It’s never too early to start thinking about next year.

If your fantasy season didn’t go as well as planned, or if you’ll be trying to defend a title, you’ll want to read this list of sleepers for the 2008-09 season. These are guys who will be undervalued and I think will blossom into legitimate fantasy producers. Sure, free agency and the June draft can change a lot of things, but here is your first sneak peek at the 12 best sleepers for next season.

Nick Collison, C, SEA – Collison made a strong statement in the second half of the year. He took advantage of having the starting job due to an injury to Chris Wilcox, and averaged 10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, .86 blocks, while shooting 49.1 percent from the field as a starter. He expects to fight for the starting position next year, and will surely get decent minutes all season. I expect him to produce like he did in the second half this year, for the entire season next year.

Mike Conley, PG, MEM – Like many rookies, especially rookie point guards, Conley struggled with inconsistency this year. He also battled a slew of injuries, but started in 46 of the 53 games he played in. With another year under his belt, and if he can stay healthy, the Ohio State product will be able to drastically improve on his 9.4 points, 4.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds and .8 steals a game. April was his most productive month of the season however, and if he can build on that, he could be a pleasant surprise for some owners.

Randy Foye, PG, MIN – The 2006 lottery selection missed the first 43 games of the season with a knee cap injury, but was able to bounce back and have a solid season. He started in 31 games, and averaged 14.3 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.6 3s in those games. He got more productive every month of the season as he started to get healthier. Entering his third season healthy, I think he will finally reach his lofty potential, and should be a solid option next season. 
 
Jeff Green, SF, SEA – His season numbers (10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists) don’t blow you away, especially for a top-five pick, but he did finish the season strong. In the last month and half of the season, he improved in just about all statistical categories. This is the kind of improvement and production Seattle was looking for all year, and I expect him to continue to mature and build on this success. If he progresses like I think he will, he will form a dynamic duo with Kevin Durant for years to come.

Devin Harris, PG, NJ – He started all year when healthy so he might not seem like the prototypical sleeper pick. But I expect him to take his game to the next level next year, and really be undervalued come draft time. For the year he averaged a modest 14.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists. I think he will vastly improve on these numbers now that he will be more comfortable in his role in New Jersey, which requires him to get more touches and more shots. If he can keep his shooting percentages up, he will be a steal in next year’s draft as he finally reaches his potential and becomes a dominant point guard.

Spencer Hawes, C, SAC – The seven-foot rookie got his chance to shine late in the season when regular center Brad Miller went down with an injury. With the extra playing time, he showed the Kings that they were justified in using a first-round pick on him. In his eight games as a starter he averaged 12.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game. Brad Miller will be 32 next year and recovering from elbow surgery, so I expect Hawes to see more playing time and maybe have the starting role by the end of the year. 

Stephon Marbury, PG, NYK – I’m sure some of you can’t believe your eyes to see Starbury on this list, and as a New York sports fan I shocked myself - but hear me out. A true sleeper to me is someone that will be undervalued come draft day, and Marbury certainly fits that bill after sitting out most of this season. The amazing part is, regardless of his past, he will still see close to 30 minutes a game next year, and be able to produce close to 20 points a game, like he has his entire career. A new coach and new front office is a welcome change, and the presence of a more fundamental point guard, maybe like leading coaching candidate Mark Jackson, may be good for him.

Ramon Sessions, PG, MIL – If the last month of the season is any indication of what this rookie can become, then watch out. He played in only 17 games all year, but in 10 April games, Sessions averaged 11.5 points, 11.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He also had a franchise record 24 assists in the second to last game of the season versus Chicago. To say he filled in nicely for Mo Williams would be an understatement, and I’m excited to see what he can do with what should be more playing time, despite the presence of Williams, next season.

Al Thornton, PF, LAC – Once this rookie started getting consistent minutes, he started putting up consistent stats. In his 31 games as a starter he averaged 15.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. With Elton Brand back healthy, the frontcourt might be a little more crowded next year, but given his production this year, I imagine the Clippers will wish to continue to develop their first rounder. He should be available in the late rounds, and you won’t be disappointed with the results from there.

Beno Udrih, PG, SAC – Although Atlanta has been hitting on all cylinders since Mike Bibby was traded there, Udrih might have been the biggest beneficiary of the trade. He started 51 games with the Kings this year, and he averaged 14.4 points, 5.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 3s a game in those contests. If Sacramento doesn’t make any moves and it decides that Udrih is their franchise point guard, expect him to put up good numbers again next year. He would be a good value pick in the later rounds because he is not a household name, yet.

Hakim Warrick, PF, MEM – Warrick is another guy who benefited greatly from a trade. When Memphis shipped Pau Gasol to the Lakers, Warrick became the starter, and he took advantage of it. In the last three months of the season, playing most games as a starter, the Syracuse product averaged 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor. With Gasol obviously still out of the picture, and Warrick expected to keep his starting gig, I expect Warrick to pick up where he left off and be a productive pick in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.

Thaddeus Young, SF, PHI – The play of this rookie down the stretch was one of the reasons that the 76ers ended the season so well. After getting some time off the bench early in the season, the Georgia Tech rookie saw 22 games as a starter, and averaged 10.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in that span. He will have to compete for a starting job again next year, but at times he did show flashes of brilliance. If he gets quality minutes next year, he will be a valuable late-round pick for many teams. 

Anthony Oliva III is a senior journalism student at Penn State University. He can be contacted at anthony.oliva3[at]gmail.com.