College Freshmen Tracker

There are only a few weeks left in the regular season and the current freshmen are no longer considered freshmen. So far several of the elite newcomers have made their impacts known throughout conference play and will be up for Player of the Year honors. The big name players and big name schools dominate the list, but several “lesser” known freshmen are ready to break into the first installment of the Top 10.

1.      Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke

18.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 66.5 FG%

The top rated recruit in the 2014 high school class has also been the top freshmen throughout the year. Okafor is currently in the front running for ACC Player of the Year and is also in contention for National Player of the Year talks. The future top draft pick is fourth in the ACC in scoring, third in rebounding all while leading the league in field goal percentage. In addition, he’s scored in double figures in every game so far this season. With a plethora of post moves, Okafor is looking to lead Duke to a number one seed.

2.       D’Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State

19.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.5 apg

Russell was expected to do big things in Columbus due to the significant departures in Columbus, but nobody expected him to do what he is currently doing. Russell has made a charge up the mock draft rankings and is now considered a potential top five pick. The well-rounded guard finally gets to run a team after sharing the reigns with such players as Kasey Hill, Ben Simmons, and Joel Berry in high school and AAU play and is averaging 20.5 points, 7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals. Two weeks ago Russell recorded a rare triple-double against Rutgers with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.

3.       Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona

14.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.8 apg

Playing for one of the top teams in the country, Stanley Johnson took over the early role as Arizona’s leading scorer. The powerful Johnson has scored in double-figures in nine conference games and is shooting 74% from the free throw line and almost 40% from three which was his primary weakness coming into the college season. While other players are putting up more points, Johnson is doing his damage on a team that returned numerous key parts from its Elite 8 run last year.

4.       Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA

12.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg

The Milwaukee native has turned into a double-double machine in sunny Westwood. Looney took advantage of the immediate playing time offered to him and also raised his draft stock significantly. Looney is second in the Pac-12 in rebounding and has put up double-doubles in half of his league games. He is versatile enough to take big men off the dribble and is also shooting 13-34 from three after a 4-6 performance against the two Oregon schools this past week. Looney’s best statistical game came in a win over Stanford with 27 points and 19 rebounds.

5.       Melo Trimble, PG, Maryland

15.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg

After struggling to a 9-9 record in their last season in the ACC, the Terps currently sit at 9-4 in the Big 10 and are tied for second place. The main reason? The play of Melo Trimble, the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year. Melo is seventh in the Big 10 in scoring and despite going 0-13 in a two game stint has rebounded to score 58 points in his last three games.

6.       Karl Anthony-Towns, PF, Kentucky

9.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 52.3 FG%

Anthony-Towns is only playing 20 minutes per game on a loaded Kentucky team, but sits at No. 6 in the Ken Pomeroy player of the year ratings due to his 116.7 offensive efficiency rating. Towns put together 12 points and 13 rebounds in a close win at LSU and has scored in double figures in four out of his last five games. NBA teams are salivating at a chance to get Towns on their team next year due to his size, length, and agility.

7.       Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky

10.8 ppg, 47.3% 3PT%

In the Nike EYBL, Booker always had the ball in his hands and while his athleticism made a jump from his junior to senior year, his proficiency decreased. Now Booker comes off the bench for Kentucky but is the team’s second leading scorer. His pure stroke is shining through and he’s hitting 47% from deep while sporting an outstanding 127.6 offensive efficiency rating.

8.       James Blackmon Jr., SG, Indiana

15.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 83% FT’s

The sweet shooting Indiana guard has teamed up with Yogi Ferrell to re-unite the Bloomington faithful. Blackmon is hitting almost 39% from three and just put together a 24 point, 7 rebound performance against Minnesota including 6-10 from three.

9.       Eric Paschall, F, Fordham

17.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg

Fordham might sit in last place in the Atlantic 10, but freshman forward Eric Paschall is lighting up the scoreboards and is second in the league in scoring with 18.6 points per game in conference play. Paschall scored 31 points in his first college performance and has scored in double figures in every league game so far.

10.   Tyus Jones, PG, Duke

11.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.3 apg, 3.1 A/TO

Tyus Jones was known as the best pure point guard in high school for the last few years and he was handed the reins in Durham from Day 1. Jones is second in the ACC in assists per game and has started to come into his own after a slow start to conference play. Beginning with a win at Louisville, Jones has scored in double figures in nine out of ten games and while he made clutch three’s to hand UVA their only loss of the season, Jones also just recorded a 16 point, six rebound, 12 assist performance on the road in Tallahassee.

Players that just missed the cut:

·         Justise Winslow (Duke)

·         Myles Turner (Texas)

·         Riley LaChance (Vanderbilt)

·         Domantas Sabonis (Gonzaga)

Who did I miss? Send me a tweet @seanmohoops