Kentucky Basketball: Ranking the Wildcats' All-Time Top Freshmen

Brandon Knight
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

John Calipari has brought in major talent in his two years at Kentucky. Four of the freshmen last year were drafted in the first round, and one or more may do the same thing this year. How do they stack up with the greatest of freshmen in Wildcats history?

To come up with this list, I used a formula I found here. The formula looks like this:

fg + 3g*.5 + ft*.85 - fta*.35 + orb*.7 + drb*.3 + ast*.8 + stl + blk*.8 - to - (fga - fg)*.7

I took the formula and plugged in per-game stats of the top freshmen. As you can see, the formula is tough on point guards, who tend to have more turnovers and a lower field-goal percentage. They can make up for it by getting a lot of steals though.

On the bubble: Eric Bledsoe, Rick Robey, Doron Lamb, Keith Bogans, Jamaal Magloire, and Dirk Minniefield.

An early version of this article can also be found on Yahoo.com. Also, check out my blog if you're bored.

10. Rajon Rondo (2004-05)

Rajon Rondo
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Points - 8.1
Rebounds - 2.9
Assists - 3.5
Steals - 2.6

Rondo has the steals record for Kentucky freshman and is fourth all-time among all freshmen in assists. He was also named to the All-SEC Freshman team.

9. Rex Chapman (1986-87)

Rex Chapman

Points - 16
Rebounds - 2.3
Assists - 3.6
Steals - 1.2

When Chapman arrived at Kentucky, some were ready to rename the city Rexington. He had nine 20-point games. Among all freshmen in Kentucky history, he is sixth in points and assists and second in three- point field goals. He is tops in average number of three-pointers made per game.

Chapman was named to the All-SEC Freshman team and the All-SEC First Team.

8. Brandon Knight (2010-11)

Brandon Knight
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Points - 17.3
Rebounds - 4
Assists - 4.2
Steals - .7

Brandon Knight joined elite company when he lit up West Virginia for a career-high 30 points which carried the Wildcats into the Sweet 16. Among all freshmen in Kentucky history, he is first in points, second in assists and first in three-point goals. Knight was named to the All-SEC Freshman team and the All-SEC First Team.

7. Jamal Mashburn (1990-91)

Jamal Mashburn

Points - 12.9
Rebounds - 7
Assists - 1.5
Steals - 1.3

Mashburn came to Kentucky when they were in the middle of a probation sentence. His biggest game came against Georgia where he put up 31 points (third highest all time for a freshman) and eight boards. Mashburn was named to the All-SEC Freshman team.

6. Chris Mills (1988-89)

Chris Mills

Points - 14.3
Rebounds - 8.7
Assists - 2.9
Steals - 1.4

Mills put up some monster rebounding games. He grabbed 20 boards in one game and had more than 10 in a game 14 times. Among all freshmen in Kentucky history, he is seventh in points and third in rebounds. Mills was named to the All-SEC Freshman team.

5. Sam Bowie (1979-80)

Sam Bowie

Points - 12.9
Rebounds - 8.1
Assists - .8
Steals - .4

Bowie scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in his first game at Kentucky. He had six 20-point games that year. Among all freshmen in Kentucky history, Bowie is eighth all time in scoring, fourth in rebounds and first in blocks per game.

Bowie was picked for the Olympic team after his stellar freshman season and was named to the All-SEC First Team.

4. Terrence Jones (2010-11)

Terrence Jones
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Points - 15.66
Rebounds - 8.8
Assists - 1.6
Steals - 1.1

Jones faded a bit as the year went on, but he did enough to be named the SEC Freshman of the Year and the All-SEC First Team. He had eight 20-point games,  including the most ever in a game by a freshman. Among all freshmen in Kentucky history, he is third in points, second in rebounds and third in blocked shots.

3. Patrick Patterson (2007-08)

Patrick Patterson
Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Points - 16.4
Rebounds - 7.7
Assists - 1.7
Steals - .8

Patterson scored 20 points in a game nine times. He averaged more field goals per game than anyone else on this list. His best game came when he scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. He was also named to the All-SEC Freshman team.

2. John Wall (2009-10)

John Wall
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Points - 16.7
Rebounds - 4.3
Assists - 6.5
Steals - 1.8

Wall is one of only two freshmen to win the SEC Conference Player of the Year and was the team leader, so he gets the top spot. Wall has the top spot among all freshman in assists, is second in point, and second in steals.

He was chosen first in the NBA draft.

1. DeMarcus Cousins (2009-10)

DeMarcus Cousins
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Points - 15.1
Rebounds - 9.9
Assists - 1
Steals - 1

Cousins was a great rebounder grabbing four offensive boards a game. Among all freshmen in Kentucky history, he is fourth in points, first in rebounds (eighth all time) and fourth in blocked shots. Cousins was named to the All-SEC Freshman team and the All-SEC First Team.

Cousins takes the top spot with his great offensive rebounding, high field goal %, and low turnover rate.