Top Ten Freshmen in NCAA Basketball

Here are my top ten freshmen in order:

1. Michael Beasley, F, Kansas State.
I choose Michael as the number one because if you look at the numbers he is averaging 26 and 12! This guy is an absolute stud. He gets tons of rebounds and is the top scoring freshman. Also, during the season he took an unranked basketball team and put them in the top 25. Here is an example of a way to think about how good Michael Beasley is, take him off the team and think how good the Wildcats would be. He also got Kansas State back in the tourney this year.

2. Eric Gordon, G, Indiana
Eric Gordon is number two but could be arguably No. 1. He was one of the two reasons Indiana is in the tournament. The other is D.J. White. Eric Gordon has one of the best shots I think I have ever seen. He shot about 36% from deep and averaged 21.5 points and 3.3 rebs. He took the Hoosiers to a level that they haven’t seen since there Championship since 1987.

3. Jerryd Bayless, G, Arizona
Anybody surprised with this pick? You shouldn’t be, this guy is absolutely amazing. Dropping 20 a game and shooting 46% from the field and 40% from deep. He has taken over the reins for Arizona, put them back in the tourney and made Arizona a respectable team once more. No doubt in my mind he is No. 3

4. Derrick Rose, G, Memphis
People might say his stats don’t match up to the other players who could be No. 4 but he has a presence that is not calculated in the stats. People also might say Memphis doesn’t play any good teams, well, against at the time the no.2 team in the country Derrick Rose had 23 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, and for steals. Pretty good game for a freshman. He is also a really good defensive player. Averaging 1.3 steals a game and shut down lots of key players who played against him for example: Chris Lofton, Tennessee guard, (averaging 16 points a game) against Memphis he had 7.

5. O.J. Mayo, G, USC
Everybody asks me why do you have O.J. Mayo at 5 that is so low he is so much better than that. Well his numbers look good averaging 20 points, 4 rebs, and 3 assists. His numbers are good but if you look at any game tape of O.J. and SC you see that when O.J. is in the offense stalls and it is just Iso for him. But when O.J is out the offense is flowing . I mean, I could also score 20 points if I took 27 shots a game like he did against Mercer.

6. Kevin Love, C/F, UCLA
I know what everybody who reads this is thinking. WHY IS KEVIN LOVE NUMBER 6? I will tell you why, this guy is so overrated I laugh sometimes. Yes, he may average 17 and 10 but people the way people talk about him you would think he averages 40 and 20. People also say he is the savoir of the UCLA program. STOP! The Bruins don’t need saving. UCLA has been to the last 2 final fours without him. The truth is he is not an athletic phenom and isn’t explosive at the rim. He gets blocked way too much at the rim. On the other hand, he has the best outlet pass I have ever seen and he does have great range for a big man.

7. James Harden, G, Arizona State
An absolute great all around player averaging 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals a game. He put Arizona St. back on the map. They were a bubble team for the tourney that didn’t get in but because of James Harden they were in consideration. I was debating to put James No. 6 and if the Sun Devils got in to the tourney I would have put him at No. 6. I think he is that good.

8. Donte Greene, F, Syracuse
Syracuse has had a tough time rebuilding after the loss of Gerry McNarma but Donte Greene averaging 17 points, and 7 rebounds in arguably the toughest conference in the country has really helped them. He had them in consideration for the tourney but got they got snubbed. This kid is the future of Syracuse. You can quote on this: Next year I guarantee Syracuse will be in the tournament because Green will be putting up 20 and 10 a night.

9. A.J. Ogilvy, C, Vanderbilt
An amazing freshman who averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks a game. He was a weaker conference but his team upset quite a few teams including No. 1 Tennessee and No. 18 Arkansas in which he had and excellent game which included 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He is a stud in the SEC.

10. Patrick Patterson, F, Kentucky
A very tough physical player who averaged 16 points 7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks a game. He almost single handedly put his team back in the tournament as the 11th seed in the East. He didn’t have a particularly tough schedule but did have 20 points and 3 blocks against Tennessee in a win.

These players above are my top ten freshmen. Other notables who didn’t make my top ten but would be contenders for my top fifteen are: Bill Walker, Jonny Flynn, Kyle Singler, Blake Griffin, and Austin Freeman

--Sports Guru