Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: 5 underrated mid-major players in 2018-19

By Zac Voynow

BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 07: Justin Wright-Foreman #3 of the Hofstra Pride drives to the basket past Devontae Cacok #15 of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks during the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship college basketball game tournament at Royal Farms Arena on March 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 07: Justin Wright-Foreman #3 of the Hofstra Pride drives to the basket past Devontae Cacok #15 of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks during the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship college basketball game tournament at Royal Farms Arena on March 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 05: Devontae Cacok #15 of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks fouls Sterling Manley #21 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 05, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 97-69. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 05: Devontae Cacok #15 of the North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks fouls Sterling Manley #21 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on December 05, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 97-69. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Devontae Cacok, UNC Wilmington

Devontae Cacok is a senior forward for UNCW. Two years ago, he led the nation in field goal percentage by shooting a remarkable 80% from the field. Last year he led the nation in rebounding by collecting 13.6 boards per game. Now he’s back for his senior season, producing at a high level once again.

This season Cacok is averaging 14.4 points and 11.8 rebounds while shooting 61.1% from the field. He also leads the team in steals (1.0), and blocks (0.6) respectively. The reason why Cacoks block numbers are so low is because he’s a 6’7″ center. However he weighs approximately 230 pounds, and is the definition of a workhorse. When Cacok gets a full head of steam there’s no stopping him. He finally got some national recognition prior to this season, when he was added to the Karl Malone Award Watchlist, which is given to the nations best power forward.

Cacok had a slow start to the season, as UNCW has been trying to find their identity with several new players on the team. Now with conference play beginning, however, Cacok is reaching his full potential. Against Davidson, Cacok scored 19 points and grabbed 13 boards. Against College of Charleston, who’s arguably the best team in the CAA, Cacok recorded a phenomenal stat line of 27 points and 19 rebounds. We saw Cacok in the NCAA tournament during his Freshman and Sophomore seasons under head coach Kevin Keatts, but this monster has gotten exponentially better since then.

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