Photo. St. Joseph’s University

Last year (Dime #28) we debuted the “Player’s Ball” college hoops preview, where we went to some of the NCAA’s best players and had them preview their own conferences. This year we did it again (Dime #37), but since we didn’t have room in the mag for some of the mid-majors, we’re dropping them on DimeMag.com along with the big boys. Today, St. Joe’s forward Ahmad Nivins breaks down the Atlantic 10:

THE EXPERT: Ahmad Nivins, St. Joseph’s, Jr., PF
After a solid freshman campaign that saw him get an A-10 all-rookie team nod, Nivins really broke out this past season. Averaging 16.2 points and 7.4 boards as a sophomore, the 6-9 Jersey City native gave Louisville 26 points, had a 28-11 double-double against Rhode Island, and a 24-point, 13-rebound effort against Xavier. That earned him a first team all-conference selection, and this summer Nivins was the only A-10 representative at the Pan-American Games trials.

EXPERT OPINION: “I’ve put in a ton of work this summer, determined on being an anchor for us. Now that my name is out there, I’m more likely to be double-teamed. We can make other teams plan around the way we play in the frontcourt with me, Pat Calathes (F, 14.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Rob Ferguson (F, 11.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg). They’re two great senior leaders and we combine to make a solid trio.

“Honestly, I thought that last year Temple’s trio of Dionte Christmas (SG, 20 ppg), Mark Tyndale (SF, 19.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and Dustin Salisbery was the best in the conference. Christmas and Tyndale are coming back, and they’re real explosive. I’m sure every scouting report in the A-10 is directed toward them. If you’re talking guards in this conference, you gotta mention Xavier. Even though they lost Justin Doellman and Justin Cage, I think they’ll be strong again. They have two guys ready to step in to replace them: Derrick Brown (SF, 6.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Josh Duncan (PF, 9.3 ppg) are both pretty long and explosive. But if anyone focuses on them, they’ll get burned by Stanley Burrell (SG, 12.4 ppg) and Drew Lavender (PG, 11.2 ppg, 4.8 apg, 1.3 spg) in the backcourt. Also, George Washington’s got a pretty good guard of their own with Maureece Rice (PG/SG, 15.8 ppg, 1.3 spg) coming back.

“Rice will be up there in the Player of the Year conversation, but I think he’ll get some competition from Will Daniels (F, 17.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg) at Rhode Island. Brian Roberts (SG, 18.5 ppg) can really shoot it for Dayton. Bryant Dunston (PF, 14.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.4 bpg) has been a big factor on the inside for Fordham. He’s a big guy with a really good soft touch inside.

“I think if everyone stays on track and keeps getting better, this conference could surprise some people. The A-10 has been quiet for the past few years. I think it’s fully waking up now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few teams go to the Dance this year.”

Player’s Ball archive
11/9 – Big Ten (Drew Neitzel, Michigan State)
11/9 – WAC (Jaycee Carroll, Utah State)
11/8 – SEC (Ronald Steele, Alabama)
11/7 – Missouri Valley (Daniel Ruffin & Jeremy Crouch, Bradley)
11/6 – ACC (DeMarcus Nelson, Duke)
11/5 – Mountain West (Brandon Ewing, Wyoming)
11/2 – Big 12 (A.J. Abrams, Texas)