We're 10-12 games into the college basketball season and I think it's as good a time as ever to make sweeping generalizations and predictions and laud praise on certain players prematurely. I think the best group to heap accolades upon are obviously freshman, who have certainly gotten used to it after years in the AAU circuit. The sample size is so small that I feel safe in saying that all of these players will be stars and we can look for all of them at the top of future drafts.
We'll run down the top freshman performers so far, but I think we should look first to our own backyard to Trey Burke who's surprised everyone except Trey Burke and Trey Burke's mom with his early play:
(the first minute has some great Burke highlights)
Let's take a look at the rest of the college basketball landscape, starting with ESPN's #1 recruit Anthony Davis:
He's also 2nd in the country in blocks so far this season at 4.4 per game:
#2 recruit Andre Drummond has had a great start to his Freshman campaign as well. Look at him embarrass national power house Holy Cross. I think one of their players even came up to his armpits:
#8 recruit Marcus Teague is the latest Calipari point guard to generate draft buzz:
ESPN #4 recruit Michael Kidd-Gilchrist pushing the ball forcefully through the basket for a what young people call a "dunk."
Rivals #1 recruit Austin Rivers and his 22 against OSU. He's related to someone famous and because I don't feel like doing research I'd guess its Rivers Cuomo and possibly River Phoenix.
ESPN's #10 recruit LeBryan Nash - Oklahoma State
Cody Zeller - Indiana - Cue the Larry Bird comparisons...until you see this dunk
B.J. Young - Arkansas - If you don't throw up watching this expert camera work, you'll see a nice dunk. He's also shooting 47% from behind the arc.
Bradley Beal - Florida - His P.R. people might want to throw a video of him doing something basketball related in a Florida uniform on youtube. A dunk or a 3 pointer would work. Hell I'd settle for Brad making a panini in a Foreman grill at center court at the O'Connell Center.
Kyle Vinales - Central Connecticut St.
Kyle also scores against semi-legitimate opponents, namely Northwestern. Farmington Hills, MI sports enthusiasts might remember Kyle from North Farmington High.
Tony Wroten Jr. - Washington Huskies - He loves to dunk and smile, just like you and me.
Am I missing anyone? I'd love to add some other Freshman phenoms to this list. Hit me up in the comments.
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