Dime is the premier basketball magazine, covering the NBA, NCAA, High School, Playground and International basketball - as well as sneakers, fashion and music.
HERE ARE THE
PLAYERS AND TEAMS PRIMED TO BREAKOUT THIS SEASON…
WORDS. ARON PHILLIPS 25 JOSH SELBY
Memphis Grizzlies People forget that Josh Selby was rated the No. 1 player in the Class of 2010 by Rivals before his disappointing freshman season at Kansas last year. That was ahead of guys like Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight and Harrison Barnes. But with Memphis primed to build on their success from last year, the incoming rookie should make a name for him- self as a high-octane scorer coming off the bench. "He's the steal of the draft," Zach Randolph told the Memphis Commercial Appeal after Selby slipped to the 49th overall pick in June's NBA Draft. "The young fella is going to help us." Just remember that this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
24 TERRENCE ROSS
University of Washington As a freshman last season,
Terrence Ross didn't make his first career start until the Pac-10 Tournament. He then proceeded to be named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 15.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in UW's three wins. Filling the shoes of Isaiah Thomas won't be easy, but if there's any one that is ready to do it it's the sharp-shooting sophomore. At 6-6, his size and fearlessness outside makes him a nightmare for opponents, as he is will- ing – and able – to gun from anywhere at any time. The Huskies can't be dismissed as a major player for the Pac-12 title, and if they win it, Ross will be the reason why.
23 MERCEDES RUSSELL
Springfield High School Mercedes Russell is the next Candace Parker. At 6-5, the junior center from Springfield, Ore., grew up a guard – that is until she grew six inches the year before high school. Only
58
16, Russell beat up on everyone in her way en route to winning an Oregon 5A state champion- ship last season, averaging 24.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game along the way. This past summer she dominated the AAU circuit, becoming the Class of 2013's top recruit and player to watch heading into this year.
22 JONNY FLYNN
Houston Rockets There's no NBA point guard that's been talked about less this offseason than Jonny Flynn. And the sixth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft is just fine with that. Recover- ing from hip surgery after a stellar rookie season, Flynn never quite recovered in Min- nesota last year, averaging an underwhelming 5.3 points and 3.4 assists per game. And after being dealt to Houston in a draft-night trade, he finds himself in a crowded – yet talented – backcourt
alongside fellow point guards Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic. Playing outside the triangle offense for the first time in his young career, Flynn will finally get his chance to shine.
21 BUDDY HIELD
Sunrise Christian Academy
During the month of July, Buddy Hield saw his stock rise tremendously on the AAU circuit, putting up huge scor- ing numbers in almost every game he played alongside top recruit Perry Ellis. At 6-4 and 195 pounds, the pure shooting guard from Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) is best known for his consistently accurate jumper, as Hield can light it up from almost anywhere on the court. While first holding a lone offer from Nebraska at the start of the summer, his list of options exploded, leading to a commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners this fall.