College Basketball Freshman Power Rankings: Week 2 Edition
Freshmen have become the perennial headliners of college basketball, with the best carrying national-title contenders on their backs. This yearโs class entered with extravagant hype, but the early returns are showing that these first-year standouts have the game to back up their press clippings.
One of the most impressive has been Aaron Gordon, Arizonaโs hard-dunking forward. The Wildcats have one of the best and deepest frontcourts in the country, and Gordon has been the standout amongst the Arizona big men in 2013-14.
Read on for more on Arizona's main man and the rest of the top 20 freshmen in the country so far, with an eye toward picking the best of the best as the season revs up.
20. Derrick Walton Jr., Michigan
1 of 20
Handed the daunting job of replacing Wooden Award-winning Trey Burke, Derrick Walton Jr. has given Michigan solid floor leadership.
Key Stats: 10.0 points, 2.5 assists and 0.8 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: Has helped keep the points flowing for the loaded Michigan frontcourt, even when Mitch McGary was sidelined with a sore back.
Biggest Concern: Needs to attack the paint more aggressively after getting to the free-throw line just 12 times in five games.
19. Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina
2 of 20
Sindarius Thornwell is Frank Martinโs first signature recruit since arriving at South Carolina, and the shooting guard has immediately become the best offensive weapon on the roster.
Key Stats: 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: Led a near-upset of No. 23 Baylor with 20 points in Waco.
Biggest Concern: On a Gamecocks squad devoid of scoring options, will have to adjust to routine double-teaming.
18. Tyler Ennis, Syracuse
3 of 20
Thrown into the fire as the successor to superstar Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis has held his own for the No. 9 Orange.
Key Stats: 7.8 points, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game; 4-of-10 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: Despite inconsistent play from all parts of the roster, has helped Syracuse dodge a couple of early upsets.
Biggest Concern: Point totals in first four startsโone, 16, 12, twoโemblematic of streakiness in all areas of his game so far.
17. Nick King, Memphis
4 of 20
He didnโt get the offseason buzz of classmate Austin Nichols, but Nick King is the Memphis freshman whoโs off to the hottest start.
Key Stats: 18.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game
Why Heโs Here: Provided silver lining in blowout loss to Oklahoma State by pouring in 23 points.
Biggest Concern: Tigers have only played two games, so impressive early numbers may be a fluke.
16. Stevie Clark, Oklahoma State
5 of 20
A natural point guard at 5โ11โ, Stevie Clark has still managed to find productive minutes behind (and alongside) Cowboys superstar Marcus Smart.
Key Stats: 9.8 points, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game, 7-of-13 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: Plenty of starting point guards (of any age) would be happy to have the productivity Clark has shown in just 18.5 minutes a night for loaded OK State.
Biggest Concern: Needs to keep his steal totals high to compensate for inevitable matchup problems against bigger, stronger Big 12 guards.
15. Andrew Harrison, Kentucky
6 of 20
Being tasked with holding Kentuckyโs offense together hasnโt stopped Andrew Harrison from doing plenty of scoring in his own right.
Key Stats: 11.0 points and 3.6 assists per game, 7-of-11 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: Wildcatsโ top assist man helped spearhead Kentuckyโs near-comeback against Michigan State (including some clutch free-throw shooting).
Biggest Concern: Given the unimpressive collection of point guards heโs facedโwith the exception of Keith Applingโhe should have far more than two steals in five games.
14. Zach LaVine, UCLA
7 of 20
Recruited to replace Larry Drew II, Zach LaVine hasnโt gotten Drewโs old spot in the starting lineup yet, but heโs putting up some impressive numbers regardless.
Key Stats: 10.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game
Why Heโs Here: Vital bench scorer for thin UCLA roster is Steve Alfordโs best option for a second long-range shooter to help Jordan Adams.
Biggest Concern: Recruited as a big (6โ5โ) point guard, LaVineโs assist totals are none too impressive for someone playing starterโs minutes on a formidable offense.
13. Eric Mika, BYU
8 of 20
At 6โ10โ, 230 pounds, Eric Mika brings some much-needed physicality to the high-octane Cougars.
Key Stats: 13.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game
Why Heโs Here: Already holding his own against major-conference big men, with 17 points and nine boards against No. 21 Iowa State and another 12 and four in a win at Stanford.
Biggest Concern: Now that heโs proved he can get to the foul line, he has to start making the free throws at better than a 54.2-percent clip.
12. James Young, Kentucky
9 of 20
On most other teams, James Young would be the leading scorer instead of Julius Randleโs right-hand man.
Key Stats: 14.2 points and 1.0 steals per game, 12-of-38 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: Prolific three-point threat is also a first-class athlete who makes Kentuckyโs fast break sizzle.
Biggest Concern: For a 6โ6โ swingman with his talent, heโs not doing much rebounding thus far (2.8 boards per game).
11. Aaron Harrison, Kentucky
10 of 20
Kentuckyโs top perimeter shooter, Aaron Harrison has also been the โCatsโ best defender on the outside.
Key Stats: 12.4 points and 1.4 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: An unstoppable scoring weapon (when heโs on).
Biggest Concern: A bad game at the wrong time, like his 1-of-7 from the floor against Michigan State, could end Kentuckyโs title hopes.
10. Kasey Hill, Florida
11 of 20
Although heโs going on the shelf with a high ankle sprain, Kasey Hill had jumped out to a fast start running the Gators offense.
Key Stats: 10.3 points, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: Even while struggling with his shot in a loss at Wisconsin, heโs been a productive distributor without generating a massive amount of turnovers.
Biggest Concern: Ankle injuries are especially tough on point guards, and heโll have little or no warm-up time between his return and the start of SEC play.
9. Joel Embiid, Kansas
12 of 20
Towering center Joel Embiid has some muscle, tooโ250 pounds on a 7โ0โ frameโand is on the fast track to replacing Tarik Black in the starting lineup.
Key Stats: 9.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game
Why Heโs Here: Showing impressive maturity on offense (five assists against Duke) and already has his first double-double off the bench (16 points, 13 boards against Iona).
Biggest Concern: Has the reputation of a great shot-blocker, but prior to Friday's three-block outburst against Towson, heโd only managed three rejections in as many games. Maybe Friday got him out of his funk.
8. Wayne Selden Jr., Kansas
13 of 20
Even while stuck in Andrew Wigginsโ considerable shadow, Wayne Selden Jr. is making his own mark on second-ranked Kansasโ starting lineup.
Key Stats: 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game
Why Heโs Here: Athletic slasher has been a surprisingly effective playmaker for KUโs deep pool of scorers.
Biggest Concern: Hasnโt shown much as a three-point shooter (2-of-7 through three games).
7. Jabari Bird, California
14 of 20
Stepping onto a roster with four returning starters, Jabari Bird has immediately become the Golden Bearsโ leading scorer.
Key Stats: 13.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, 9-of-18 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: 4-0 team will challenge Pac-12 leaders if he keeps up his torrid shooting.
Biggest Concern: With several other viable scorers around him, could stand to pass more than his current 1.5-assist-per-game pace.
6. Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington
15 of 20
His 2-3 Huskies are already underachieving, but Nigel Williams-Goss has been the most successful member of the country's deep crop of freshman point guards.
Key Stats: 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: He's dazzling on D and dishing out plenty of assists in spite of Washingtonโs suspect offensive frontcourt.
Biggest Concern: Although his scoring repertoire is light years ahead of expectations, he's missed all five of his three-point tries.
5. Noah Vonleh, Indiana
16 of 20
Indiana ranks third in the country in rebounding, primarily because of the performance of Noah Vonleh at power forward.
Key Stats: 15.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game
Why Heโs Here:ย Set of four straight double-doubles to open the season includes one recorded in just 18 minutes against Samford.
Biggest Concern: Has been committing an awful lot of fouls considering the quality (poor) of Indiana's first four opponents.
4. Aaron Gordon, Arizona
17 of 20
Heโs essentially sharing the starting power-forward spot with Brandon Ashley, but Aaron Gordon is still dominating for the 5-0 Wildcats.
Key Stats: 13.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game
Why Heโs Here:ย Has been the best player in almost every areaโincluding outstanding defenseโin a stacked Arizona frontcourt.
Biggest Concern: Embarrassing 9-of-21 start from the free-throw line mars otherwise sensational showing.
3. Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
18 of 20
Andrew Wiggins was the top-rated recruit in the incoming class, and he hasnโt exactly disappointed now that heโs arrived in Lawrence.
Key Stats: 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, 54.5-percent field-goal shooting
Why Heโs Here: Jayhawksโ leading scorer lit up Duke for 22 points in early signature win.
Biggest Concern: Given the Blue Devilsโ start, it seems fair to say that he hasnโt faced a big-time defense yet.
2. Jabari Parker, Duke
19 of 20
Even dragooned into the power-forward spot, natural SF Jabari Parker has been the ACCโs best player as the leader of sixth-ranked Duke.
Key Stats: 22.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals per game, 13-of-20 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: Dominating in more areas of the game than anyone this side of Marcus Smart.
Biggest Concern: At 235 pounds, may wear down once he starts having to wrestle ACC power forwards on a nightly basis.
1. Julius Randle, Kentucky
20 of 20
In five games of college ball, Julius Randleโs worst showing has been 10 points and 15 rebounds in a blowout victory against Robert Morris.
Key Stats: 20.8 points and 13.4 rebounds per game; 61.1-percent field-goal shooting
Why Heโs Here: Even Jabari Parker isnโt as irreplaceable to Dukeโs offense as Randle is to the freshman-heavy โCats.
Biggest Concern: With so many touches, needs to cut down on freshman mistakesโand 3.4 turnovers a nightโsooner rather than later.
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