Top ten Chicago basketball players in the Big Dance

Unlike last year there isn't total disappointment. At least Illinois made it, giving Chicago fans something to cheer about. But another way to look at things is to cheer for the local talents from the city of close suburbs. And there is quite a bit of Chicago-based talent to be watched. Below are the top ten individuals from the area with hopes of winning a national title.

10. Maurice Acker- Marquette
Maurice Acker has stepped in well to replace Domanic James. While they are only 1-5 since James' injury, it's not Acker's fault. Typically being 5' 8", one is often a defensive liability. But Maurice's pesky defense is actually what was earning the Hillcrest graduate more time.

9. Johnny Moran- Northern Iowa
The freshmen from Algonquin could be the difference in this year's Northern Iowa team. Moran scored 8.4 points per and nearly four rebounds this season. Look for Moran to move up this chart and possibly find his name in the top five of the 2010 version of this list.

8. Bobby Frasor- North Carolina
Bobby Frasor's numbers will surely increase if they can't keep Ty Lawson's toe from swelling worse than it already has. By no means is he the speedster Lawson is, the change-of-pace point is a veteran leader. Averaging 17 minutes/game those numbers will surely go up for the former Brother Rice standout at least the next few rounds of the tourney.

7. Demetri McCamey- Illinois
McCamey lead a U of I team in scoring with 11.5 points and four assists a game. The former St. Joes guard will surely be leading a top 15 team next season in the Illini. While we're talking about the 2009 tourney, the chances of them escaping the round of 32 are very much in question.

6. Jon Scheyer- Duke
The ACC Tournament MVP was lights-out in the final. The junior from Glenbrook scored 27 in a game that was in their control through the duration. Probably the highest high school prospect of all the guys on this, Scheyer is a great system guy in coach K's Duke squad.

5. Jerome Randle- Cal
The 5' 10" guard from Hales scores in droves. Averaging 18.4 and four assists a game, Randle could make an argument for Pac -10 Player of the Year. It should be interesting to see how Cal fares against the overachieving Maryland squad.

4. Jeremy Pargo- Gonzaga
Pargo is an ultra quick guard on an ultra quick team. They are fun to watch, when they decide to play together. The Robeson standout was vastly overlooked coming out of high school, which is odd to believe considering he has a chance of being drafted in the upcoming draft. He leads the Bulldogs in assists with more than five a game and has a lengthy list of honors in his four seasons at Gonzaga.

3. Sherron Collins- Kansas
Collins is the shoot-first version of Pargo. The former Crane great is one of the best Longstreet ever coached in Chicago. After being the sixth man on last years national champs, Sherron has stepped into the leader role extremely well. Leading the team in points (18.3) and assists (5.0), there is no way anyone can question his newborn leadership.

2. Evan Turner- Ohio State
The likely Big Ten Player of the Year, Turner looks a level above most players in the Big Ten. His versatility allows him to go to the hole for a dunk or pull up and hit 20-footers. Of all these guys, the former McCamey teammate is probably the top NBA prospect of the bunch.

1. Jerel McNeal- Marquette
McNeal is the leader of a team that spent the majority of the season as top 10 team in the nation. While his stock has probably lowered since the injury of James, there is no denying McNeal's flat-out ability to play. The former Big East Defensive Player of the Year not only matches up with the best the Big East has to offer on a nightly basis, but has improved his offensive numbers every year, becoming the nations most lethal scorers. It wouldn't be unlikely to hear the former Hillcrest swingman's name called out on draft day this year.