The players involved came from many different states (and some countries), all from varied backgrounds. The variety is part of what makes the NCAA Men’s Tournament so fun to watch — to see all the feel-good stories and hear about places and ideas that might otherwise never be told.
The All-Name Team honors these accomplishments while sharing with the world some unique names.
Tongue Twisters
F Adetunji Adedipe, Ohio — Walked onto the team as a freshman in 2008, but played just 1.9 minutes per game in 2009-2010 as a junior
G Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Northern Iowa — The junior captained the Mountain Valley Conference’s All-Improved team from 2008-2009. Averaged 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 2009-2010.
G Deividas Dulkys, Florida State — Hails from Lithuania, went from 13.3 minutes per game as a sophomore to a 2010 average of 22. Averaged 2.3 rebounds per game.
F Deniz Kilicli, West Virginia — Is on the map as a potential NBA draftee. The 19-year-old missed 20 games in the 2009-10 season due to an NCAA suspension.
C Zisis Sarikopoulos, Ohio State — From Athens, Michael Jordan selected him as the 2007 MVP of Greece. Averaged six minutes a game in 2009-10 as a sophomore.
Creative First Names
F Vassy Banny, Montana — The senior averaged just 9.6 minutes a game on the season but pulled down an average of three rebounds. From the Ivory Coast.
G Jocolby Davis, East Tennessee State — Jacoby Ellsbury would be proud. Davis did not play in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons before averaging 19.2 minutes in 2007-08. Sat out in 2008-09 (wrist injury suffered in carjacking) before coming back this season to average 20.2 minutes, but with minimal impact on the court.
G Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young — Named one of the top 75 shooting guards in high school by ESPN. Now a junior, jumped on the map with an average of 22.1 points on the 2009-10 season.
G Alzee Williams, North Texas — The Dallas native averaged 7.6 points as a freshman. Best game came Feb. 12 when he dropped 12 points on Florida Atlantic.
G Tre’Von Willis, UNLV — Finished prep career with 2,842 points. Has improved each year in college, finishing 2009-10 with 17.2 points per game.
Just Plain Cool
F Ivo Baltic, Ohio — Sounds like a Russian James Bond villain … or Ivan Drago‘s best buddy. The freshman played 11.4 minutes per game, dropping 3.2 points on his oppressors.
C Buford Foote, Morgan State — Probably Buford Tannen‘s right-hand man in the Wild West. The senior rode the bench for most of the year, averaging 3.2 minutes and 0.3 points and 0.8 rebounds.
F Bol Kong, Gonzaga — Any explanation really needed? Awesome. A sophomore from British Columbia, Canada, did not play as a freshman and averaged 12.5 minutes with 4.5 points on the season.
C Dallas Lauderdale, Ohio State — Too big for one city to accommodate, apparently. Starting center for the Buckeyes with uncle Jim Chones formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The junior averaged 25.1 minutes, 6.8 points, 5.2 rebounds.
F Wellington Smith, West Virginia — Somehow hails from New Jersey and not Britain. Senior has started the last three seasons, with his 6.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds in 2009-10, career highs.
