As part of our preview coverage of the Buffs basketball program Parker, the newest addition to the Ralphie Report contributing team will be posting a story each day this week leading up to Friday's game. Today, we look at who is new to the program. - Jon
This Colorado Buffaloes team is much different from years past. Unlike last year, where Higgins and Burks were returning impact players, there is a good chance that more impact will come from the newcomers on the Buffs than the returning players. Carlon Brown, the leading scorer from the University of Utah two years ago, Jeremy Adams, a three star transfer originally from Texas A&M, and Spencer Dinwiddie, a three star recruit from Woodland Hills, California, are all incoming players that should produce and impact the team. Askia Booker is another player to watch; he is a combo guard who can shoot and pass well. If these players have little to no impact, the Buffaloes will be near the bottom of the conference where they are projected to be. More analysis after the jump...
Carlon Brown from the University of Utah, is extremely athletic, and led the Utes in scoring with 12.6 points per game in the 2009-2010 season. He can bring the ball up the court, shoot efficiently, and bring out a high-flying dunk at times. He will be a very good replacement for Cory Higgins and can pick up the scoring load for the Buffaloes. He should start at the season at the 2 or 3 and be a main facilitator or scorer. Brown should have the most impact out of all the newcomers. He has been practicing with the team for more than a year and will be ready to get out on the floor and compete.Spencer Dinwiddie is a freshman with plenty of potential from Taft High School, the same high school that produced Jordan Farmar, current backup point guard for the New Jersey Nets. Dinwiddie is a good passer and shooter and is a vocal leader on the court. His defense is a little suspect; however, his offense makes up for it. He is a traditional point guard and uses his size as a strength. He is a true leader on the floor and makes everyone around him better. He only averaged 11.2 points in high school; but he averaged 7.7 assists, an outstanding number for a high-school player. He was a three-star recruit and impressively, made the Rivals 150 top recruits for his graduating class. Although Boyle likes Tomlinson, DinWiddie has too much talent to not surpass him on the depth chart eventually.
Jeremy Adams is an interesting newcomer to say the least. He was a three star commit to Texas A&M, but never was a factor on their team. He was a nominated McDonald's All-American and was recruited by Virginia, Arkansas, and other notable schools coming out of high school. Production is expected from Brown; however, if Adams, a scoring wing, can produce the Buffs will have no problem replacing Higgins and Burks. More importantly, he has still three years of college eligibility. Furthermore, Adams is a scorer and that is something the Buffs are desperate for this year.
Askia Booker should contribute right away this year as well. His bio page on CUbuffs.com reported that he was ranked 30th nationally at his position by ESPN and was rated as a three star prospect by Rivals. Additionally, he played for two outstanding AAU teams, the Compton Magic and Belmont Shores. He is a good shooter, is extremely athletic, and can dunk easily at the listed height of 6' 1" He doesn't have an exact position, so I see him coming off the bench and producing from both guard spots.
Brown, Dinwiddie, Booker, and Adams all are impact newcomers and will help CU surprise the Pac-12 this year. Brown will be a contributing starter, whereas Dinwiddie and Booker will contribute right away off the bench. Boyle really has not said any definitive starters besides Roberson, Dufault, Tomlinson and Brown, so Adams or Tunks-Harris might get the call, obviously we will find out soon. With all these new additions, the Buffs will certainly be an entertaining team to watch.