All-star games aren’t for big men. They are built for guards, as they are run-and-gun affairs with a lot of scoring and extremely flashy play. Derrick Favors ’09 of South Atlanta (GA) played in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Classic the way most big men do in any all-star event. Favors, though, excelled in the contest at Rucker Park in Harlem, New York. Rather than trying to change his game and running and gunning, Derrick just played his game. When your game is as good as Favors’ is, that’s definitely good enough. By grabbing offensive boards, getting put-back jams, and receiving occasional passes in the post, Favors led all big men, and was fifth overall in scoring, with 16 points. I had the opportunity to speak with the 6’9 rising senior the day before the actual game after the scrimmage between the two squads.

NB: I know you just cut your college list down [to 10 schools]. Which schools are you currently favoring?
DF: I still [have] got a whole top 10: Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Memphis, UCLA, UConn, North Carolina State, . . . Kentucky, . . . and Kansas.

NB: A lot’s been written about you likely staying in-state. What’s the truth about that?
DF: It’s a possibility, it’s a possibility, I don’t know, I don’t know yet, it’s a possibility.

NB: What are some of the factors you’re going to consider in making your decision?
DF: Probably . . . the atmosphere, if I feel at home or not.

NB: How long do you plan on going to college for?
DF: Hopefully for a year, for one year, but if I have to do two, three, [or] four [years], I’ll do it.

NB: If not for the NBA age limit, would you be going [to the Draft] straight out of high school?
DF: Oh yeah, I would try, I would try.

NB: What do you see as the strongest and weakest points of your game?
DF: My athleticism and rebounding so far are my strongest [points]. My weakest is probably a little shooting and dribbling.

NB: What’s your favorite part about playing here . . . with all these [talented] guys?
DF: Having fun. It’s fun playing with them.

Derrick Favors isn’t likely to step out and knock down a trey for you. What he is likely to do though, is bang in the low blocks and play like a pure post player. Favors is reminiscent of old-school big men, who rebounded and scored in the paint. Nowadays many big men, such as Favors’ competitor DeMarcus Cousins for the title of best big man in America in the class of 2009, can step out and knock down a J, and can even nail triples. Thus, it’s key that guys such as Favors who stay in the low post and get their points down there are dominant players. The Georgian is just that, completely dominant, and rarely misses, leading to him earning the nickname “The Sure Thing” at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Classic. Derrick Favors is an ultra-talented post player with the talent to be successful for years to come, so expect to be hearing much more about the old-fashioned bruiser.

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/.