July 14 -- Who the heck is this No. 55 guy? He's dominated opponents all week as a member of the Miami Heat in the Southern California Summer League.

Our mystery man, playing alongside Heat mainstays Qyntel Woods and Dorell Wright, recorded 27 points (10-of-12 FGs), 12 rebounds and two blocked shots against the Mavericks on Monday. In Miami's next contest on Wednesday, the 23-year-old notched 24 points (9-of-15 FGs), 12 rebounds and two blocked shots versus the Lakers.

Barron's size has made opponents think twice about shooting.
Juan Ocampo/NBAE/Getty Images

But unless you’re a basketball junky, you probably have never heard of Earl Barron.

Allow us to explain.

The 7-foot, 270-pound Barron spent his college career at University of Memphis as a part-time starter. As a senior in 2002-03, he averaged a pedestrian 7.9 points and 5.5 rebounds. Needless to say, NBA teams weren't exactly beating down his door.

Barron's size and perceived upside earned him invitations to NBA pre-draft camps. But his lack of polish that prevented him from being drafted in June of 2003.

Which takes us to his next stop: Izmir, Turkey. That's where Barron made his professional basketball debut, with Tuborg Pilsener, a club in Turkey's top domestic league. Barron spent 17 games with Tuborg, averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 rebounds, but ultimately elected to return to the U.S. to play in the NBDL.

There, the Mississippi native played the final 10 contests of the 2003-04 NBDL campaign with the Huntsville Flight, posting 8.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Suddenly interest began picking up for Barron. He earned an invitation to training camp with the Orlando Magic the following season and got his first taste of the NBA, competing in one preseason game. His four points in that contest weren't exactly the makings of a Hall-of-Fame career, but certainly something he could build on.

And that he did. Barron returned to the Flight after being waived by Orlando and ended up averaging double-figures in points on the season (12.2) for the first time since high school. For his efforts, he earned All-NBDL Honorable Mention accolades and a contract to compete this spring in the Philippines, where his game continued to grow.

Which takes us to present day Long Beach, California. Barron's play in the Southern California League has opened the eyes of NBA scouts to that growth. Because of that, he could be playing at an arena near you in the not so distant future.

"He played with confidence and was very active," said an Eastern Conference Scout after seeing Barron this week. "He also showed good scoring ability in the lane. I was impressed with the amount he has improved and he should get a close look in some team's training camp this fall."

Perhaps in a year, if he does make the NBA, no longer will people have to ask "Who the heck is that No. 55 guy?"

They'll know who he is. That's Earl Barron.

Southern California Summer League Notes: Lawrence Roberts posted 31 points as Memphis defeated Dallas, 108-99, Tuesday. ... The Toronto Raptors appear to have gotten a steal in the 2005 NBA Draft. No. 58 selection Uros Slokar registered 20-plus points in two of the Raptors' four contests. ... Toronto announced today that first-round draft picks Charlie Villanueva and Joey Graham sustained minor injuries and are expected to be withheld from competition in the upcoming Minnesota Summer League ... Villanueva has a strained right groin and Graham a strained right calf. ... Lakers No. 37 selection Ronny Turiaf tallied 26 points in Los Angeles 118-89 victory over Dallas on Saturday. ... Dallas is showcasing one of two summer league squads it possesses. Its other team is at the Vegas Summer League.