College Basketball Freshman Power Rankings: Week 18 Edition
With conference tournament action almost here, itโs time for one more regular-season round of our college basketball freshman power rankings. With 20-plus games behind them, some of the nationโs elite first-year talents are starting to show how much theyโve learned from their first taste of Division I hoops.
One of the most improved of the bunch is Jarell Martin, whose season got off to a delayed start thanks to an injured ankle. Now that heโs found his footing, heโs starting to play like the would-be scoring star who helped elevate Johnny Jonesโ recruiting class to the national top 10.
Herein, a closer look at Martinโs hot streak and the rest of the 20 most impressive freshmen from around the country this season. As always, the most recent games carry a little extra weight here as the tension ratchets up in conference play.
Dropping out this week: Eric Mika, BYU; Andrew Harrison, Kentucky
20. Austin Nichols, Memphis
1 of 20
Previous Ranking: Unranked
As Memphis enters the stretch run in the AAC, Austin Nichols has been blazing hot, with his season-high streak of four double-digit scoring nights highlighted by 17 points, 12 boards and seven blocks against Temple.
Key Stats: 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game
Why Heโs Here: The Tigersโ most adroit interior scorer has shot a searing .672 from the field since February 1.
Biggest Weakness: Heโs still not an elite rebounder, in spite of his 6โ8โ length.
19. Wayne Selden Jr., Kansas
2 of 20
Previous Ranking: Unranked
When Kansas needed a boost in a tough home battle with Oklahoma, Wayne Selden Jr. was there to provide 15 points, just two days after piling up six rebounds and seven assists in a rout of Texas.
Key Stats: 10.4 points and 2.6 assists per game, .358 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: Largely hidden by the long shadows of classmates Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, heโs quietly become one of the most dependable freshman scorers around.
Biggest Weakness: Although heโs improving as a defensive playmaker, heโs still not nearly as developed on that end of the floor as he is with the ball in his hands.
18. Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina
3 of 20
Previous Ranking: 19
Kennedy Meeks doesnโt get asked to do very much scoring, but he did light up Wake Forest for 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting while continuing his usual dominance on the glass.
Key Stats: 7.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game
Why Heโs Here: Even 325-pound freshman rival BeeJay Anya of N.C. State couldnโt shut down the Tar Heelsโ behemoth center.
Biggest Weakness: The 290-pounder is still struggling to stay on the court for as much as 20 minutes a night.
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17. Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina
4 of 20
Previous Ranking: 15
Sindarius Thornwell has adapted impressively to a playmaking role, handing out four assists or better in all but one of his games since February 1, but his scoring has taken a hit in the process.
Key Stats: 13.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game, .337 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: Despite a couple of recent off nights (four points on 2-of-13 shooting at Auburn), heโs the only Gamecock who can scare opposing defenses.
Biggest Weakness: A high-volume shooter, heโs hitting a meager 37.7 percent of his field-goal tries.
16. Jarell Martin, LSU
5 of 20
Previous Ranking: 20
LSU has become increasingly reliant on Jarell Martinโs offensive punch: The combo forward has scored 20 points in each of his teamโs two wins since February 8.
Key Stats: 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, .361 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: At a mobile 6โ9โ, 241 pounds, heโs becoming an impact rebounder (six boards against mighty Florida) in addition to his versatile scoring.
Biggest Weakness: On a physical Tigers front line, he hasnโt been able to stack up to his teammatesโ defensive performance.
15. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona
6 of 20
Previous Ranking: 16
Although he managed his second career double-double against Cal, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson really showed what heโs made of in a rout of Stanford, where he piled up eight points, three rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Key Stats: 8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
Why Heโs Here: The lockdown defender has proven a worthy replacement for injured starter Brandon Ashley.
Biggest Weakness: His lack of a jump shot limits his offensive value.
14. Isaiah Taylor, Texas
7 of 20
Previous Ranking: 12
With three losses in four games having deflated Texasโ Big 12 hot streak, floor leader Isaiah Taylor (five points on 1-of-14 shooting at Kansas) has come in for his share of the blame.
Key Stats: 12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: Though his Longhorns are no longer in the Top 25, his individual production (including 26 points, seven boards and eight assists at Iowa State) has still been awfully strong.
Biggest Weakness: The dismal shooter has limped to a 4-of-17 performance from beyond the arc this year.
13. Bobby Portis, Arkansas
8 of 20
Previous Ranking: 11
Bobby Portis has hit a rough patch as a scorer, but heโs still making an impact with rebounding (eight boards against Georgia) and defense (five blocks against South Carolina).
Key Stats: 12.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: Arkansasโ most productive defender also uses his athleticism to provide much-needed interior scoring.
Biggest Weakness: More consistency would make all of the difference for a multi-talented player who still posts no-shows like two points on 1-of-6 shooting (also against the Bulldogs).
12. Aaron Harrison, Kentucky
9 of 20
Previous Ranking: 14
Attacking the basket more often has paid dividends for Aaron Harrison, who has 17 points or more in three of Kentuckyโs last four games (thanks in part to draining 24 of his last 25 foul shots).
Key Stats: 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: Twin brother Andrew is having some trouble with his floor leaderโs role, but Aaron Harrison has provided high-level scoring from Kentucky's SG spot.
Biggest Weakness: Even with a mild improvement in February, heโs still a disappointing three-point shooter at .313.
11. Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington
10 of 20
Previous Ranking: 13
Nigel Williams-Goss has continued to lead an overachieving season for the Huskies, including a 17-point, 12-rebound effort in a rout of archrival Washington State.
Key Stats: 13.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game, .350 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: With his first-ever 10-assist game against Oregon State, Washingtonโs versatile PG keeps getting better on offense.
Biggest Weakness: Heโs really struggled to keep up his top-flight defensive production against Pac-12 ball-handlers.
10. Noah Vonleh, Indiana
11 of 20
Previous Ranking: 8
Even before an injured foot kept him out of a showdown with Ohio State, Noah Vonleh had metaphorically limped to a four-point, five-rebound showing in the Hoosiersโ upset of Iowa.
Key Stats: 11.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game
Why Heโs Here: The Big Tenโs top rebounder has been the only meaningful inside presence for undersized Indiana.
Biggest Weakness: He passes so infrequently that he has nearly as many three-pointers (15) as assists (16) for the season.
9. James Young, Kentucky
12 of 20
Previous Ranking: 10
Streak-shooting James Young is finally staying hot, having scored in double figures for 11 of his last 12 games (including 20 points in a thriller against LSU).
Key Stats: 14.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, .341 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: The high-flying small forward is rapidly becoming Kentuckyโs go-to scorer.
Biggest Weakness: Heโs prone to โhero ball,โ trying to win games by himself when the Wildcats are strugglingโhence (in large measure) his .407 field-goal percentage.
8. Aaron Gordon, Arizona
13 of 20
Previous Ranking: 9
There have been highs and lows in abundance for Aaron Gordon lately, whoโs looked irrelevant (three points and three rebounds in 20 foul-plagued minutes at Utah) and invincible (19 points and 15 boards in a romp over Stanford) by turns.
Key Stats: 12.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game
Why Heโs Here: Even in a stacked Wildcats frontcourt, heโs the top rebounder and the most explosive scorer.
Biggest Weakness: Hack-an-Aaron is a viable strategy for opponents looking to contain the .434 foul shooter.
7. Marcus Foster, Kansas State
14 of 20
Previous Ranking: 7
With Kansas State in need of both a scorer and a distributor, Marcus Foster has provided some of each (four assists at Oklahoma State, 21 points at Oklahoma) but has yet to put them together.
Key Stats: 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, .382 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: K-Stateโs one big-time offensive weapon has spearheaded a surprising 10-win performance in Big 12 play.
Biggest Weakness: Perennially double-teamed, heโs shooting a dreadful .438 on his two-point tries.
6. Jordan Mickey, LSU
15 of 20
Previous Ranking: 6
Even with his typical inconsistent scoring, Jordan Mickey continues to be a force for the Tigers thanks to terrific rebounding (10 boards against a hulking Florida front line) and first-rate defense (five blocks against Texas A&M)
Key Stats: 13.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game
Why Heโs Here: He merges supreme athleticism with exceptional timing on the defensive end.
Biggest Weakness: His offense is still fluctuating all over the place (19 points vs. Mississippi State, eight against the Aggies).
5. Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
16 of 20
Previous Ranking: 4
Andrew Wiggins has finally settled in as Kansasโ primary offensive option, posting at least 14 points in every game since February 8.
Key Stats: 16.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, .343 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: The NBA-ready athlete has developed into an increasingly reliable scorer.
Biggest Weakness: At .441 from the floor, heโs nothing special as a shooter.
4. Julius Randle, Kentucky
17 of 20
Previous Ranking: 5
He may not be dominating in the points column these days, but Julius Randle has five double-doubles in six games to go with his game-winning bucket in OT against LSU.
Key Stats: 15.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game
Why Heโs Here: The leading rebounder in any power conference commands double-teams on every offensive chance.
Biggest Weakness: Heโs still nondescript as a defender, especially compared to Willie Cauley-Stein and other recent big men for Big Blue.
3. Tyler Ennis, Syracuse
18 of 20
Previous Ranking: 1
Syracuse has fallen hard from the ranks of the unbeatens, dropping three of four in a skid that hasnโt exactly helped Tyler Ennisโ reputation as a late-game miracle worker.
Key Stats: 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, .365 three-point shooting
Why Heโs Here: The ultra-versatile PG has been putting up impressive numbers even in defeat (14 points, eight boards and six assists in the humiliating loss to Boston College).
Biggest Weakness: A streaky shooter like many freshmen, heโs been cold often enough to land at .412 from the field on the season.
2. Jabari Parker, Duke
19 of 20
Previous Ranking: 2
Four straight double-doubles are nothing noteworthy if youโre Jabari Parker, whose devastating recent games include 19 points and 10 boards in a crucial win over Syracuse.
Key Stats: 18.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game
Why Heโs Here: Heโs the best player in almost every phase of the game for a fourth-ranked Duke squad.
Biggest Weakness: Although heโs a decent passer (1.3 assists a night), thatโs about the only area where he hasnโt developed into a bona fide weapon.
1. Joel Embiid, Kansas
20 of 20
Previous Ranking: 3
Although heโs now sidelined until the postseason with back trouble, Joel Embiid went out in style, racking up six blocks against Texas before recording double-doubles in his last two regular-season games.
Key Stats: 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, .626 field-goal shooting
Why Heโs Here: The agile shot-blocking ace has (unlike Jabari Parker) outdone his own high standards since sitting out the Jayhawksโ rout of TCU.
Biggest Weakness: His gaudy field-goal accuracy is a product of a steady diet of dunks and layups, not of much actual shooting touch.
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