Caution: Explosive Talent

Here are a half-dozen offensive firecrackers who could go off—and shoot their teams to the top

CHRIS PAUL, G, Wake Forest
The fearless freshman gets up for the big boys: He ripped Cincinnati for 30 points, hitting his first six shots, including a trio of treys.

BEN GORDON, G, Connecticut
The shifty junior can score from far and near, and in bunches: His 15 points in the last 11:12 led the Huskies to the Big East title over Pitt.

TIM SMITH, G, East
Tennessee State A blur with the ball, the mighty mite sophomore leads Buccaneers bursts by stealing, then converting with his teardrop runner.

RASHAD McCANTS, F-G, North
Carolina How torrid can the cocksure Heels sophomore get? Ask Georgia Tech, which watched him drop in six treys and 28 points—in one half.

B.J. ELDER, G, Georgia
Tech In a 30-point effort against North Carolina, the Yellow Jackets' incandescent junior fired in five treys in a five-minute span.

SALIM STOUDAMIRE, G, Arizona
The junior marksman can be the Wildcats' bellwether; on Feb. 19 he singed Oregon with 20 points in the first half of a 100-87 win.