Sporting News came out with its list of top 50 college basketball players in 2013-14 on Tuesday. There are no Gators, but
plenty of Kentucky blue. The list included four players from Kentucky and five from defending national champion Louisville.
I was mildly surprised that Florida center Patric Young didn’t make the list. But then, I thought, Young’s national reputation may have taken a hit when he was manhandled by Mitch McGary in Florida’s Elite Eight loss to Michigan. McGary is the top-ranked center based on the position list compiled by Sporting News college basketball writer Mike DeCourcy. But Young also didn’t make the cut ahead of Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein and Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski, two players whom Young had his way with during the 2012-13 season.
Here’s Young’s head-to-head numbers against Cauley-Stein — Young 11.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg, Cauley-Stein 8 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 bpg. Against Tarczewski, Young had 8 points and 2 blocks, while holding Tarczewski to four points and forcing the freshman center to foul out.
Over Twitter, I asked DeCourcy why Young didn’t make the list.
“If I made a mistake with Young, it’s relative to Tarczewski,” DeCourcy tweeted. “But Patric’s still missing 4-footers 3 years in. Kaleb has youth.”
DeCourcy is one of the most respected writers in college basketball. But I still tried to make a case for Young, based on his All-SEC caliber defense. DeCourcy countered with Young’s paltry rebounding numbers (6.3 rpg).
“Been a while since I did list, but might have been the rebounding caused me to lose patience,” DeCourcy tweeted. “If not scoring, 6.3 not enough.”
Consistency has been a huge issue for Young throughout his career. At his best, I’ve seen him post double-doubles over Jared Sullinger, Anthony Davis and Nerlens Noel. Florida coach Billy Donovan has always contended that Young plays in spurts and could physically dominate a game if he could sustain his energy for longer stretches on the court. But Young’s lack of development as a post scorer also has been disappointing.
Is Patric Young a top 50 player in college basketball? What are your thoughts?
