College basketball glue guys are the heartbeat of the basketball team and are vital to the team’s overall success. Now, without having glue guys there would lack a player who makes everyone better as a distributor, taking charges or turning 50/50 loose balls into 80/20 balls. These are some of the best glue guys in College Basketball that personify those qualities:
Mark Vital Baylor
Vital is a perfect fit in what Scott Drew and his program want with his overall toughness and versatility defensively is exceptional. He’s the ultimate college basketball glue guy who will contribute to winning in any aspect for the team. He’s one of the best all-around contributors in the country. Furthermore, he runs the floor hard and can be a factor in transition and rebounds exceptionally well even though he’s undersized. His offensive ability needs to improve with his shot-making and skill set. Additionally, he will score on second-chance opportunities and any loose ball is going to be Vital’s, there’s no question about that. Vital’s offensive game needs some work to be somewhat of a factor for them in the scoring department. Now defensively, he’s elite with the ability to guard all positions and give tremendous effort on each position. The ability for him to guard the ball with ease then be able to guard any big very well is extremely impressive. Vital is super important to the success of Baylor and will look to be part of a National Championship team this season.
Connor McCaffery Iowa
McCaffery brings great versatility and contributes to winning in all aspects of Iowa. He does a very solid job of bringing up the ball and being in great control of setting up the Iowa offense, as well as, rebounding the basketball he does a good job rebounding on both ends. Furthermore, he can make open threes and does a really solid job of making open shots when he has the opportunities. He doesn’t take away offensive chances from their more offensively gifted players and is really important to Iowa’s success as a glue guy. He could improve his ability to get to the rim more and make shots off the dribble. Defensively, he’s solid. He doesn’t move great, but has solid size and can guard multiple positions. McCaffery is a valuable piece to an Iowa team looking to win a Big Ten title and National Championship next season.
DeJon Jarreau Houston
Jarreau brings great versatility and effort for Houston on a consistent basis. Furthermore, he has the ability to be a really good slasher getting to the basket. Additionally, he rebounds the ball extremely well and can play multiple positions. He needs to continue to get better as a shooter from the mid-range, as well as increasing his range to be more of a shooter. On the defensive end, he brings great intensity and length is a very good on-ball defender. He turns his defense to offense being able to make plays happen in transition. His versatility for Houston is very important being able to play him 1-4 at any moment throughout the game. Jarreau will be the veteran for the Houston backcourt that must keep that toughness going for Houston as favorites in the AAC.
Aaron Thompson Butler
Thompson brings really good steadiness and tenacity for Butler defensively. He’s extremely active on the ball and has the size to be really good on the ball. As well, creating turnovers with his activity is great. Next, he has the inability to shoot the ball that great and is not a threat from the perimeter. He can get downhill on ball screens with toughness, but can struggle to finish around the basket with size in the paint. Additionally, his first step is really solid and can get by other guards. Also, he has a really solid size and can make plays in transition off of turnovers. Continued, he moves very well off the ball and can come off of hands really well and finishes strong at the rim off of cuts. Thompson is a very solid player and one of the best perimeter defenders in the country.
Kyle Young Ohio State
Young brings really good toughness and energy that is very important for Ohio State’s success. He is always active and plays really hard with the ability to contribute very well on the boards. Furthermore, he’s a tough screener who has the ability to open up to the basket and finish around the basket going hard. Also, he’s a tremendous glue guy knowing his role and maximizing it with his size, effort and toughness. He’s athletic enough to make plays happen at the rim and will clean up others’ messes. Next, he’s not very skilled but for Young, that doesn’t affect his production with his maximized effort. Defensively, he brings good effort and does a solid job of containing the ball. Furthermore, his size can be an issue against post-ups in the Big Ten especially. The effort and ability to contribute on the boards is there consistently. Young will continue to play his role in the success of Ohio State next season.
Darius Days LSU
Days brings really good versatility and athleticism to LSU on both ends of the floor. He brings really good physicality and can be a mismatch in the post with the ability to face up and attack slower defenders. Next, his energy on the offensive boards is very good and contributes heavily to second-chance opportunities. Also, an area for improvement to make shots from the perimeter and be a more consistent scorer. As well as, his finishing at the rim is really well going downhill extremely strong and tough. Furthermore, the overall skill level of Days will be the key for him to take the next level in his game. As for defensively, he brings good versatility and toughness to LSU. As well as, he provides solid rim protection and the ability to rebounder the basketball very well. Days’ growth as a player needs to take place on the offensive end, but contributes is so many other areas.
Theo John Marquette
John is a bruiser and gives Marquette toughness on the boards and defensively. Next, his rim protection ability is really good with his ability to alter shots around the basket. Also, the capabilities to contribute towards second-chance opportunities is crucial for a Marquette team that has lacked an inside presence consistently. Continued, he will bring a level of intensity and consistency that is valued on winning teams. His ability to make contributions on both ends of the floor with either his screening, shot-blocking or rebounding is valuable for Marquette. Furthermore, John will need to be an efficient player for Marquette offensively when he gets his easy opportunities. John’s toughness personifies the overall toughness of a college basketball big and brings it to each game.
Darryl Morsell Maryland
Morsell is one of the best versatile players in the country and brings very good play on both ends of the floor. Furthermore, he has the ability to make open 3s and does a really good job with rebounding on both ends. Also, he does a really good job of getting downhill to the rim and finishing strong with his physicality. Next, he can cut very effectively to the rim playing well in basketball. He contributes on and off the ball at times by being a good threat in transition. He could improve his ability to make shots off the dribble. Morsel is a really good glue guy in impacting Maryland’s success in so many areas. Now, defensively he has good athleticism but he can overplay at times and get off balance. He needs to improve his positioning and being a more effective defender he can be. Morsell will be a part of Maryland’s success this season.
Tyler Polley UConn
Polley brings really good versatility for UConn with scoring ability inside and out. Next, he is an active player and can do well on secondary cuts to the basket for easy looks. Also, he spaces the floor really well with his ability to make shots at a high level. Furthermore, he’s really dangerous in transition spotting up for 3s with his quick release and size. Continued, he’s consistently in a position to score either as a shooter from the perimeter or as a cutter. His size gives him great advantages to shoot the ball really well over defenders and the ability to make plays at the rim. The ability for Polley to come back off his ACL tear will be the key because if healthy he will be a vital sixth man for UConn. In addition, his size is really good and moves very effectively. Polley will be a major part of UConn’s success in the Big East if he returns healthy.
Santiago Vescovi Tennessee
Vescovi has a really good feel and brings a steadiness at the point guard position. He’s not very athletic, but does a good job of getting to his spots he makes pull up 3s pretty consistently. When he has separation he finishes around the basket well. As for his set shot, it is slow but with separation, he can make 3s at a consistent rate. He brings solid toughness to Tennessee and does a good job of initiating the offense and making plays for others. Defensively, he’s not the quickest on the ball and can struggle to contain drives from the perimeter. He needs to improve his ability to at least contain the basketball more effectively. Vescovi will need to be great at distributing to Tennessee’s talent and leading them to a major NCAA tournament run.
Images Courtesy of, Baylor University Athletics, Marquette University Athletics, SI.com
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