College Basketball Recruiting: Explosive Freshmen Guaranteed to Impress

The college basketball recruiting class of 2012 is filled with incredible players, but these are the prospects who will truly impress during their freshman seasons.

Athletic ability and skill guarantee that these 12 recruits are going to be highly successful in college basketball. While they may not be the best, they will certainly be the most impressive because of the flashy effectiveness they bring to the table.

To be clear: These are not purely the best players in the class; these are the recruits guaranteed to impress fans when they play on the national stage.

With that, let's count down the 12 jaw-dropping recruits in the Class of 2012.

Honorable Mentions

These players are considered honorable mentions for this list.

The fact that they are not on the list could be the result that they are not as flashy as the 12 players to make the list, or that the way they play their game is fundamentally sound instead of explosive, and only their stat lines will impress.

Marcus Paige, North Carolina

Nerlens Noel, Kentucky

Steven Adams, Pittsburgh

Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona

Cameron Ridley, Texas

Mitch McGary, Michigan

12. Ricardo Ledo, Providence

Ricardo Ledo is one of the biggest scoring threats in the Class of 2012. He has all the tools to be one of the best scorers in all of college basketball next season, and he just needs to put it all together to become an elite player.

Ledo has an aggressive, high-energy style of play. He loves to run the floor, and he is incredibly dangerous in transition. In the half-court set, he has the quickness and ball-handling skills to make some of the best defenders in the country miss (as you will see in this video of him at the LeBron James Skills Academy).

Ledo has great range and consistency with his shot. He can stroke it out to 30 feet, and he scorches the nets if left alone. However, he can also take on bigger defenders in the paint or drive to the rim and finish over them.

It also doesn't hurt that he will be playing alongside fellow freshman and point guard Kris Dunn, who will help Ledo's transition game tremendously.

With the flashy, athletic style of play that will have fans on the edge of their seats, and the ability to score from anywhere on the court, Ledo is the first freshman who will impress us next season.

11. Rodney Purvis, North Carolina State

Rodney Purvis is the second-best slasher in the Class of 2012, falling short only to No. 1 overall prospect Shabazz Muhammad.

Not afraid to put his body on the line, Purvis attacks the rim with violent force. He has the skill to get by most defenders and then elevate so he can throw down some vicious dunks.

What allows Purvis to drive to the basket so effectively is his ability to shoot the ball. Unlike certain other players in the Class of 2012 (like Marcus Smart, who can only drive through the lane), Purvis also has the range to force the defense to extend out on him.

Purvis didn't always have the ability to shoot the three, but he has worked hard to extend his range, which forces opponents to play out on the perimeter against him.

Purvis is next to impossible to stop in the lane because he slashes so aggressively, and he can finish with acrobatic lay-ups if his dunk is denied.

At the college level, Purvis will be one of the better athletes on the floor every night, and his ability to drive through the lane and shoot the three makes him one of the best players in the Class of 2012. His style of play is sure to impress fans at North Carolina State and across the country.

10. Rasheed Sulaimon, Duke

No, this video is not in fast forward. Rasheed Sulaimon actually plays that fast.

One of the quickest and fastest players in the Class of 2012, Sulaimon is hard to keep up with, which leads to easy buckets.

On defense he is disruptive and forces steals. Once he's forced a turnover, he breaks after the ball and finishes well in transition.

Sulaimon is a streaky shooter from three, but defenses have to respect his ability to go on a roll and knock down three or four in a row.

With emphatic finishes and the ability to get out in transition, Sulaimon would be a fun player to watch in any system, but he will be especially so at Duke.

The Blue Devils will need to look for Sulaimon to help lead them on the offensive end by driving through the lane, or knocking down a three once in a while.

Duke's defense can force turnovers, and even if it's a teammate that gets a steal, Sulaimon is always seen streaking down the court like a wide receiver. Once he gets the easy pass, all he has to do is finish, which is never a problem with this kid.

9. Archie Goodwin, Kentucky

Archie Goodwin is yet another John Calipari recruit who will certainly be in the NBA one day.

A prolific scorer, Goodwin has all the tools necessary to become a great player. He has great range which allows him to spot up from three, and he also has the ability to drive through the lane and finish.

Goodwin is an aggressive defender who is always looking for steals so he can get out in transition. He can finish with flashy moves, and he even impressed John Calipari with his dunk at the end of this video.

Kentucky's fast-paced system will be beneficial for Goodwin because it will allow him to use his natural athleticism and stamina. He will be running for most of the game, which will give him the opportunity to show what he can do at the next level.

8. Gary Harris, Michigan State

Gary Harris takes the sport of basketball and turns it into an art. His incredible handling skills make his game a pleasure to watch.

Harris is going to be doing the majority of his damage inside when he flies to the basket. He is incredibly athletic and surprisingly strong for such a young player, which will allow him to handle how physical it is around the basket at the next level.

Opponents will have to respect his shot because he has decent range, but his forte is when he is in the paint.

If Harris is given any space to work with at all, he will make opponents pay, and his ability to create space makes him dangerous.

Whether he is in transition or the half-court set, Harris is the type of player who opponents need to keep behind the arc...but that won't happen. He is simply too quick and too skilled for defenses to stop him from penetrating, and he will be sure to take advantage of that in college.

7. Alex Pythress, Kentucky

Another John Calipari recruit, Alex Poythress is a long, athletic combo-forward. He was a power forward in high school, but his skill and athleticism will help him look like a small forward at times.

Poythress is the type of player who can make things happen. He is long enough to score around defenders, strong enough to finish through contact and quick enough to force turnovers and get out in transition.

Poythress is exactly the type of player Calipari loves to coach because he fits so well into Calipari's system. Coach Cal loves to utilize a fast-paced style against less athletic teams. Poythress has that style down to a science, and he has the skill to be effective in it.

This kid probably would have been on this list regardless of where he went, but coming into a system where he will flourish has him higher on my list than he would have been in, say, the Big Ten.

He needs a system where he can utilize his given talents, and Kentucky is the perfect fit for him.

6. Anthony Bennett, UNLV

Canada's most elite basketball prospect, Anthony Bennett, is going to have jaws dropping at UNLV next season.

After turning down elite schools like Florida and Kentucky, the power forward finally chose to take his talents to the Entertainment Capital of the World, where he will be part of UNLV's reemergence onto the national scene.

A big, powerful player, Bennett can play well inside. He can carve out space on the low post and has an array of moves with his back to the basket. However, what makes this kid special is not his ability to dominate inside.

Bennett has incredible range for a power forward, and he is known to step out and launches threes. Yes, he is a power forward who takes threes.

Not only does Bennett attempt these shots from behind the arc, but he makes a good deal of them as well, shooting close to 40 percent.

This McDonald's All-American is a very versatile player, but once you see him play inside, you'd be shocked to learn that he can shoot from outside as well. However, he can do it all, and he will be given the chance to do so as the star of the program at UNLV.

5. Kyle Anderson, UCLA

Whenever you see a point guard as big as Kyle Anderson, you immediately need to see what he can do. At 6'9", he is already impressing fans by simply playing the position well, but levels of enthusiasm will increase once people actually see this kid play.

Anderson has all the tools a true point guard needs: court vision, the ability to control the tempo, incredible passing skills, etc. While most 6'9" players will be playing inside, he prefers to be a floor general, and he's one of the best in the nation.

Anderson is also one of the most versatile players in the class because of his other talents. He can shoot well from range, and he has no problem shooting over smaller defenders who play out on the perimeter. However, if they make the mistake of trying to stop him inside, he can also play surprisingly well with his back to the basket.

If a larger defender is covering him, he is quick enough to evade them and score easy baskets inside. He can also take them outside, where they will be too tentative to get in his face from behind the arc.

Apart from just being an excellent player, Anderson also has a unique style of play. He has been dubbed "Slow-Mo" because he makes it look like he is playing at a slower pace.

He is so methodical and makes everything look so easy that it appears that he is not a quick player, even though he is simply in control.

Anderson has no problem pushing the tempo, and he can adjust to any style of play. Once fans see how unique this kid is, they won't be able to hide how impressed they are.

4. Devonta Pollard, Undecided

Even though Devonta Pollard did not decide during the signing period, his recruitment is not over, and he can still choose where to play next season.

Pollard is a freak in the fact that he is one of the most versatile players I've ever seen. The title of his highlight reel, which calls him the "most versatile player in the country" does not lie: This kid has every natural ability you could ever want in a player and then some.

He has great range and can stroke it from behind the arc. He has the ability to drive through the lane and finish through contact or by adjusting his shot in midair.

He can play point guard because of his great court vision and feel for the game. He can impose his will on the defensive end. He can essentially do anything that is asked of him.

Right now, he does not possess the ability to dominate the game night after night, but he can do so at times. With some good coaching, he will develop into a star, and watching him become one will be a joy for fans nationwide.

3. Isaiah Austin, Baylor

Isaiah Austin is a seven-footer who has huge potential at the next level.

Austin is tall enough to dominate in the post even though he is only 215 pounds. He is not incredibly big, but he is stronger than he looks, which will allow him to play in the post.

What makes this kid special is his talent. Austin is so skilled that he looks like a point guard at times, which will expand his role in college.

Austin has great ball-handling skills and feel for the game. He knows that he is much bigger than perimeter players and that they will try to beat him by relying on him being slower than they are. However, Austin is very quick and can get past a lot of guards.

While Austin won't be bringing the ball up for the Bears, he will be able to help lead the team in transition because of his skills.

Austin runs the floor incredibly well, and he can usually be seen out in transition. He will either lead his team or set up for an easy dunk, since most players who can get down the court quickly are not as big as he is.

Just seeing a seven-footer sprinting down the floor is impressive, but seeing him put it all together is even more so.

2. Gabe York, Arizona

No matter how many times I watch Gabe York (and it is close to an unhealthy amount), I will never get tired of watching this kid.

He is listed at 6'1", 170 pounds and is ranked No. 65 in the country by ESPN. However, he has freakish athletic ability, and he can elevate to the point where he can throw down some incredible dunks like the ones in this highlight reel.

York also has great range and can shoot well beyond the three-point-line. He can score from anywhere on the court, or he can set up teammates for easy baskets.

York will be playing in the backcourt for Arizona next season, and Point Guard U will have one of the biggest scoring threats from the position in the country.

York epitomizes what an explosive athlete should be, and this highlight reel says it all.

1. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA

The No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2012, Shabazz Muhammad could have easily gone into the NBA right out of high school and done well. However, because of the one-and-done rule that I openly loathe, he is forced to go to college for a year.

The only silver lining in the one-and-done rule is that college fans will get to watch Muhammad in college for a year.

This kid is freakishly athletic, and the way he drives through the lane reminds me of LeBron James (who went to the NBA right out of high school). He attacks the basket in such a violent fashion that you simply cannot blame defenders for getting out of his way.

Muhammad has a nose for the ball and plays an aggressive style of basketball. On defense, he can block shots or force turnovers. From defense comes offense, and Muhammad loves to get out in transition and throw down highlight reel dunks—as you can see.

He is unstoppable within 15 feet of the basket because if he is allowed to get any momentum toward the basket, he can finish over or around defenders.

Muhammad doesn't have great range yet, but his ability to slash through the lane is unrivaled by anyone in the Class of 2012, and he will be sure to impress college fans by dominating the college game.

Follow @JoshSchoch