May 8, 2006
One thing that excites me at the start of each new season is the arrival of diaper dandies. There are so many good freshmen coming in at the start of the 2006-07 season. Several players were affected by the NBA's new age minimum rule, and college basketball will be the beneficiary.
At Ohio State, Greg Oden is going to be something special. I was thrilled to meet him at the Final Four when I presented him the Gatorade Boys High School Player of the Year award. Mr. Oden can influence a game on both ends of the court and he reminds me of Patrick Ewing in terms of being an impact player. Thad Matta has a great recruiting class heading to Columbus, led by Mr. Oden.
North Carolina has an exceptional class coming in as well. Ty Lawson is going to have an immediate impact for the Tar Heels. Howard Garfinkel of Five-Star camp, Super Garf, sings this kid's praises as the next impact diaper dandy going to Tobacco Road.
The Tar Heels also signed 6-9 forward Brandan Wright out of Brentwood Academy in Tennessee. Pair him up with Tyler Hansbrough and that is a special frontline. I am picking North Carolina to win the national championship, cutting down the nets in Atlanta in 2007.
Duke has a special newcomer in 6-5 Gerald Henderson, the son of the former NBA player with the same name. Kansas boosted its backcourt with the addition of 5-11 Sherron Collins.
Down at Texas, with LaMarcus Aldridge going to the NBA, 6-10 Kevin Durant will have an immediate impact as well.
There you have it, six diaper dandies to watch next season.
Dick's Super Six Diaper Dandies
Sherron Collins, G, 5-11, Crane Technical (Ill.), Kansas
Kevin Durant, F, 6-10, Montrose Christ. (Md.), Texas
Gerald Henderson, G-F, 6-5, Episcopal Acad. (Pa.), Duke
Ty Lawson, G, 6-0, Oak Hill Acad. (Va.), North Carolina
Greg Oden, C, 7-1, Lawrence North (Ind.), Ohio State
Brandan Wright, F, 6-9, Brentwood Acad. (Tn.), North Carolina
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
