ACC's Top-25 Players: No. 24 – Mike Scott, Virginia

With so many ACC big men gone (Zoubek, Thomas, Aminu, Lawal, Favors, Booker, Collins, Alabi, McFarland, Thompson, Davis and Milbourne…just to name a few), Virginia should count their blessings they actually have a decent, experienced big man left.

Senior Mike Scott doesn’t get the headlines, but he has produced some decent stats during his time in Virginia. He’s put in about 27 minutes per game the last two years, averaging about 12ppg. He’s shot over 50% in both his sophomore and junior years. Not too shabby considering he now plays in the “slow it to a crawl” offensive game plan of Coach Tony Bennett. This past season, Scott had his most fun facing Virginia Tech. In two games last year against the Hokies, he totaled 41 points and 21 rebounds (although the Cavs lost both games).

Coming into college, Scott wasn’t expected to be a bouncer inside, but he added roughly 40 pounds onto his skinny frame and he’s done a great job getting dirty in the paint. He has averaged over seven rebounds a game the last two seasons. Last year alone, he produced eight double-doubles.

Still, he’s not going to play power forward if he ever plans to get paid to play basketball. Look for him to expand his offensive game heading into his senior year. How far can he go is the real question? In three seasons, Scott has only launched 23 career three-point shots (sinking nine of them). I’m not suggesting he needs to turn into J.J. Redick, but why not do his best Patrick Patterson impression?

The Kentucky power forward has the same size and build as Scott and after shooting only four career three pointers in his first two seasons in Lexington, he launched 69 threes his junior year, hitting a respectable 36%.

If Scott can find some range, while continuing to be a ball hog on the glass, there is no reason why he can’t be the best player on a very young Cavaliers team, vying for consideration for third-team All ACC.

#25 - IMAN SHUMPERT, GUARD – GEORGIA TECH