The mystique around the college freshman basketball player who lights it up for one season before moving onto the brighter lights (and actual pay checks) of the NBA is greater than ever these days, with numerous programs becoming almost entirely dependent on their excellent recruitment to restock their shelves year over year.
With that in mind, it’s time to check in on the rookies who are standing out this season as we get ever-closer to Selection Sunday. Individual stats will matter, of course, but so will an appreciation for the quality of competition these young men are facing.
How do today’s young guns compare to the best of all time? Find the answer in our list of the Top 10 Rookie College Basketball Seasons Ever.
[sc:MarchMadness ]Top 10 Rookie Performances in the 2014-2015 College Basketball Season
10. Kelly Oubre Jr. (Kansas)
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]A freshman guard for Kansas, Kelly Oubre Jr. may be an unassuming prospect. He’s averaging 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and one assist per game. However, Oubre is known to step it up a notch higher against ranked opposition when given the chance. He’s averaged 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and two assists in games against ranked opposition that he’s played in for more than 15 minutes.
9. Myles Turner (Texas)
The Texas Longhorns haven’t quite lived up to the preseason hype, but 6’11” forward Myles Turner has. Turner’s team-high 6.5 boards has helped the Longhorns become one of the best rebounding theams in the nation (fifth). Texas is also the best team in the nation when it comes to blocks (7.5) led by Turner’s 2.7 rejections per game.
8. Tyus Jones (Duke)
With one of the most well-rounded teams in the nation, Duke certainly knows how to utilize its prized rookie guard Tyus Jones. Boasting capable shooting and great vision for open teammates, Jones has become a solid point guard for the Blue Devils. He has shown an ability to find the open man as well as to take matters in his own hands. Jones has shot 40 percent from three-point range and leads the team with 5.3 assists per game.
With Duke not short on talent, having someone with the playmaking of Jones could take them a long way in the NCAA Tournament.
7. Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky)
Kentucky said good bye to Anthony Davis after just one season. And another Kentucky freshman, Karl-Anthony Towns, has taken his place plowing through the opposition while highlighting the program’s commitment to stellar defense and efficient offense.
Towns uses his size extremely well against Kentucky’s opposition. He grabs an average 6.4 rebounds per game to lead a Kentucky team that’s one of the best rebounding teams in the nation. Towns also utilizes his size to keep opponents off the scoreboard. Towns leads Kentucky with 2.2 blocks per game.
6. Stanley Johnson (Arizona)
Another big Wildcat makes this list in Arizona’s Stanley Johnson. Not only does Johnson lead his team in rebounds (6.7 rebounds per game) like Kentucky’s Towns, he also leads Arizona in scoring (14.5 points per game). The man is a wrecker, and can win games single-handedly at both ends of the floor.
5. Devin Booker (Kentucky)
Devin Booker is one of Kentucky’s sharpshooters. He is shooting with a 51 percent clip from the field and 47 percent from three-point range this season. He trails only Aaron Harrison in scoring with 10.8 points per game. What makes Booker’s ability to score even more impressive is that he primarily comes off the bench to fill-in for Harrison. Yep. There’s a reason Kentucky is undefeated.
4. James Blackmon Jr. (Indiana)
Indiana is a young team, fielding eight freshmen in their lineup. Among those freshmen, James Blackmon Jr. has shone the brightest. He leads the Hoosiers with 16.2 points per game. Scoring points isn’t Blackmon’s only contribution to Indiana. Despite standing at just 6’4″, he’s grabbed the second-most rebounds for the team with 5.4 per game.
3. Melo Trimble (Maryland)
There’s a certain Melo tearing it up in college basketball. No it’s not Carmelo Anthony of the 2002-2003 Syracuse team, it’s Melo Trimble of the Maryland Terrapins. Trimble leads the Terrapins with 15.7 points per game. He also has other contributions across the court with 3.5 rebounds, three assists and 1.4 steals per game.
2. D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State)
The Ohio State Buckeyes fell out of the top 25 around mid-January. Freshman guard D’Angelo Russell responded by going on overdrive to lead his team to a 4-2 stretch. He averaged 23.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and six assists as the Buckeyes regained a top-25 ranking. Russell had two double-doubles and a triple-double over that span.
1. Jahlil Okafor (Duke)
When it comes to outstanding freshmen, no one tops Duke center Jahlil Okafor. The stellar Blue Devil freshman had 23 points and 13 rebounds in Duke’s 80-72 triumph over Syracuse, giving him his ninth double-double of the season. At 6’11”, few can stand up to the Duke big man. He leads the Blue Devils with 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Can these terrific freshmen keep going strong and lead their respective teams to a big run in March? Create a betting account now and get ready for March Madness.
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