Best Local College Basketball Player You've Never Heard Of

He doesn't go to Stanford or Cal, and he's never thrilled the nation in the NCAA tournament, but junior Darrell Tucker is the real deal: a versatile power forward who can post up, shoot the long- and medium-range jumper, block shots, and rebound. This season the 6-foot-9 graduate of Oakland's McClymonds High tied for third in the nation with 17 double-doubles while averaging 10.1 rebounds and 18.9 points a game. A legitimate pro prospect, Tucker is ranked 34th among the nation's juniors by NBAdraft.net and figures to go late in the second round next year. He's workmanlike on the court and quiet off it, but opposing teams have discovered how dangerous this All-West Coast Conference player can be. Soon, the rest of the basketball world will, too.