College Basketball’s Top Freshmen
Top Five Freshmen in College Basketball Living Up to the Hype
Updates on the early season performances of five of the top ranked players.
The 2007-2008 freshman class in Men’s College basketball is often cited as the strongest group of players in recent history. There have been innumerable lists ranking the top players and overwhelming media coverage of these young men. Most have fan sites dedicated to them, NBA scouts attending their every game, and so much hype surrounding their names that some pundits are waiting for them to trip and fall.
Basketball Fan Heaven
How are they faring so far? The NCAA basketball season is still very young but already there have been some outstanding matchups of the top teams showcasing the best freshman talent. With some great early season tournaments, the major conference teams aren’t just playing guarantee-money opponents. Fans have witnessed several top 25 battles and have been treated to some stellar games by the young talent.
Are the young court princes living up to the hype?
Top Five Freshmen
Let’s look at five players who make the top spots on nearly every pre-season list:
Michael Beasley (F) Kansas State. The #1 high school recruit has not disappointed. Indeed he led the NCAA after three games in both scoring and rebounding. Six games into the season he has been named Big 12 Rookie of the Week twice and scored more than 30 points three times in his first four games. He is averaging 27.2 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, hitting 62% of his shots and 54% beyond the arc. Beasley can play, and he’ll be playing at the next level soon.
Eric Gordon (G) Indiana. Matching Beasley, Gordon also scored 30 or more points in four games. Widely regarded as one of the best guards in the class, the 6’4” Gordon makes all the players around him look better, while still eclipsing them all. Six games into the season, he is averaging 27.3 points per game and has already recorded 10 steals. His numbers are impressive, hitting 53% from the floor, 51% from three-point-territory, and 84% from the line.
Kevin Love (C) UCLA. Many basketball junkies view the Pac10 as the best conference in the country this year. Love and O.J. Mayo (USC) give credence to that possibility. Love is certainly the best true center in the freshman class, and like the others, his first six games provide ample evidence. He has been a dominant force in some early matchups, and he finds a way to score even when double-teamed. He too is routinely putting in double-doubles, averaging 19.3 points per game and 10.5 rebounds. The Oregon native is hitting 56% of his shots.
O.J. Mayo (G) USC. Mayo has been recognized as a top talent and routinely scouted since 7th grade and was often the top-ranked player in high school. He is already becoming a living highlight reel in college. The 6’5” guard from West Virginia is living up to his reputation, averaging 21.8 points per game, hitting 50% from the floor and 42% of his threes.
Derrick Rose (G) Memphis. Is this the year Memphis goes all the way? The team that is becoming a persistent presence late in the tournament may just make it to the championship game with Rose at the helm. The top ranked point guard among all freshmen, Rose is showing maturity learning the Memphis system, running the point, and proving you can score from the point guard position on more than just fast breaks. Rose, six games into the season, is averaging 17 points per game, 5 boards per contest, and has already made 26 assists. He is shooting 58% of his field goals and 50% from the deep.
Growing Up Fast
None of this group of five is struggling to learn the college game. All are showing real on-court maturity and all are proving to be leaders on their teams in more than the statistics report. More impressive to basketball purists, all know the game and all five can play defense. If early season performances hold up, then indeed this may be one of the most talented freshman classes in history. Rather than asking if these five players can live up to the hype, the more meaningful question likely is: will we be watching them in the NBA next year instead of on the college hardwood.
A matchup to watch: Memphis (Rose) and USC (Mayo) square off on December 4th.
