As the phrase suggests, an inside-outer has to have some skills in the paint and around the perimeter. But he doesn't have to be a 7-0 three-point shooter or a 2-guard with a big-man jones to qualify -- though he could be. In fact, we have both on the list.

The vast majority of our inside-outers are power forward types who can step out and hit a mid-range jumper, or maybe a three, and have better ball skills than your average big man. The ones at the top can do a little bit of everything -- and most of it very well.

1. Chris Porter, Auburn
Exhibit A: Porter does it all -- scores, rebounds, shoots, drives, defends -- and does much of it at a high level. Still, even he has his weaknesses. He could stand to improve his free throw shooting (.631). He doesn't block many shots for a power guy. And if, as Tigers coach Cliff Ellis hopes, Porter ends up playing more 3, he'll have to prove he can connect from long range with consistency. Porter is almost a "power slasher." But that's splitting hairs. We'll just call him the best scorer-rebounder in college and our top inside-outer and leave it at that.

2. Quentin Richardson, DePaul
There isn't much "Q" can't do, which is why he nearly made the jump to the NBA after his freshman year. Richardson led the nation's freshmen in rebounding (10.5 rpg) and ranked third in scoring (18.9 ppg) last season. He'll play 2-guard this season to show off for the pros, so he may not be as productive on the boards. But he can hit the three (.346) and has that rare ability, at 6-6, to get over or around bigger players inside to get his shot off. His defense is all that keeps him out of the top spot.

3. Troy Murphy, Notre Dame
Murphy wasn't the best-known freshman in the country last season, but he may have been the best. His 19.2 ppg and 9.9 rpg averages aren't often matched by players who've been around for awhile, let alone a rookie in the Big East. He moves well for a player his size, and while he won't win any 3-point shooting contests, his range is above average for a power player. There may not be a more dynamic or effective offensive player in college within 10 feet of the basket.

4. Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati
His game-turning shot-blocking ability and overall versatility on defense put him ahead of several others with better all-around numbers. Martin's blocks average dropped a bit last season (to 2.4), mostly because he was busy fronting the Bearcats' press, where his long arms and stunning quickness for a big man were even more valuable. And he's no slouch on offense. Martin may have come into his own as a complete player over the summer, when he paced a loaded U.S. World Championships team in scoring and led the squad to gold.

5. Eduardo Najera, Oklahoma
Najera went from role player on a solid if unspectacular squad in '97-98 to star of a Sweet 16 team last season. His 15.5 points and 8.3 rebounds a game put him high in the pack, but his 20-point, 15-rebound performance in a second-round win over UNC Charlotte in the NCAAs last March validated Najera as a big-game lightning rod. His field goal shooting percentage, which dropped from his sophomore season to .415 last year, is an eyesore. But he opens up the middle with his range (51 3s, .342) and has become a solid defender.

Newcomers to watch: Nick Collison, Kansas; Brian Cook, Illinois; Jason Kapono, Ucla; Kareem Rush, Missouri; Casey Sanders, Duke; Darrell Tucker, San Francisco.