It’s time to tip off the college basketball season, and that means new stars around the nation are ready to break out. The usual elite teams have freshmen that are poised to keep them at the top, and eventually show that a lasting mark comes not with preseason hype, but by making an impact in March.
At least early, one freshman stands above the rest of players wearing a college uniform for the first time.
North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes became the first freshman to make The Associated Press preseason men’s basketball All-America team since voting began before the 1986-87 season. Barnes headlines a list that’s sure to include some one-and-done stars as well as four-year standouts. You might as well enjoy them now before their names are called by NBA commissioner David Stern.
Of course, some may not live up to the enormous expectations and other more unheralded freshman may rise and become the future stars, instead.
But for now, as we wait for the unknowns to surface, here are six freshmen any program would love to build a March Madness run around.
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Harrison Barnes, North Carolina: He’s the preseason All-American that coach Roy Williams is counting on to lead the Tar Heels back to the NCAA tournament after a stunning fall last season. The 6-foot-8 small forward has already been praised by Williams for his tremendous discipline, focus and desire. But it’s his polished all-around game that really has everyone raving. Barnes can score, rebound and has already been projected by some scouts as the No. 1 pick in next year’s draft. First, though, there’s that matter of restoring North Carolina back as a national championship contender.
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Brandon Knight, Kentucky: John Wall left Kentucky after one season. So did three other freshmen. John Calipari had four players overall selected in the first round of the NBA draft. Time to complain? Nah, not when Ashley Judd is one of the program’s biggest backers. And certainly not when there’s Brandon Knight to step in and fill the void of Wall’s departure. Knight will be the guard running the offense this season – and it may even run through him. He’s a scorer at heart, but may need to develop into a true, distributing point guard. He can get there under Calipari – as long as he doesn’t resist and try and do too much. It’s bound to be fun watching, either way.
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Kyrie Irving, Duke. He’s a blossoming star and may turn out to be Duke’s best player. Kyrie Irving just isn’t the best freshman in the ACC – at least not yet. Watching him try and wrest that preseason title away from Barnes could be another fun chapter in the storied history of the Tobacco Road rivals. Unlike Knight, Irving developed a reputation as a pure point guard. He can run and should be an instant hit and fit with Nolan Smith and AP preseason All-American Kyle Singler. If coach Mike Krzyzewski is going to lead the Blue Devils to a repeat – yes, we know he hates that word – the 6-2 Irving will be key to cutting down those nets.
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Fab Melo, Syracuse. How can anyone not love this name! Consider the headlines: Absolutely Fab-ulous! Simply Fab-tastic! Plus, the Orange have had championship luck with a “Melo” on their team (see Anthony, Carmelo). Melo has more than a catchy name. He has the game to go along with it. He’s the freshman that needs to most work to hit his potential on this list, but the 7-foot center has a massive wingspan and a sweet game around the basket. The native of Brazil was chosen Big East preseason rookie of the year. He’s not the only freshman to keep an eye on this season: The Orange have a fearsome freshmen foursome of Melo, C.J Fair, Dion Waiters and 6-10 center Baye Moussa Keita that should make them a factor in March.
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Jared Sullinger, Ohio State. He was a repeat winner of the Ohio Associated Press Mr. Basketball award. He was the Naismith Award winner at the high school level. Now, he’s the latest impressive big man at Ohio State. Sullinger, the 6-foot-9 center/power forward, may turn out as the best big man in the sport this season. He likes to finish strong in the post and, fitting for his frame, is a dominant rebounder. He may not quite play the same game as former Buckeyes star Greg Oden, but, hey, these days that’s not really a bad thing.
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Enes Kanter, Kentucky; Josh Selby, Kansas. Let’s call this 6a and 6b. Don’t put either player in your top freshman bracket just yet, not with both still waiting clearance from the NCAA to suit up for the opener. But if they get in, watch out. The 6-foot-11 Kanter must sit out team activities while the NCAA determines whether he lost his amateur status while playing for a Turkish club team. Selby, the overall No. 1 recruit in the 2010 class, is sitting out while the NCAA looks at his relationship with the business manager for NBA star Carmelo Anthony.
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