After the second annual Anaheim Classic is wrapped and in the books, these are the players who will have made the biggest impression

By Michael Freer

Entering the inaugural Anaheim Classic last year, all the buzz was about USC guard O.J. Mayo. The freshman didn’t disappoint, earning Most Outstanding Player honors as his Trojans captured the championship over Southern Illinois. But Mayo wasn’t the only star to shine. Joining him on the All-Tournament team was SIU’s Randal Falker; Michael Bramos and Tim Pollitz from Miami of Ohio; and Jamont Gordon of Mississippi State. After the second annual Anaheim Classic is in the books, here are eight players we’re most likely to remember:

Al-Farouq Aminu | 6’9”, 215 | freshman, forward School: WAKE FOREST Claim to Fame: Third-best recruit coming into the ACC and No. 17 overall, according to ESPN 100. Aminu is a big reason the Demon Deacons have the No. 6-ranked recruiting class for the 2008-09 season. Aminu led Norcross (Ga.) High School to three straight state championships (averaged more than 23 points and 11 rebounds per game in his senior season, earning the prestigious Mr. Georgia Basketball award). Outlook: The college game has received an infusion of excellent freshmen in recent years (see: Greg Odom, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley). Aminu could follow that trend. Going up against some of the elite high school players in the Jordan Classic in April, Aminu posted a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds) and showed off his shooting skills from the outside. >> Read Al-Farouq Aminu's profile

Stefon Jackson | 6’5’’, 185 | senior, guard School: UTEP Claim to Fame: Led Conference USA in scoring last season (23.6 ppg), which was good for seventh in all of Division I. Was a first-team All-Conference USA selection in 2007-08 after earning second-team All-Conference USA honors as a sophomore. Stands fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,548 points. Outlook: Jackson is a scorer, pure and simple. Of those returning for 2008-09, only Stephen Curry of Davidson and Lester Hudson of Tenn.-Martin averaged more points per game (25.9 and 25.7, respectively). Barring injury, Jackson will become UTEP’s all-time leading scorer (now 283 points behind leader Brandon Wolfman). With Jackson back, UTEP will return three of its top four scorers from last season. >> Read Stefon Jackson's profile

Curtis Jerrells | 6’0’’, 200 | senior, guard School: BAYLOR Claim to Fame: Paced Baylor in scoring (15.2 ppg) and assists (3.4) in leading the Bears to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years. First-team All-Big 12 selection this past season. Jerrells is just the second player in school history to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors. Outlook: Showed the nation his talent by lighting up Purdue for 27 points and 8 assists in an NCAA Tournament first-round loss. Jerrells has the ability to step up in big games, scoring at least 19 points in all of his postseason games (four Big 12 Tournament games, one NCAA Tournament game). He also enjoys early-season tournaments, having won the MVP at the Paradise Jam last November. >> Read Curtis Jerrells's profile

James Harden | 6’4’’, 218 | sophomore, guard School: ARIZONA STATE Claim to Fame: Earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors as a freshman, averaging a team-best 17.8 ppg (seventh-best in Pac-10). Harden led the Sun Devils in steals (2.1 per game), minutes (34.1), three-point FG percentage (40.7), and was second on the team in rebounding (5.3) and assists (3.2). Harden’s 73 steals also led the Pac-10, just the fifth time in Pac-10 history a freshman has led the conference in that category. Outlook: In a conference loaded with outstanding freshmen last season, Harden got lost in the shuffle. However, despite being the youngest player in the Pac-10 last season, Harden had a higher scoring average than Kevin Love, grabbed more rebounds than O.J. Mayo and shot better from the field than Jerryd Bayless. As the only member of the first-team All-Pac-10 group to announce he is returning, Harden is arguably the best returning player in the conference next season. >> Read James Harden's profile

Geoff McDermott | 6’ 8’’, 235 | senior, guard/forward School: PROVIDENCE Claim to Fame: An honorable mention All-Big East performer last season, McDermott was the only player in the conference to average at least 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Showed solid all-around game last season with 14 games of 10-plus points, 11 games of 10-plus rebounds and two games of 10-plus assists. Recorded at least 250 rebounds and 150 assists for the second straight season. He’s the only player in school history to achieve those numbers even once. Outlook: From the names to follow, who averaged more rebounds per game? UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet, Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert, Pittsburgh’s Sam Young or McDermott? Yes, it was McDermott, who actually had a higher rebounding and assist average in Big East games than in non-conference contests. He also has proved he can perform in big moments, having won the MVP at last season’s inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts ESPNU Puerto Rico Tip-Off. >> Read Geoff McDermott's profile

Lamont Mack | 6’7’’, 230 | senior, forward School: CHARLOTTE Claim to Fame: Averaged more than 15 ppg vs. Atlantic 10 competition. Averaged just 8.9 ppg through December, but 15 ppg after Jan. 1. Scored in double figures in 19 of his last 22 games. He finished second on the team in scoring, rebounding and field goals made. Outlook: Mack is the top returning player for a 49ers team that won 20 games and reached the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament semifinals as well as the NIT last season. Mack came on strong at the end of the 2007-08 season, averaging nearly 17 points a game through his final seven contests. After knee surgery in April, Mack should be ready to show everyone in Anaheim he’s healthy to play. >> Read Lamont Mack's profile

Patrick Mills | 5’11’’, 175 | sophomore, guard School: SAINT MARY’S Claim to Fame: As a freshman, led the Gales in scoring (14.8 ppg), assists (111), steals (57) and minutes (32.1). Was a first-team All-WCC last season, and earned the WCC Newcomer of the Year Award. His 472 points set a school record for freshmen. Outlook: Could be the best point guard at this tournament and could be the best player in the West Coast Conference. Although a point guard, Mills showed he can be a big-time scorer against big-time competition by posting 37 points against Oregon, a school record for a freshman in a single game. Thanks to four starters returning, the Gales could be the favorites to win the Anaheim Classic. >> Read Patrick Mills's profile

Josh Akognon | 5’11’’, 185 | senior, guard School: CAL STATE FULLERTON Claim to Fame: Led the Titans in scoring last season at 19.9 ppg. Shattered the school’s single-season record for three-point goals with 116 (old record was 89). Posted five 30-point games last season, but only earned second-team All-Big West Conference honors. Then he went crazy in the conference tournament, averaging 22.3 points in three games and earning MVP honors. Outlook: Akognon figures to be one of the best players in the Big West Conference and one of the most prolific scorers returning in the nation. Akognon lit up Wisconsin in the first round of this past NCAA Tournament, scoring 31 points – and tying a career high – in a loss. The 31 points had been the most scored by any player against the Badgers until Davidson’s Stephen Curry scored 33 against them two rounds later. >> Read Josh Akognon's profile

Michael Freer is a writer/researcher for ESPNU and ESPNPlus.

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