Tyson Alger | The Oregonian/OregonLive
By Tyson Alger, The Oregonian/OregonLive
Some of the best college basketball teams and players will descend upon Portland this week for the PK80 Invitational. Here's a look at one player from each of the 16 teams you should keep an eye on as games get underway on Thursday.
Troy Brown, Oregon. 6-7, 215
Dillon Brooks, Jordan Bell and Tyler Dorsey are gone. In their place, the Ducks have numerous talented freshmen, led by Troy Brown. The 6-foot-7 wing could become Dana Altman's first one-and-done player with an all-around game that earned him a five-star ranking as a recruit out of Las Vegas.
Marvin Bagley III, Duke. 6-11, 234
No. 1 Duke is loaded. Not only has Grayson Allen returned, but Marvin Bagley III is a star in the making. The freshman out of Phoenix is averaging 19.2 points and nine rebounds per game as the Blue Devils have started out with a 5-0 record. Bagley is projected as a top-five pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Miles Bridges, Michigan State. 6-7, 225
Bridges surprised most of the basketball world by returning to MSU for a second season after averaging 16.9 points per game as a freshman. He's the best player on a team considered to be a contender for this year's national title.
Reid Travis, Stanford. 6-8, 245
Oregon fans can attest to this one, as Travis almost took down the Ducks last season by himself. The power forward is one of the most bruising players in the Pac-12 and enters PK80 averaging 21.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Mohamed Bamba, Texas. 6-11, 225
Bamba is Texas' best recruit since Kevin Durant. 6-foot-11 with a 7-9 wingspan, Bamba will play a huge role in head coach Shaka Smart's third year with the Longhorns.
Kelan Martin, Butler. 6-7, 220.
The senior forward has been the model of consistency for Butler, averaging more than 15 pointer per game in each season since his sophomore year.
Joel Berry, North Carolina. 6-0, 195
Berry, who scored 11 points against Oregon in the Final Four, returns to UNC for a senior year with a national championship under his belt. He's a key player on a team that has a chance of playing in three national title games in a row.
Daryl Macon, Arkansas. 6-3, 185
A year after shooting 38 percent from three, the sophomore guard has started the 2017-18 season by shooting 50 percent from long-range.
Jalen Adams, UConn. 6-3, 195
Adams was a first-team All-ACC selection as a sophomore and returns for his junior year after averaging 10.7 points and 4.1 assists per game a year ago.
Johnathan Williams, Gonzaga. 6-9, 228
Williams led the national runners up in rebounding as a redshirt junior. Had 19 points and eight rebounds in an Elite Eight win over Xavier.
KeVaughn Allen, Florida. 6-3, 190
Allen is the leading returning scorer on a powerful Florida squad. Had 35 points in Florida's Sweet 16 win over Wisconsin.
Jae'Sean Tate, Ohio State. 6-4, 230
Tate led Ohio State in scoring as a junior and was named a Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection.
Kameron McGusty, Oklahoma. 6-5, 192
McGusty was the most decorated freshman of the Lon Kruger era, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention and all-newcomer selections. Finished third in conference scoring among freshmen at 14.4 points per game.
Tahirou Diabate, Portland. 6-10, 215
Diabate, from Japan, averaged 31 points and 18 rebounds per game in leading his high school to Japan's High School National Championships. He once scored 101 points in a game.
Bryce Canda, Portland State.
Averaged 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds for PSU last season after transferring from Central Wyoming CC.
Max Strus, DePaul. 6-6, 215
Sat out last season after transferring from Division II. Through three games, leads DePaul with 13.7 points per game.
-- Tyson Alger
talger@oregonian.com
@tysonalger
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