College Basketball Recruiting 2011: Top 15 Incoming Freshman Shooting Guards

You could debate that freshmen make a bigger impact in college basketball than in any other NCAA sport. It is not uncommon to see freshmen sometimes be some of the best players in the country.

This year looks to be no different. Here's a look at the top 15 freshman shooting guards who will be impacting college basketball. These rankings aren't necessarily based on talent alone, but also on how much impact they'll have on their respective teams.

15. Norman Powell (UCLA)

UCLA has been a power throughout the history of college basketball but has struggled in recent years. It was near the top of the Pac-10 last year, but that's not saying much, considering how bad the conference was. 

The Bruins beat Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA tournament but then lost to Florida in the second round.

Malcolm Lee was a big part of last year's team, averaging 13.1 points per game. However, he has departed, and in steps Norman Powell. He should certainly see plenty of playing time this year, as he and Lazeric Jones look to be UCLA's top two guards.

14. Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse)

To most people, it will seem absurd having Michael Carter-Williams this low on the list, considering how talented he is. Yes, there's no doubt he'll be one of the most talented shooting guards in the country, but he probably won't see the playing time he deserves, causing him to land here at No. 14.

Syracuse is absolutely loaded at guard this upcoming year. The top two guards from last year are both back in Brandon Triche and Scoop Jardine. Both of those players averaged over 10 points a game last season.

Michael Carter-Williams will certainly see playing time, but it will be hard for him to crack the starting lineup playing behind such talented players.

13. Damarcus Harrison (BYU)

The Jimmer Fredette era has finally come to an end at BYU. His 28.9 points per game last season will have to be replaced this year. Not only is Fredette gone, but Jackson Emery is as well.

Emery was a huge part of last year's team, averaging 12.5 points a game.

Damarcus Harrison steps in this year and will try to replace those players, as he should certainly see plenty of playing time.

12. Nick Faust (Maryland)

Even though losing both Cliff Tucker and Adrian Bowie will hurt, returning guard Terrell Stoglin is a huge plus. He and freshman Nick Faust should provide solid guard play. Another player that should be solid is returnee Sean Mosley. Mosley averaged 8.1 points per game last year.

Even though Gary Williams retired, and star player Jordan Williams departed, new head coach Mark Turgeon has to be happy that he has Faust to work with.

11. Julien Lewis (Texas)

Texas was sure hit hard with player departures after last season. The Longhorns lost Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson, Cory Joseph and Gary Johnson.

However, they do still have emerging star J'Covan Brown. Even though he was basically a backup last year, Brown still averaged 10.4 points a game.

Julien Lewis should come in and provide solid guard play. Lewis isn't the only great shooting guard Texas signed; it also brings in future star Sheldon McClellan.

10. Gary Bell (Gonzaga)

Gonzaga basketball has seemingly been loaded with talent in recent years. What Mark Few has done there has been nothing short of amazing.

The Zags do lose their top guard from last year, Steven Gray, who averaged 13.9 points per game. Gary Bell should step in this year and be a solid player. He and Marquise Carter look to be Gonzaga's top two guards.

9. Nick Johnson (Arizona)

Arizona's run to the Elite Eight last year was fueled by Derrick Williams, who averaged 19.5 points per game on the year. Williams absolutely dominated Duke in the Sweet 16 in a way that the Blue Devils haven't been dominated in recent memory.

However, Williams is gone, and so is guard Lamont Jones. Nick Johnson will step in and be an immediate contributor.

Alongside him will be Kyle Fogg, who returns at guard, and Kevin Parrom, who is categorized as both a guard and forward.

8. Levi Randolph (Alabama)

What Anthony Grant is doing at Alabama is beyond impressive. Alabama isn't exactly a power in basketball, but Grant is recruiting stars to Tuscaloosa at an incredible rate.

Alabama signed a trio of great shooting guards, and Levi Randolph is just one of them. He should step in and have a big impact this season.

Losing guards Charvez Davis and Senario Hillman shouldn't even have much of an impact with all the great freshmen coming in. Plus, Trevor Releford, who averaged 11 points a game last year, returns.

7. Ben McLemore (Kansas)

A Kanas team that many picked to win the national title last year was hit hard by departures after the season.

Not only are both Morris brothers gone, but so are guards Tyrel Reed, Josh Selby and Brady Morningstar.

Reed and Morningstar were solid contributors throughout their careers, but Selby did not even come close to living up to the hype as a freshman.

Expectations will not be high for this 2011-2012 Kansas team. Tyshawn Taylor returns at guard, but that's about it. This will allow Ben McLemore to step right in and have a big impact.

6. Trevor Lacey (Alabama)

Trevor Lacey is the best of the amazing trio of freshmen shooting guards that signed with Alabama. He should be an immediate star.

Alabama has extremely high expectations this season, even though it lost Charvez Davis and Senario Hillman.

Along with returning guard Trevor Releford, Lacey and the rest of the great freshmen will make Alabama dangerous this year.

5. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Georgia)

Georgia had a very good season last year. The Bulldogs look to be solid again this year, even with the losses of Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was one of the best players in the country coming out of high school and should be an immediate star for Georgia.

Along with Gerald Robinson and Dustin Ware, Caldwell-Pope should provide Georgia with some very good guard play.

4. D'Angelo Harrison (St. John's)

Steve Lavin made St. John's a contender in his very first season as coach last year. However, the Red Storm disappointed in the NCAA tournament, and it could be hard for them to have the same kind of success this year.

The amount of seniors they had on the roster was unbelievable, as almost every significant contributor has now graduated.

This will allow D'Angelo Harrison to come in and play right away.

St. John's lost some very good guards in D.J. Kennedy, Dwight Hardy and Paris Horne. There will be a lot of inexperienced players playing for the Red Storm this season, but Harrison should be just fine.

3. Jabari Brown (Oregon)

Getting Jabari Brown to come to Oregon was one of the biggest gets of this past year's recruiting class. He's the kind of guy that can turn a struggling Oregon team around.

He could likely be the star of the team this year. Oregon loses two of its top guards in Jay-R Strowbridge and Malcolm Armstead. The top returning guard is Garrett Sim, who only averaged 8.2 points per game last year.

Brown will likely come in and make this team his.

2. Brad Beal (Florida)

Florida had a great year last year, advancing all the way to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. However, some key pieces to that team are gone, including Chandler Parsons, Vernon Macklin and Alex Tyus.

Billy Donovan has turned Florida into a basketball power, though, and seems to bring in great players on a regular basis. This year, freshman shooting guard Brad Beal is the star of the recruiting class.

He will contribute right away, even though both Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton will be back. Beal is not only expected to be great for Florida, but one of the best players in the country as well.

1. Austin Rivers (Duke)

Having Austin Rivers here at No. 1 is a no-brainer. There is nobody else that you could even think about putting in this spot.

Rivers is the No. 1 player coming out of high school and will be a star immediately at Duke. Even though Duke is losing Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler and Kyrie Irving, it will still come into the season ranked in the top 10.

Rivers, along with Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins, will form one of the best groups of guards in the country.

Rivers will be a star at Duke this year and will be one of the best shooting guards in the nation.