afforded the opportunity to really show them off. Although Melvin Goins and Cameron Tatum have been reinstated to the team, there's a chance that Prince keeps getting playing time and making the most of his senior season. Even in limited minutes, he was averaging 7.3 points and 3.4 assists. In his last six games, he has bumped those averages to 11.2 points and 4.7 assists.
Kyle Fogg, G, Arizona Wildcats
Fellow Wildcat sophomore Brendon Lavender started the first seven games of the season for Arizona, so Fogg had to wait his turn. That turn started on December 9 when Fogg was inserted into the starting lineup, and he hasn't looked back since. The 6-foot-3 sophomore has been particularly hot of late. He scored a career-high 25 points on January 2 in a win at UCLA and has scored in double-figures in the four games since. That streak has buoyed his average to 10.2 points, and he is hitting 47.9% of his three-pointers. Fogg has also seen a modest uptick in assists with 14 in his last four games compared to a 2.1-assist average. While Lamont Jones is the heir apparent for Nic Wise, Fogg should be a big part of the Wildcat backcourt for the next few years.
Ty Abbott, G, Arizona State Sun Devils
Like his intrastate rival, Abbott started the season as a reserve but was called into the starting lineup in early December. The 6-foot-3 junior has also improved as the season has continued and has scored in double-digits in eight of his last nine games, culminating in a season-high 21 points on January 16 in a win at Oregon State. Abbott's scoring binge has been due in no small part to improved three-point shooting. In his last four games, Abbott has scored 17.8 points with 15 three-pointers in 32 attempts (46.9%). Along with Derek Glasser and Rihards Kuksiks, the Sun Devils have a trio of decent perimeter options. Get Abbott while he is hot.
Theo Robertson, F, California Golden Bears
Some people sounded the death knell when Robertson went out early in the season with a foot injury. Happily, Robertson's foot healed and the 6-foot-6 fifth-year senior missed just six games. It took him a few more games to round into shape, but it appears it is all systems go for Robertson. He was particularly effective when the southern California schools came north. In games against UCLA and USC, Robertson had 44 points and 14 rebounds. He went 9 of 10 from the line in both games. Robertson came back down to earth in a trip to Washington in which he provided 20 points and nine boards in two games. After hitting 48.7% of his three-pointers as a junior, Robertson was bound to cool off somewhat. He is still making 41.9% of his long range shots. You can expect a slight increase in his production through the rest of the Pac-10 schedule.