As we continue our tour of Tier 3 and 4 schools (superficial tour that it is), we reach the teams in the southeast. In this post, we'll hit the Sun Belt (which is my home conference, so I'll spend a bit more time there) and add a couple of players from the Ohio Valley, Atlantic Sun, and SWAC. If you are in a SWAC-only league, send your questions to me or I will just wish you the best of luck. I don't mean to pick on the SWAC, but the conference is the worst about updating their sites. Let's look at some stars.
Sun Belt
J.J. Thomas, forward, Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
The 6-foot-6, 230 pound forward started the season on the bench as he recovered from mono. He didn't play that much until mid-January. The Ragin' Cajuns were struggling and had only won four of their first 17 game, then coach Bob Marlin put Thomas in the lineup. The sophomore had four double-doubles in six games and helped ULL win 11 straight games. Like most young bigs, he had some issues with fouls. When he was on the court, he dominated the post and scored 20 or more points four times. A full season of Thomas should help the Ragin' Cajuns to the top of the Sun Belt heap. Also keep an eye on Vanderbilt transfer Darshawn McClellan.
Tony Mitchell, forward, North Texas Mean Green
Speaking of transfers, the most anticipated transfer is the 6-foot-8 Mitchell. He signed with Missouri, but was only a partial qualifier. So, he made his way to the Mean Green, who graduated their entire, excellent backcourt. Mitchell is still a Tier 1 talent who has a diversified offensive game and the ability to dominate on defense. Mitchell also is a team player who can pass. It's almost too good to be true, but North Texas is relying on him heavily. He is certainly worth a high speculative pick.
LaRon Dendy, center, Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders
I like to draft transfers who are going from big to small schools. They don't always work out, but the theory is that if they were average in the Big 12, they will be extraordinary in the Sun Belt. Dendy is a 6-foot-9 center who spent one year at Iowa State. I remember watching him when I was concentrating on Craig Brackins. He only averaged 7.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 16.3 minutes with the Cyclones. He could conceivably double or triple those numbers in the Sun Belt (and make my theory a fact). Centers are hard to come by and Dendy should be watched.
Raymond Taylor, guard, Florida Atlantic Owls
I've held onto the tiny Taylor for a couple of years in one league in hopes that he becomes an offensive stud. He certainly isn't afraid to shoot despite ugly percentages throughout his two-year career in Boca Raton. If he can even shoot 40% as a junior, he could be a great player. Taylor actually fell off statistically as a sophomore. He averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 assists as a sophomore after providing 14.2 points and 5.9 assists in his first year as an Owl. Taylor has to share the point guard role with Alex Tucker (who is also shorter than six feet), so his assists may stay somewhat low. However, I think he can be one of the leading scorers in the Sun Belt.
Augustine Rubit, center, South Alabama Jaguars
Rubit beat out Thomas for the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. While I didn't like it, it was well deserved after the 6-foot-6 center provided a nightly double-double (13.1 points, 11.0 rebounds). According to Blue Ribbon, he gained 20 pounds over the offseason and maybe harder to move off the block as a sophomore. Rubit was often able to play through fouls and he did foul out of three games in four games in early February. On the plus side, he grabbed 15 or more rebounds four times, including back-to-back games against Georgia Southern and Alcorn State in mid-December. The Houston native blocked 1.1 shots and may go for more swats this year.
Ohio Valley
Kenny Moore, forward, Tennessee State Tigers
The Tigers have an excellent frontcourt record coming back with the 6-foot-7 senior Moore and Robert Covington. Moore averaged 14.5 points and 6.9 rebounds. He had three double-doubles and nine boards in five other games. The Philadelphia native hit 45.8% of his shots and 40.9% of his threes. The 6-foot-9 Covington averaged 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds. He hit an untenable 46% of his threes, but was a little less consistent than Moore. The Tigers return their entire starting five and could make their way to the upper echelon of the Ohio Valley.
TyShawn Edmundson, guard, Austin Peay Governors
Edmundson is one of those transfer stories that I enjoy so much. He came to Austin Peay (another name I enjoy very much) from St. John's. After sitting out in 2009-10, the 6-foot-4 guard provided a team-high 17.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. He hit 36.9% of his threes for 2.2 per game. Although he did fade a bit down the stretch, he had an excellent run in December and January. Edmundson scored a career-high 33 points on Jan. 15 in a loss to Tennessee State. Look for Edmundson to put his stamp on the Ohio Valley as a junior.
Atlantic Sun
Ian Clark, guard, Belmont Bruins
Belmont is quickly becoming the dominant team in the Atlantic Sun. With four of five starters returning, including Clark and forward/center Mick Hedgepeth, the domination should continue. Clark, a 6-foot-3 junior, led the Bruins in scoring at 12.2 points, which was actually down from his 14.9-point average as a freshman (when he was the Atlantic Sun freshman of the year). However, the Bruins won 30 games, so Clark probably wasn't complaining. Clark's last game - four points in the first round loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament - may stay with him.
Markeith Cummings, forward, Kennesaw State Owls
Cummings is the leading returning scorer in the Atlantic Sun. After averaging 17.3 points as a freshman, he boosted his averaged to 18.3 points last year. He had a pair of 30-point games in February, and had a pair of 29-point games. The 6-foot-7 junior only hit 21.1% of his threes, but that didn't stop him from hoisting from long range. Cummings was also excellent at getting to the free throw line and attempted 7.6 free throws per game (making 5.1 for 67.2%). The Tigers have only won 21 games over the last two seasons, but Cummings may help them get to .500 for the first time since joining Division 1.
SWAC
Paul Crosby, center, Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils
Crosby is another center coming from a small conference that could help your team. The 6-foot-8 senior provided 12.1 points and 7.0 rebounds in his first year as a Delta Devil. The Lansing, Michigan native missed ten games, including the first eight. He started quite slowly with just 15 points in his first two games on 4-for-22 shooting. Things started to fall into place on Jan. 17 when he had 21 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Southern. That game was his only double-double of the season, but you can be sure he'll add more in 2011-12.
Marquiz Baker, guard, Alcorn State Braves
Baker survived a lousy year in his first year with the Braves in terms of wins and losses. We don't care about wins and losses and we like Baker's 15.9 points, 1.6 steals, and 78.0% from the line. The 6-foot-2 guard hit 35% of his three-pointers. Baker was not afraid of Tier 1 competition. He scored a career-high 32 points against Nebraska on Dec. 8. He added eight rebounds and five steals in addition to hitting five threes in the loss to the Cornhuskers. Purdue held Baker scoreless over 26 minutes in a blowout loss. The Braves have only won 30 games over the last five years, so it is easy to overlook Baker.