Keeping It Heel
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March Madness: The 10 best players in the NCAA Tournament

By Blake Cockrum

Jan 20, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) gestures to bench during the second half of a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) gestures to bench during the second half of a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jakob Poeltl, Utah

17.6 PPG
9.0  RPG
1.9   APG

Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Seven-foot forwards are hard to come by, and ones as valuable as Jakob Poeltl are even more rare.

The 235-pound sophomore has made leaps and bounds from his freshman campaign a year ago, and shows why he is truly special not only on the college level, but as an NBA prospect.

The second-year player averaged 17.6 points and nine rebounds per game for the Utes, leading them to a 26-8 record, good for second place in the Pac-12 behind conference champion Oregon.

If Utah can get past 14-seed Fresno State, they’ll play the winner of the Seton Hall and Gonzaga contest. Both possible matchups have difficult assignments for Utah, going against future pros Isaiah Whitehead and Kyle Wiltjer.

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