MAC Basketball Top 25 - #1, Javon McCrea, Buffalo Forward

Javon McCrea

#12 / Forward / Buffalo Bulls
Height: 6-7
Weight: 250
Year: Senior

Just how will Bobby Hurley use Javon McCrea?

The Buffalo forward has been dominant in the MAC over the course of his three year career at Buffalo. Between the attrition at other MAC schools and McCrea's development he has become the face of the MAC. This season McCrea enters the season as a Lou Henson preseason All American.

But will a change of coached and schemes slow down the 6-7 senior?

McCrea seems to think the Hurley game plan will help add even more honors to one of the Bull's best players ever.

As a prep player in upstate New York McCrea was not a highly recruited player. The Three-year letter winner and two-year team captain at Newark High School averaged 22 points, 14.6 rebounds and eight blocked shots per game his senior Season.

He was awarded the 2010 All-Greater Rochester Boys Basketball Player of the Year and three-times he was the Finger Lakes Player of the Year. During his prep career Javon led the Reds to three league titles and  a 23-2 record and conference championship in 2010.

His first season at UB McCrea quickly let the conference know he was going to be a force to contend with. In a backup role McCrea finished 19th in the conference in points per game (11.8) and 8th in rebounds (6.5). He led the conference in Offensive boards and in afield goal percentage shooting at a 63.1 clip.

When all was said and done McCrea was named the MAC Freshman of the year, an honorable mention All Conference player, a CollegeInsider Mid-Major Freshman All-American, and a finalist for the United States’ U19 National Team.

And he was just getting armed up.

McCrea transitioned from a bench player to a starter in 2011 where he shared the floor with Mitchell Watt. He averaged 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The breadth of his game became apparent as McCrea's was top six in several key statistical categories.

In the regular season Javon finished sixth in the conference in scoring, fifth in rebounding, fourth in blocks per game (1.3) and second in field goal percentage (.573).

Even though he was named all conference McCea was somewhat overshadowed by his teammate and MAC player of the year Mitchell Watt. Then last season, after Watt had graduated, McCrea took over the role of team leader for the Bulls.

He finished second in the MAC in scoring (18.0), tied for third in rebounding (7.9), third in field goal percentage (.557), and second in blocked shots (89). He was named MAC player of the week twice and finished third in the player or the Year voting.

This season should be one where McCrea sets some school records. He already has 1,488 career points rank him fifth in program history and the 710 career rebounds McCrea has pulled down are the fifth most in program history.