Lazar Hayward, 6-6, F, Marquette

'06-'07 stats: 16.3 minutes, 6.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 42.8% FG

'07-'08 stats: 20.0 minutes, 11.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 75.0% FG

Skinny: Hayward suffered through typical freshman inconsistency last year, such as when he followed an 18-point performance in a win over Villanova with a two-point outing in a loss at Notre Dame. He also didn't really justify his reputation in high school for being a good long-range shooter. That said, Hayward worked hard in the off-season to improve his strength, and he is such a good athlete it's natural to assume he will continue to grow comfortable in the college game. My decision to include him is also dictated by necessity, because Marquette really needs Hayward to be a strong frontline complement to its backcourt trio of Dominic James, Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal.

Gerald Henderson, 6-4, G, Duke

'06-'07 stats: 6.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 32.0% 3-pt FG

'07-'08 stats: 13.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 40.0% 3-pt FG

Skinny: Henderson showed flashes of potential at times last season, but in the end he was probably best remembered for bloodying Tyler Hansbrough's nose in the regular-season finale. He was just one of many Blue Devils who suffered from youthful inconsistency, but make no mistake, he has NBA-level talent. Now is the time to start proving it.

Damion James, 6-7, F, Texas

'06-'07 stats: 25.9 minutes, 7.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg

'07-'08 stats: 29.0 minutes, 9.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg

Skinny: James was almost good enough last season to make my obvious list, but it will be interesting to watch him adjust to playing on the wing this season. James spent most of his time in the post last year because the Longhorns had Kevin Durant, but while James does not have great shooting range (he has only made two three-pointers in his college career), he is a dynamic slasher who should be a great perimeter defender. James hasn't put up eye-popping numbers yet, but as Texas' opponents get tougher I believe his contributions will become greater.

David Lighty, 6-5, G, Ohio State

'06-'07 stats: 16.3 minutes, 3.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.0 apg

'07-'08 stats: 36.0 minutes, 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.0 apg

Skinny: This is a classic case of the enhanced opportunities that are often available during your second season. With Daequan Cook and Ron Lewis gone, Lighty is now the elder statesman on the wing in Columbus. Time will tell whether he will be able to handle a full season being at the top of the opponents' scouting reports, but the instant impact of 7-1 freshman Kosta Koufos should take some of that pressure off.

Marreese Speights, 6-10, C, Florida

'06-'07 stats: 5.7 minutes, 4.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg

'07-'08 stats: 20.3 minutes, 15.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg

Skinny: Classic case number two. Speights was a spotty yet efficient plug-in last season behind Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Chris Richard. Now, he is being pressed into fulltime action, partly because coach Billy Donovan has nobody else to fill that role. Donovan's reviews of his starting pivot man have been mixed thus far (it's not a great sign that Speights has only attempted seven free throws in Florida's first four games), but once Speights starts to understand the mental challenge of being a starting center in the SEC, he'll have a big-time impact.

DaJuan Summers, 6-8, F, Georgetown

'06-'07 stats: 9.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 33.1% 3-pt FG

'07-'08 stats: 7.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 42.9% 3-pt FG

Skinny: Don't be fooled by the modest stats so far; the Hoyas began the season with 15- and 22-point wins over William and Mary and Michigan, respectively. Summers was one of the top recruits in the country last year, but there was only so many shot opportunities with Jeff Green on the roster. With Green gone now, Summers' multifaceted offensive skills will really come in handy. Witness the healthy jump in his three-point percentage.

Deon Thompson, 6-8, F, North Carolina

'06-'07 stats: 12.4 minutes, 4.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 55.8% FG

'07-'08 stats: 19.0 minutes, 8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 61.5% FG

Skinny: Thompson is no Brandan Wright, but Wright's early departure to the NBA gives Thompson an opportunity for which has worked hard to be ready. Thompson was overweight and underconfident as a freshman, but after a summer playing for USA Basketball's Under-19 team he is poised to be a good complement to Hansbrough up front. I don't foresee Thompson being a dominant player, but I do anticipate he'll have many stretches during games where his contributions make a huge difference.

Jamil Tucker, 6-8, F, Virginia

'06-'07 stats: 10.0 minutes, 3.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg

'07-'08 stats: 13.7 minutes, 5.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Skinny: Maybe this is an overreaction to one good game, but it was hard not to be impressed with Tucker after he came off the bench to score 12 points (including 2 of 3 three-pointers) in 21 minutes in the Cavaliers' win at Arizona on Saturday. Tucker is such a good shooter (48.8 percent from three last year) that Virginia coach Dave Leitao has to coax him to play inside. Still, when you have a player of Tucker's size who is so good at scoring, sometimes it's best to let him do his thing.

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