Get Me Some Ink!

Three Ballers that you've never heard of, but probably should have....


Jonathan Rodriquez, Campbell Jr.- Standing 6-5 and 200 lbs. Rodriguez, a native of Miami burst onto the scene as a freshman recording numbers that had to catch someones eye (17.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3 apg), but when you play for a team that is less significant than professional lacrosse its not so easy to get exposure outside of Buies Creek, NC which according to the 2000 census had a population of under 3,000. Rodriguez followed up a great freshman year with an even better sophomore one where he averaged 20.9 ppg 10.1 rpg and 2.5 apg on a team that won just 10 games and lost their last 8 including humiliating losses to USC-Upstate and Longwood. Never the less Rodriguez is a fabulous player, and in fact he mad more free throws last season than all but three of all A-Sun players attempted. If there is an area that he needs to improve on it is out side shooting where he shot just 29% as a sophomore. Rodriguez is the preseason favorite to win A-Sun player of the year honors, and if he keeps up his steady progression he might become the first fighting camel to play in the NBA.


Garrison Carr, American Sr.- Last year American university made its first NCAA tournament appearance ever, and Carr was the main reason why. Carr set a patriot league record with 135 3-Pointers made, 36 more than the previous record and he did it quite efficiently making 45% of his three's. But his junior year was not just a break out year for American, but for Carr as well as he improved dramatically from his sophomore to junior years. As a Sophomore Carr played little over ten minutes a game loging just 3.8 points per game and making just 30% of his three's. His Junior year could not have gone any better after a dismal second year, as Carr, standing just 5-11 erupted for 18.4 points per game and nailed six 3-pointers and poured in 26 points in the Eagles NCAA tournament game against the second seeded Tennessee Volunteers. If American is going to make it back to the big dance it is going be largely because of the little man, Garrison Carr.


Marqus Blakely, Vermont Jr.- Similar to Carr, Blakely has a break out season last year as well. As a freshman his numbers were very modest (5.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg), but as a Sophomore he burst on to the scene leading the entire league in Points (19.0), rebounds (11.0), and blocks (2.72). Not only that he became the first player in American East history to win both conference player of the year and defensive player of the year awards. He is very undersized at 6-5 for a forward but makes it up with strength and tenacity. Blakely's first shine in the national spotlight came as a freshman when he youtubed some poor dude from Albany in the American East title game.

You never know this dunk may have propelled Blakely to have the AP All-American honorable mention season that he had. With that in mind and Blakeley returning to the Vermont sideline, I think the Catamounts are hoping for a Marqus Blakely size improvement, on at team that won just 16 games last season.