College Basketball Recruiting: 25 Freshmen Who Will Make an Immediate Impact

Freshmen are now playing a bigger role in college basketball than they used to. Freshmen now impact the game in a much bigger way, which increases the role recruiting plays in success.

Anthony Davis, Bradley Beal, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and a host of other freshmen are playing exceptional basketball at the college level in their first years, with Davis being a candidate for National Player of the Year honors.

These 25 freshmen are all going to make an immediate impact when they get to college. Whether it's because of their skill or because of the role they must play in their school's game plan, these kids will be the next batch of freshmen to change the game.

Alex Poythress, Kentucky

Alex Poythress' game focuses around his athletic ability. He is successful on both ends because he can utilize his athleticism to blow by opponents or shut them down.

On offense, Poythress loves driving through the lane and finishing through contact, but he can also hit threes if he's left open. On defense, he is hard to lose in a man-to-man defense because he can stick with virtually anyone in the game.

Poythress fits Kentucky's typical mold: athletic and a future NBA star. He is going to be very successful under John Calipari, and he will be yet another freshman that helps lead Kentucky on a long NCAA tournament run.

Devonta Pollard, Undecided

Devonta Pollard is another amazing athlete, but he couples that with his unbelievable versatility. He is ranked in the thirties by ESPNU, but I would personally put him in the top 10 because of his versatility.

Pollard can play a different style of game every night and be equally successful, which makes him next to impossible to stop for both coaches and defenders. He can focus on driving through the lane and attacking in transition one night and then nail five threes the next.

Pollard is going to be a stud, both in college and the NBA. His versatility is unmatched in the Class of 2012. That makes him an asset that no coach would be able to pass up.

Marcus Paige, North Carolina

With Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson presumably leaving North Carolina this year, there would be no point in Kendall Marshall returning if he is losing his entire frontcourt. That means that Marcus Paige could very well be the starting point guard for the Tar Heels next year.

Paige is going to be another one of Roy Williams' great point guards due to his excellent decision-making skills, court vision and passing ability. He could easily be another Kendall Marshall-type player.

Paige can also knock down threes or drive if the defense focuses too much on his point guard skills. He is a shutdown defender because of his quick feet.

Mitch McGary, Michigan

Mitch McGary is a big man who's hard to stop. He can blow by opponents with his surprising quickness, but he truly excels at outmuscling them.

McGary actually broke a backboard over the summer, which shattered and required him to get stitches. He can throw down some incredibly powerful dunks, and he is a very imposing presence in the paint.

While he also has range, his forte is being a great big man in the paint.

Rodney Purvis, North Carolina State

Rodney Purvis is a very talented shooting guard, and he heads North Carolina State's elite recruiting class.

Purvis is a great slasher who can cut through the paint with ease. While his range is less than 20 feet, he more than makes up for it when you see him driving through the lane.

Purvis is also a great passer with a high-energy motor and great motivation. He puts in all the effort, and that is what is making him such a success. That will also help him in the college game.

Cameron Ridley, Texas

Cameron Ridley is a center who has committed to Texas. He is a big boy at 6'10", 230 pounds, and he uses his girth effectively in the paint.

Whenever I talk about Ridley, I make a comparison to Tristan Thompson. Ridley is almost as effective as Thompson with his back to the basket, but seeing as Thompson was next to unstoppable, it would be difficult to duplicate that.

However, his slightly less effective game with his back to the basket is more than made up for by his game when facing the basket. Ridley can drive much better than Thompson could, and he should be just as effective as Thompson was back in his college days.

Anthony Bennett, Undecided

Anthony Bennett is a great power forward and is able to change the game in many ways.

Bennett can play inside very well, as he has been doing so for years. He can play with his back to the basket, and his mere presence is enough to scare off most slashers on opposing teams.

What makes Bennett special is his athleticism. He can run the floor very effectively, and he has surprising quickness as well. Believe it or not, this power forward is a good three-point shooter. His versatility makes him a top-10 recruit.

Ricardo Ledo, Providence

Ricardo Ledo is an elite recruit, which made for a surprise when he chose the Providence Friars. However, he is going to make a huge impact with the Friars, which could help his NBA draft stock.

Ledo will be a starter from day one, and he is going to be looked to for scoring. He has the potential to drop 30 points in a game because of his ability to blow by his defender with his quick first step or his ability to hit jumpers.

Ledo will be thrown into a big-time role in Providence, and he and his running mate on the next slide could be changing the culture of college basketball in Rhode Island.

Kris Dunn, Providence

Kris Dunn will be the starting point guard for the Friars next season. He and Ricardo Ledo will make up a whole new backcourt.

Dunn's length and ball-handling skills allow him to play either guard position, so don't be surprised to see him give the ball-handling duties to Ledo at times. However, he has great court vision and passing ability, which makes him a great point guard.

Dunn has a lot of potential that he hasn't tapped into yet, but with some good coaching he could become a true star.

Tony Parker, Undecided

Tony Parker is a big man and yet another immensely talented one in the class of 2012. He has not picked a school yet, but he will certainly be considering how much of an impact he could make in his first year.

Parker has the ability to play with his back to the basket, and his ability to carve out space and provide a big target is unmatched. He also has soft touch out to 15 feet.

On defense, Parker is a space-eater with the ability to block shots. While he won't be blocking five shots per game like Anthony Davis is this year, he will be able to alter a lot of shots in college, and that is just as important.

DaJuan Coleman, Syracuse

With the slight possibility that Fab Melo will leave for the NBA (though I don't expect him to), DaJuan Coleman's impact at Syracuse could be even bigger than expected.

Coleman is a true center who will be able to anchor Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone in the middle just like Melo does now. However, when Melo isn't playing, the zone is not nearly as effective as it could be, so Coleman would also be a good substitution.

Coleman is the prototypical center who loves to play down low on both ends of the floor and is highly effective. With Boeheim coaching him, he has the potential to be a star in college.

Gabe York, Arizona

Gabe York is an absolute freak. He is only 6'1" and 170 pounds, but his athleticism is absolutely ridiculous.

If you haven't seen York's highlights yet, I strongly suggest that you looked him up on YouTube. He throws down some incredible dunks for anyone, and once you realize that he is only 6'1", your jaw will drop.

York is a point guard who will be getting a lot of playing time in his first year. He is one of four stars joining the team, and they will all be instant-impact players. They could be bringing Arizona back to the top.

Ricardo Gathers, Baylor

Ricardo Gathers has the body of a lineman, but he is playing basketball and bullying his defenders. While other players make smaller defenders look weak, Gathers has the strength to take on defenders who are considerably taller than he is.

Gathers is going to help replenish Baylor's frontcourt, which will be losing at least two members after this season. He won't be quite as athletic as its current frontcourt, but his style of play will add a new element.

Gathers is going to be an instant-impact player because he plays a slower style. If the athleticism of Baylor is taken out of the equation, it can struggle inside at times, but Gathers will be able to prevent that. Look for Baylor to be a national powerhouse again next year.

Steven Adams, Pittsburgh

Steven Adams could have played professional basketball overseas, but he decided to come to America from his home in New Zealand to play basketball for the Pittsburgh Panthers under Jamie Dixon.

Adams is a seven-footer, but he has great athleticism and energy for a big man. He doesn't give up on plays, and he runs the floor extremely well, frequently being rewarded in transition.

Adams keeps working on his shooting touch, and he now has surprisingly good range for a seven-footer. He is constantly improving, and learning the different style of play in America will be incredibly beneficial for him.

Gary Harris, Michigan State

Gary Harris is the No. 1 shooting guard in the 2012 class. He plays hard on both ends of the floor, and his hard work has paid off.

On defense, he uses his great length and anticipation to come up with steals. While quick shooting guards could be a problem for him, his knowledge of the game allows him to stop them from influencing the game too much.

On offense he has one of the best mid-range game in the nation, but he can also drive well or hit threes. He needs to become more consistent from three, as he is streaky right now, but that shouldn't be a problem under Tom Izzo at Michigan State.

Danuel House, Houston

Danuel House is an athletic shooting guard/small forward who will be the star in Houston next year. He is going to have to shoulder the load for Houston next year, and his impact needs to be immediate for the Cougars' sake.

House is a great slasher, and he has good range. He has the ability to drop 30 points in a game, and when he is moving to the rim, he is incredibly effective.

His athleticism serves him well on the defensive end as well, as he is a good man-to-man defender and can play a zone too. While he needs to improve his consistency and range, he has what it takes to be a star.

Archie Goodwin, Kentucky

Archie Goodwin is a great shooting guard who will take his athleticism and skill to Kentucky. He is a very smooth player, and he will be an NBA baller one day soon.

With his ability to drive or nail three or four threes in a row, Goodwin is a difficult matchup for any defender.

Goodwin has no serious flaws in his game, which is highly unusual for a young player. He needs John Calipari to simply smooth the rough edges, which is much less than anyone else Kentucky is currently bringing in. This should allow him to get some serious playing time.

Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State

Marcus Smart is a shooting guard in the 2012 class who is committed to the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Smart is versatile enough to play any of the three perimeter positions. He has good size at 6'3" and 200 pounds and is surprisingly quick as well. As a great athlete he loves to cut through the lane, and he is arguably the best dribbler through traffic in the Class of 2012.

His aforementioned quickness helps him stick with his man on defense, and he has the ability to take some of the best players in the country out of the equation.

The only part of his game that needs improvement is his long shot. He can make them, but he is inconsistent because he is not one of the smoother players in the class. He is going to be a huge contributor next season.

Brandon Ashley, Arizona

Brandon Ashley is going to be part of Arizona's all-freshman frontcourt next season, which will be featured over the next three slides.

Ashley is going to be forced to play small forward, but he is not going to be the type who is launching up threes. Instead he will be pounding it inside.

With Gabe York at point guard, Ashley is going to provide a big target in the lane. He is rapidly improving, and he has been a top-10 recruit for months.

Grant Jerrett, Arizona

Grant Jerrett is another power forward joining Arizona. He will become another hybrid. Jerrett is 6'10" and can play any position in the frontcourt with ease.

Jerrett is rangy and athletic, but more importantly, the rate at which is he improving is unreal. He has become a true star in high school, and it is no surprise that he is ranked No. 9 in the Class of 2012.

Jerrett has the ability to play with his back to the basket, but he can also step out and hit threes. He is surprisingly versatile and athletic and will need to play a significant role with Arizona next season.

Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona

Kaleb Tarczewski is the last of Arizona's freshmen on this list. He is their fourth and the third in the top 10 in the Class of 2012. "Tarc" is a true center, and at 7'0" he will be an imposing force in college.

He has a great deal of potential. His ability to play with his back to the basket and his mobility make him a great player. Tarc is very coachable, which will allow Sean Miller to mold him into the player he needs to be for the Wildcats. He also has great hands and makes himself a huge target, which Gabe York is sure to love.

Tarc is going to be the most important part of Arizona's recruiting class. He needs to fulfill expectations.

Isaiah Austin, Baylor

With Quincy Acy graduating and Perry Jones III likely leaving as well, Baylor will lose at least two of its three members comprising the best frontcourt in the nation. If freshman Quincy Miller leaves too, the Bears will have to start anew, but that wouldn't be too bad, as they have center Isaiah Austin coming in next year.

Austin is a seven-foot center with good athleticism. While he isn't a big, muscular player, he runs the floor incredibly well and is very quick for his size.

Austin is very similar to Jones in the fact that he is a big man with freakish athleticism. He will be the leader of Baylor's frontcourt next year, which will be one of the best in the country again, with Miller, Austin and fellow freshman Ricardo Gathers.

Austin is going to have to play a major role for Baylor, and he is the early favorite for Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Kyle Anderson, UCLA

Kyle Anderson already has an impact on UCLA, as the lure of playing with him is making several of his AAU teammates—and even opponents—want to play for UCLA as well.

Anderson is a very unique player for several reasons. First, he is a 6'7” small forward with point guard skills. During his AAU games, he is frequently handling the ball, and his vision and passing ability make him a great option. Having a 6'7” point guard playing wing is a great asset for any team.

Another way he is unique is his style of play. Called “Slow-Mo,” Anderson is very deliberate with his actions, yet he finds a way to make faster opponents miss him. Watching him play, you won't see anything flashy, as he is playing so slowly, but when you throw a few defenders in his way, he finds a way to get past them all on his way to the hoop.

Anderson is a well-rounded player, as he has range and can drive as well, and he is one of the best shutdown defenders in the nation. He is going to be the focal point for UCLA next year—unless this next recruit signs with the Bruins.

Shabazz Muhammad, Undecided

Shabazz Muhammad is the most athletic player in the class of 2012, which helped to make him the No. 1 recruit in the class until a short time ago.

Muhammad absolutely attacks the rim on offense, cutting through the lane with ease and exploding vertically to finish through contact in the paint. He is ready for the college level, as his athleticism will make him one of the best players in the country. However, Muhammad has a well-rounded game, as he also has good range and is a great defender.

Muhammad still has several schools on his list, including Kentucky, Duke, UCLA and UNLV. No matter which program he goes to, he will instantly become the focus of its team, as he is truly that special of a player.

Nerlens Noel, Undecided

Nerlens Noel is the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2012 class. After reclassifying back to his original class from the 2013 class, he took the No. 1 honors from Shabazz Muhammad of the previous slide.

Noel is an intimidating presence on the defensive end. He has the length, timing and athleticism to be one of the nation's best shot-blockers, playing a similar defensive style to that of Anthony Davis of Kentucky.

On offense, Noel relies on his dunking ability, either with penetration, utilizing his ball-handling skills or off an offensive rebound. He is working on his jump hook and rapidly improving, and he will be able to take that to the next level.

Noel's uncanny instincts and ability on defense, coupled with an impressive offensive game, have him at No. 1 in the class of 2012, and he is expected to make an enormous impact on the game wherever he goes.

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