With guard Sherron Collins also returning, Kansas has the inside-outside components that should keep the Jayhawks in the national championship hunt. That visibility should help Aldrich as well. He isn’t the explosive athlete that Griffin is, but not many are. Aldrich still has the potential to climb to the top of the draft. Aldrich, like Monroe, genuinely seems to enjoy the college experience. Some think he gambled by giving up a lottery spot in this year’s draft. But now everything is focused on the improvement he can make as a junior and the scouts certainly will be watching.

"The first thing he did [after the season] was take some time off because his body was tired and beat up," Self said during a conference call Tuesday. "He's going to work on his game and attend a few camps. But he's got to become stronger in his lower body and have a stronger base about him. Visiting with people who have watched him and been impressed with his progress, that's one area that he can certainly make himself a better player."

North Carolina coach Roy Williams was accused by some of hiding Davis during the Heels’ national title run. Then Davis went out and scored 11 points and had a team-high eight rebounds in the championship game victory over Michigan State. Even with the limited time he received during the regular season, Davis might have been a top five pick this year. If he moves into the starting lineup and adds some weight and strength, he could be considered for the No. 1 pick in 2010.

Aminu is another of those returning players who wanted to improve his game in the summer before his sophomore season. Last week the Wake Forest star pulled out of trials for the FIBA USA Under 19 team, for family reasons. Aminu reportedly will work out in Winston-Salem with his teammates during the second session of summer school. Aminu’s jump shot isn’t as strong as it needs to be and his ballhandling needs improvement as well. Playing for Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon on the FIBA team would have helped, but he still has time to improve at Wake.

Warren had a terrific freshman season but faces two big challenges in his return to Oklahoma. First, there will be life after Griffin. There’s no doubt Warren benefited by playing with such a talented big man. Some also wonder if his draft status will be hurt by the addition of talented freshman Tommy Mason-Griffin, who will battle Warren for the point guard spot with the Sooners. But if Warren continues to play the way he did during Big 12 Conference games, look for him to be a solid top 10 pick next draft.

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More than anyone else, Monroe controls his destiny. He is highly skilled and brings more versatility to the floor than any other player in the 2010 draft. Scouts want to see consistency and desire, night in and night out, from Monroe.

Monroe, a left-hander, needs to work on his right hand but even though some observers cite that as the reason for turnover problems, Thompson doesn’t consider it a “glaring weakness.” Monroe will be in the gym all summer, working on his post moves, his game on the low block, and his game facing the basket.

Defenses caught up with Monroe during conference play last year. Thompson said Monroe has to find a response to anything and everything a defense throws at him. If he does, he will look in the mirror and see he is ready for the NBA next year.

“We’re taking the approach that it’s every aspect of his game offensively,” Thompson said when asked what Monroe is working on. “I think he has the instincts and the God-given ability to be successful anywhere on the court. And when I say successful, I mean he has the ability to make a play for himself, as well as make a play for his teammates.”

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