A Big to watch

ATLANTA -- Well, yes it would have been a nice little story if the local school had fought its way from a lowest possible seed scenario all the way to the ACC semifinals, but, alas, it was not to be. Georgia Tech, 2-14 in league play and loser of a ridiculous amount of close games, once again could not close a deal.

We give you Florida State 64, Georgia Tech 62.

The obvious sub-plot in this game was a scintillating duel of senior guards. Florida State's Toney Douglas, the newly-minted ACC Defensive Player of the Year (whose backers insist should be the ACC Player of the Year, period) and Georgia Tech's Lewis Clinch, went at each other all afternoon, finishing with 25 apiece. It was a nice little show.

But the player who caught my eye is the same player who had me babbling the first time I saw him a couple of weeks ago. Mark this name down: Solomon Alabi.

Solomon Alabi is a 7-foot red-shirt freshman center for Florida State via Nigeria and Montverde Academy (Orlando). He may very well be the Next Great Thing.

He finished with 14 points (7-for-10), six rebounds and two blocks in 26 minutes. His season high individual game totals are 17 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. So we're not talking dazzling numbers -- yet.

What we are talking about is 7-feet of astonishing young grace, agility and sheer athleticism. He is not just a dunker. He has a face-up jumper, a nice little jump hook and he can even put it on the floor a little. But what is so great about him is that every shot he takes looks like it is supposed to go in. When he first went to the foul line against BC on the night of February 24 I naturally assumed it would be a brickerama. Hah! He went 8-for-8, swishes all. I'm sitting there going "Omigod, what is this?"

Yes, I am going to hit him with the dreaded "P" word. His potential is enormous.

Of course, he has a lot to learn. He needs to rebound more consistently, and he just needs playing time. He came to the USA in 2005, hoping to find an institution where he could develop his English and become a basketball player. He is said to be very intelligent and he is obviously a hard worker. Best of all, this game looks like it all makes sense to him.

Is he ready for the NBA? No. But if he did decide to come out now, there would be a land rush. He's have to be a lottery pick. But the word is he knows he should stay in school for at least another year.

So I have seen the future of Bigs and its name is Solomon Alabi. If I can't say for sure you heard it here first, I'm pretty sure you're hearing it here early.