Evans and Warren Headline List of Incoming Freshmen

Last year's freshman class featured recognizable names like Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, O.J. Mayo, and Jerryd Bayless.

This year, the incoming freshman class looks weaker overall, but still includes some players who should make immediate impacts.

1. Tyreke Evans-Memphis:

The minute Evans announced that he was signing with Memphis, they immediately became a contender for the 2008-2009 National Championship, and rightfully so.

Derrick Rose is moving on to the NBA and while I am sure John Calipari expected this, he most likely was not happy about it.

With Rose leaving school early, Joey Dorsey graduating, and Chris Douglas-Roberts considering the leap as well, Memphis was going to be left with considerably less talent than the year before.

Enter Tyreke Evans. He was the McDonald's All-American Game's MVP, and he lit up St. Anthony's High School all by himself earlier this year on national television.

While Chris Douglas-Roberts scores in the most unusual ways, Evans fills it up the conventional way, by beating his man off the dribble and outside shooting. 

At 6'5'' and right around 200 lbs., Evans will be a difficult man to check on defense, especially considering the offense Memphis runs. The dribble-drive motion offense is one of the factors that probably drove Evans to Memphis in the end and it suits him perfectly.

Look for Evans to score in bunches in 2008-2009, especially if Douglas-Roberts leaves for the NBA.  And then look for him to leave for the NBA the following year.

Something Memphis must be growing accustomed to at this point. 

2. Willie Warren-Oklahoma:

Go to Youtube, type in "Willie Warren", and then watch as he shows off his leaping ability time and time again.

Rivals has Warren listed as a point guard, and if that is true, then the Sooners will be in good shape for next season. Everyone saw the success that taller combo guards had this season (i.e. Derrick Rose and Eric Gordon) and Warren is cut from the same cloth. He is 6'3'', 195 lbs. and extremely explosive.

A combination of Blake Griffin and Willie Warren next year will make the the Sooners a contender in the Big 12.

If you need proof then look at Warren's high school stats. He dumped in over 24 points per game, and if you want to look even further, look at his performance in the McDonald's All-American where his superior speed, strength, and athleticism were on display as Warren scored 23 points in 22 minutes on 11-17 shooting.

He is also a candidate to be a "one-and-done" player for the Sooners, but I am sure that Jeff Capel will enjoy having him on the team for whatever length of time he desires.

3. JaMychal Green-Alabama:

Green appears to be the type of player every coach dreams of, and so I am sure Mark Gottfried is not fretting the loss of Richard Hendrix as much as you might of thought.

Green was featured some time ago in ESPN the Magazine as an 8th grader who played for Team USA and was being mentored by a white family out in California.

Apparently his game has only progressed since that time.

Although he is only 6'8'' and 215 lbs., every scout who has ever watched him play believes that he will be a menace in the post for the Crimson Tide. He is a rugged rebounder with soft hands, and the ability to put-back everything he touches.

The scary part for opposing SEC teams is that according to people who have watched him closely, his skills are still developing. This season in high school he averaged a ridiculous 26 points and 17 rebounds per game.

He is a coach's dream because, apparently, he is an extremely hard-worker and a very quiet and respectful kid. While most people dream of making the leap to the NBA, Green dreamed of going to college.

It looks like he will be playing in Tuscaloosa for more than one year and could possibly be the next Tim Duncan who is lauded for staying in school for all 4 years.

4. Luke Babbit-Nevada:

Meet Nick Fazekas Version 2.0!

Fazekas was Nevada's best player. He was tall and rangy, and was terrific at creating his own shot for a guy who with below-average speed, strength, and ball-handling skills.

Expect Babbit to enter and immediately become option A for the Wolfpack. He has great size for a small forward, and he can shoot the lights out, but maybe his most important asset is he is a strong player with great ball-handling skills.

Great shooters in the past like J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison have been one-dimensional, and that's what makes Babbit unique, because he is not. He has the ability to drive and finish around the rim, as well as the ability to beat his man off the dribble, and of course he shoot.

I expect that outside of the 1-year players he will put up the most gaudy numbers because he plays in a weaker conference, and because he is good enough to be the best player for Nevada the minute he walks onto campus.

He should be the x-factor for Nevada, and expect him to put up great scoring numbers and contribute on the glass as well.

5. Kenny Frease-Xavier:

This is another player who will thrive because he will become the focal point of the offense from day one.

He loses points because he won't have Drew Lavender feeding the post, but he has an NBA ready body, and in the Atlantic 10 there aren't a lot of players who can match up physically with Frease.

He gains those points back because he is the new type of center, the type who can hold his own in the paint, and then step out behind the three-point arc, open the lane, and actually make the three-pointers he takes.

This is the type of kid who normally goes to North Carolina or Duke, but instead, Frease chose Xavier. While the Musketeers are losing a lot of their good talent, that should only benefit Frease who will become a starter immediately and most likely be their most productive starter.

Plus, he isn't good enough to jump ship to the NBA after one season—he will need refining, but in the college game that shouldn't matter.