Most Underrated Players Entering March Madness

The most underrated players entering March Madness each have been immense assets to their respective NCAA basketball teams throughout the 2011-12 college basketball season but most have done it quietly. From point guards to small forwards, these underrated college basketball players all hope to not only enter the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament but lead their team to greatness.

Many of these talented young men will go on to have long careers in the National Basketball Association but first they need to get noticed in the NCAA. It doesn't help that many of these players, like Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder from the Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team or Kevin Jones from the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team, play on some of the most underrated teams in college basketball in 2012. That lack of exposure for the team trickles down to the players who suffer the same setbacks.

But that's the great thing about March Madness. Of the 68 teams that enter, every one has a chance at becoming that next great Cinderella team and each of the players on those teams, like the 6-foot-10 center Reggie Johnson out of Miami or the beast of a forward Yancy Gates out of Cincinnati, has the chance to show the NBA scouts, executives and coaches just how great they actually are. Of course many of these teams will need some help getting into the NCAA Tournament but strong performances from these players in the conference tournaments can help with just that.

These college basketball players might not be making headlines or breaking any records but they are the unsung heroes of college hoops. Take note of these names and pay attention during March Madness as these fine young players may just shock the world.