Post by aar on Nov 13, 2008 21:21:55 GMT -5
When Dennis Dunigan started his collegiate career at age 20 as a midfielder in soccer at 6'5" and 200 pounds after working for two years before enrolling, he showed enough promise to perhaps one day be in the MLS. That all changed when he had a dramatic growth spurt at age 21.
He was seen walking around campus at the start of his sophomore year and was summoned to the basketball coach's office. A game that he once played as a hobby earned him a free ride after only one year as a redshirt practice player.
After the team's starting power forward was declared academically ineligible, Dunigan stepped in and made an instant impact, averaging 16.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg at age 22 in his first year of playing organized basketball.
His explosiveness, his vision and his intensity elevated him to being considered a professional-caliber player as a redshirt freshman, but few thought that he could be considered a top overall draft pick until his sophomore year, where he averaged 25.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 2.8 bpg and made opposing players look like chumps.
Dunigan was immediately considered an NBA lottery prospect at age 23, but decided to return for one more year, saying that he was just having too much fun and hoping to earn a national championship.
In his junior year at age 24, he was the consensus Wooden Award winner after averaging 28.3 ppg, 12.1 rpg and 3.4 bpg, destroying everyone in his path.
Some scouts wonder if he will be another Michael Olowokandi due to his age and raw ability on the collegiate level. But most of those who have watched him have declared him a can't-miss prospect, comparing his raw ability and talent to Hakeem Olajuwon.
"Whoever lands this kid is getting a true gem and one of the best collegiate players that we've had the pleasure to lay our eyes upon," said one pro scout. "It is absolutely incredible that Dunigan has only played organized basketball for three seasons."
While most scouts are excited about Dunigan, others are worried about him being 24 years of age and are curious about how he'll stack up against pro talent. However, few will deny that he will be an impact player.
He was seen walking around campus at the start of his sophomore year and was summoned to the basketball coach's office. A game that he once played as a hobby earned him a free ride after only one year as a redshirt practice player.
After the team's starting power forward was declared academically ineligible, Dunigan stepped in and made an instant impact, averaging 16.6 ppg and 8.3 rpg at age 22 in his first year of playing organized basketball.
His explosiveness, his vision and his intensity elevated him to being considered a professional-caliber player as a redshirt freshman, but few thought that he could be considered a top overall draft pick until his sophomore year, where he averaged 25.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 2.8 bpg and made opposing players look like chumps.
Dunigan was immediately considered an NBA lottery prospect at age 23, but decided to return for one more year, saying that he was just having too much fun and hoping to earn a national championship.
In his junior year at age 24, he was the consensus Wooden Award winner after averaging 28.3 ppg, 12.1 rpg and 3.4 bpg, destroying everyone in his path.
Some scouts wonder if he will be another Michael Olowokandi due to his age and raw ability on the collegiate level. But most of those who have watched him have declared him a can't-miss prospect, comparing his raw ability and talent to Hakeem Olajuwon.
"Whoever lands this kid is getting a true gem and one of the best collegiate players that we've had the pleasure to lay our eyes upon," said one pro scout. "It is absolutely incredible that Dunigan has only played organized basketball for three seasons."
While most scouts are excited about Dunigan, others are worried about him being 24 years of age and are curious about how he'll stack up against pro talent. However, few will deny that he will be an impact player.
