All-star games are a lot of fun to watch. You get to see lots of dunks, flashy plays, and end-to-end action. Anyone who watched the McDonald’s All-American game last night could clearly see the athleticism of all the participants. What was harder to decipher was the type of player Greg Monroe might be.

In a game designed to be run-and-gun, it is difficult to gauge how good any individual player is. All the jump shots are uncontested, there is no accountability for a turnover or missed defensive assignment, and there is no game pressure. Perhaps the hardest player to assess is the center. The up and down nature of the game is not conducive to centers, who in general are a little slower and don’t get many opportunities to post up or showcase their skills. Defense, another area where a center could shine, is often bypassed in an all-star game, and most points in the paint come from fast break alley-oops.

If you tuned in hoping Greg Monroe would have an outstanding game, you were no doubt disappointed. However, if you were like me, you watched not for the sensational but for the simple, the little things that, when coached and honed, can make a big impact. Here are a few things I noticed.

1. He is a strong defensive presence

He didn’t block many shots (I’m not even sure if he got credited for any), but on more than one occasion an East player would drive to the basket, see Monroe there, and opt to pass the ball off instead of challenging him. If Monroe can instill such fear without even blocking a shot, imagine what a few swats might do to deter penetration.

2. He moves well

There are a lot of areas where Monroe will have a hard time filling the large shoes left by Roy Hibbert. Running the floor is not one of them. Greg Monroe got up and down the floor very well, and if the Hoyas want to try to push the ball more next year, they will have a big man who will be able to keep up.

3. He hustles

Besides the mere ability to run the floor, Monroe continued throughout the game to hustle down the floor, despite never getting the ball on the fast breaks. He also dove on the floor for a loose ball in the first half, certainly a rarity in an All-Star game. When the stakes are low and a player sacrifices the body, it demonstrates a love of the game. You can’t teach that.

All-Star games are meant to showcase offensive talent, and often times a center’s role is to merely inbound the ball after a basket. While Monroe did not stand out in this particular game, for those paying attention he showed some signs of being a stand-out player next year.