Austin Rivers and the Top 25 Freshmen in College Basketball

Thanks in large part to a rule prohibiting players from making the jump from high school to the NBA, college basketball is once again littered with top-talent freshmen.

A huge influx of freshmen each year allows the nation's best teams to reload instead of rebuild (see: Kentucky), making college basketball a whole new beast than it was prior to the rule. I mean, imagine LeBron James bringing the house down in Cameron Indoor Stadium for a whole season!

Look no further than Austin Rivers' late game heroics in one of sports' biggest rivalries to see the immense impact these kids have on the college game. 

Although the league's top freshmen are making it happen on the biggest stage, there are diaper dandies from coast to coast making it happen from Stanford to North Texas to Connecticut. 

25. Trevor Lacey: Alabama

Trevor Lacey hasn't emerged up to his potential this season mostly due to a deep Alabama team, but he's worked well into his role and is putting in good minutes. 

When suspensions riddled the Crimson Tide and their NCAA Tournament hopes were slipping away, Lacey stepped up with an 18 point performance against Tennessee, helping them make the jump to shoe-ins for the Big Dance.

2011-12 Stats: 6.9 PPG, 3 RPG, 24.8 minutes per game

24. Chasson Randle: Stanford

Chasson Randle, Stanford's elusive freshman point guard, has really turned it on in Pac-12 play by scoring 20 or more points three times.

Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins could be the happiest man in California now that Randle's potential has turned into top play. 

2011-12 Stats: 13 PPG, 3.2 RPG, .432 3-pt FG%

23. James Douglas: Northern Arizona

James Douglas, a small, shifty point guard from Northern Arizona, is making noise as a potential Big Sky Player of the Year. 

At just 6'0", 175 pounds, Douglas doesn't have the size, but he should stick around and make a name for himself throughout his career in college.

2011-12 Stats: 11.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.2 APG

22. Otto Porter: Georgetown

Otto Porter has been a big contributor to a great season for the No.12 Hoyas.

Porter, a 6'9" forward, needs to bulk up to make it to the NBA. But Georgetown has benefited from his decent stat line, and he's put up double-digit scoring in six Big East games.  

2011-12 Stats: 8.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG

21. Adonis Thomas: Memphis

Adonis Thomas has missed a month this season due to a torn cartilage, but he is back practicing now in preparation to make a return for the postseason. 

Thomas, at 6'6", can play at either the guard or forward position with great pace. Due to his injury and Memphis' struggles this season, I suspect head coach Josh Pastner will convince him to return for his sophomore season and get him more prepared for the NBA. 

2011-12 Stats: 9.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG

20. Ryan Boatright: Connecticut

At 6'0", 160 pounds, Boatright doesn't scare anyone with his size, but he has great ability to find holes in the defense and can play with the best of them.

The Huskies' backcourt is lethal when Boatright is in the game alongside stud sophomore Shabazz Napier. This may not be UConn's season, but with the talent they have on the roster, it should be. 

2011-12 Stats: 10.6 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.3 RPG

19. Myck Kabongo: Texas

Myck Kabongo has really excelled this season despite being the second most featured guard on this Longhorn team behind J'Covan Brown. 

Kabongo is a speed demon at just 6'1", and he can get through small holes in the defense to either find the basket or find his teammates. 

2011-12 Stats: 10.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.1 RPG

18. Le'Bryan Nash: Oklahoma State

Le'Bryan Nash hasn't been talked about as much as his fellow top-notch recruits in the class, but much of that is due to Oklahoma State's subpar season. 

Nash is one of the more aggressive forwards on the game and also can stroke it from deep. His mid-range game needs some work before he can make the jump to the NBA. 

2011-12 Stats: 13.3 PPG, 5 RPG, 30.1 minutes per game

17. Quincy Miller: Baylor

Freshman forward Quincy Miller isn't even the best 'Quincy' on his team, but he's been a great asset to the ninth-ranked Baylor Bears.

Miller's game ranges from the three-point arc to the low post, and at 6'9", he should be a force in the NBA. 

2011-12 Stats: 11.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 25 minutes per game

16. Rodney Hood: Mississippi State

Rodney Hood has been a vital component of Mississippi State's success in the SEC this season.

Hood is a giant of a guard at 6'8", 204 lbs, and is a great three-point shooter. His wingspan and mid-range game allows him to be successful, and I believe he'll come back for a sophomore season to work on his all-around game.

2011-12 Stats: 10.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, .386 3-pt FG%

15. Marquis Teague: Kentucky

Unfortunately for Marquis Teague, he was the third consecutive highly-touted freshmen point guard to roll in to Lexington. Pressure on Teague was higher than any of John Wall or Brandon Knight, after they went No. 1 and No. 8 overall in their respective drafts. 

With the absolutely ridiculous amount of talent around him, Teague has still flourished as one of Kentucky's more valuable and explosive players. He undoubtedly has a future in the NBA. 

2011-12 Stats: 9.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 32.1 minutes per game

14. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Georgia

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been one of the lone bright spots for Georgia this season as they struggle after losing Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins early to the NBA.

He boasts one of the most elusive skill sets among freshmen and is a threat from anywhere on the floor. The former five-star recruit gives the Bulldog nation something to be hopeful for in the future, if they can convince him to stay in Athens for another season.

2011-12 Stats: 13.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 32.3 minutes per game

13. Tony Mitchell: North Texas

Tony Mitchell really hasn't been the most talked about "Tony Mitchell" in college basketball this season thanks to the suspended forward from Alabama, but he's the more talented of the two and could potentially become Sun Belt Player of the Year this season. 

The 6'8", 220 pound freshman can cover virtually any position on the court from center to guard and is averaging a double-double this season. He's making a name for himself at North Texas, so much that you can bet Missouri would have loved to keep him. Imagine how much better Mizzou would be if they had this future NBA-er.   

2011-12 Stats: 15.3 PPG, 10.8 RPG, .581 FG%

12. B.J. Young: Arkansas

The small and scrappy B.J. Young has been tearing it up for the Razorbacks this season.

When Arkansas is good on offense, Young is great. When they're bad on offense, he's still great. His scoring ability no matter what else is happening on the floor will allow him to continue to make a name for himself in the SEC.

He averages an absurd 21.6 points per game against Arkansas' ranked foes this season.

2011-12 Stats: 15.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.2 APG

11. Jarnell Stokes: Tennessee

Considering the UT power forward should technically still be in high school and came in half way through the season, Jarnell Stokes deserves some additional credit and attention.

The 6'8", 250 lb. monster has fit in well to the Vols' system and has garnered a starting role this season with the suspension of Kenny Hall. His career-high 18 points against LSU on Wednesday virtually kept Tennessee's postseason alive.

Luckily for the folks on Rocky Top, the stellar 18 year old is required to come back for his "sophomore" season because he was a late addition. Stokes should emerge as a SEC Player of the Year favorite next season.

2011-12 Stats: 9 PPG, 7 RPG, .539 FG%, 24.5 minutes

10. Moe Harkless: St. John's

The 6'8" combo forward Moe Harkless is making a splash in the Big East this season.

Harkless is a threat from anywhere on the floor and has supreme defensive ability. The Red Storm haven't played at the level which they're expected at 13-17, but it would be a lot worse without the Queens native.

2011-12 Stats: 15.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG

9. Tony Wroten: Washington

Tony Wroten of Washington is one of the top point guards in this freshmen class and has impeccable passing ability. He also has great vision to decide when to attack the lane and is lethal when doing so.

Wroten, a very confident player, has the size (6'5", 205 lbs.) to stack up against the NBA's best facilitators. He should be a first-round pick if he comes out after this season.

2011-12 Stats: 16.3 PPG, 5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 30 minutes per game

8. Andre Drummond: Connecticut

Andre Drummond has been a monster on defense for the defending national champs and is one of the nation's best freshmen.

The Huskies aren't having the season that many expected after the loss of Kemba Walker, but it's not much to do with Drummond. 

2011-12 Stats: 10.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG

7. Bradley Beal: Florida

A top-10 recruit last year, it's no surprise that freshman stud Bradley Beal is lighting it up for the Florida Gators.

He chucks up almost five three-pointers a game, so you know he has touch from downtown, otherwise Billy Donovan would kick him to the curb. The high-flying Gators would be in big trouble without this St. Louis native.

2011-12 Stats: 14.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 34.2 minutes per game 

6. D'Angelo Harrison: St. John's

D'Angelo Harrison is tearing it up alongside fellow freshman Harkless this season for St. John's. 

Harrison's natural scoring ability has been apparent, especially in Big East play this season, and they could be one of the most feared teams in the conference next season if they're able to keep these two gems.

2011-12 Stats: 17 PPG, 3.7 RPG, .374 3-pt FG%

5. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Kentucky

One of the biggest victims to the Anthony Davis hype this season has been his teammate, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Davis mania is well deserved, but Kidd-Gilchrist has stepped up when the Wildcats have needed him most. At 6'7", 232 lbs, the elusive forward should be one of the future rising stars in the NBA.

2011-12 Stats: 12 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 31 minutes per game

4. Trey Burke: Michigan

Trey Burke stepped up on the national stage just weeks ago in the Wolverines' thrilling victory over Ohio State. 

Burke's ability to take over a game is a valuable asset that will give him the opportunity to be a great point guard at the next level. 

2011-12 Stats: 14.5 PPG, 4.8 APG

3. Cody Zeller: Indiana

Once revered for his relation to brother Tyler, 6'11" Cody Zeller has made a name for himself in Hoosierville. 

Zeller, one of the favorites for Big 10 Player of the Year, has been one of the main components of Indiana's return to national prominence. 

2011-12 Stats: 15.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG, .634 FG%

2. Austin Rivers: Duke

Austin Rivers etched his name into Duke history on Feb. 9, 2012, when he hushed more than 21,000 in Tar Heel blue in the Battle of Tobacco Road.

Rivers is leading the Blue Devils to a potential No. 1 seed in this year's tourney in stunning fashion. His relentless play should land him with a massive amount of postseason awards and a top-five pick in the draft. 

His father, Doc, should be pushing to get his star-studded son on the C's roster.

2011-12 Stats: 15.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 32.8 minutes per game

1. Anthony Davis: Kentucky

Anthony Davis has more than supplanted his status as the top freshman in the country and his inevitability as No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.

Davis takes the term 'game changer' to the next level. His 7'5" wingspan and ridiculous defensive prowess is a game changer, regardless of how hard or relentless he decides to play. Somehow, despite his freakish size and facial features, he's able to get behind the defense and go up for a couple of alley-oops each game.

He's currently at 140 blocks on the season, and if he averages five per contest (assuming the Cats make it to the SEC and NCAA Tournament championship game), he'll finish with 190, third best all-time. 

Not only is Davis the top freshman in the country, he's the top player in the country.  

2011-12 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.7 BPG