Hyped NCAA Basketball Freshmen Not Yet Ready for the NBA

Teenagers might not rule the world—thank goodness—but they certainly rule the world of college basketball.

With the NBA changing eligibility rules in 2005, players can no longer go directly from high school to the pros. Even All-Americans now have to make a stop in Division I before heading on to the big show. 

For many of these budding superstars, this is a short stay. After all, standout basketball players are groomed for greatness starting at an early age, and by the time the top prospects hit the college circuit, they're often more focussed on their NBA contracts than the NCAA tournament. (Not that we blame them!)

However, the immediate jump to the next level isn't always the best thing, even for top recruits. Some players simply need more time on the college level to develop physically, mentally and technically.

Here are some of the biggest and brightest freshman players who should resist the urge to be one-and-done.

Rashad Vaughn

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UNLV's Rashad Vaughn has been on fire so far this season, scoring an average of 17.3 points per game and living up to his potential as one of the top scorers in the country.

It will be tempting for Vaughn to turn pro after his freshman year, but he should hold out. Despite the fact that he is scoring a lot of points, he's not the most efficient shooter, particularly from outside. He's currently only shooting 43.7 percent from the field, a number that needs to improve.

Before the season began, Scott Phillips of College Basketball Talk wrote that Vaughn "might be the most physically ready guard in the freshman class" and added that his strength allows him to have an impact on offense and defense.  

Phillips is correct—while so many of Vaughn's talented teenage peers need to get considerably stronger before they move onto the next level, Vaughn is physically mature enough to go to the NBA now. But he's inconsistent at best, and it's likely that if he turned pro after this season, he'd go late in the second round, if at all. 

Vaughn needs to stay put at UNLV and work on developing his fundamentals before he says goodbye to college basketball. His draft stock will thank him if he does.

Trey Lyles

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Trey Lyles was ESPN's sixth-ranked recruit of 2014, so you know that the freshman has a lot of talent. On Kentucky's top-ranked team, he's already been able to showcase his talents this season from both the first and second platoons.

That's right—Lyles started the year on the second platoon, but the 6'10", 235-pound forward was moved into the starting lineup when Alex Poythress was lost for the season. So far, he is averaging 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

With his great rebounding skills and athleticism, Lyles is almost assured to be a successful NBA player. However, he still needs more time to grow physically and improve his footwork, and his offensive production could also use some work—he hasn't scored more than 10 points in one game since the second game of the season.

If he can become faster and stronger in his time at Kentucky, he could be an NBA lottery pick in upcoming years. But he's not quite there yet.

Devin Booker

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It's hard to stand out in the stacked Kentucky team, but freshman Devin Booker has managed to shine brightly anyway this season. The 6'6", 206-pound guard is averaging 9.9 points per game and contributing well from the second platoon.

Booker has an energy and competitiveness that provides a spark to the top-ranked Wildcats. However, he is not the most athletic guy out there, and he needs to continue to work on his ball-handling and ability to get inside and attack the rim.

Mostly, Booker should stay at Kentucky past his freshman season because on such a deep roster, he's not going to get the time he really needs to showcase his talents and grow on the court. He will, however, get to learn from some of the best basketball players in the world and get guidance from coach John Calipari, so it's likely a fair trade.

As you watch Kentucky try to make college basketball history this year and go for an undefeated season, keep your eyes on Booker. He's great already, but some more time in the NCAA will prepare him to be a star.

James Blackmon Jr.

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Indiana guard James Blackmon Jr. has had a fantastic start to the season, averaging 16.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He's impressed his coaches and teammates with his work ethic and leadership skills.

But the All-American shouldn't turn pro after this season—after all, he's only beginning to realize his potential. 

Indiana coach Tom Crean told Reid Forgrave of Fox Sports what his star freshman needs to work on in the college ranks:

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A big thing with James, one of the big reasons that he came here, is because he understood that he needed to get to college to be a complete player. He can score with his eyes closed, right? But he needed to get to the point where he could make decisions, could pass the ball, move without the ball, play faster, harder, longer, especially on the defensive end.

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If Blackmon can keep working hard and develop his basketball I.Q., fitness and defensive skills, he could be a great player at the next level. But greatness takes time.

Melo Trimble

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Melo Trimble has been a revelation for the surprising Maryland squad this season. The All-American guard is averaging 16.2 points per game and leading the nation in free throws.

He's even impressed Richard Pitino, Minnesota's head coach, who said of Trimble after their game (via Roman Stubbs of The Washington Post), "That kid is going to be a very, very good player."

Of course, the key part of Pitino's statement is "going to be." Trimble is off to a hot start at Maryland, even surpassing his high expectations as ESPN's 29th-ranked recruit. But he still has a long way to go until he's ready to take on the NBA—like many on this list, he still needs to get stronger and work on his on-court instincts.

But with a little patience, Trimble could easily be a high first-round draft pick...in 2016, that is. 

Theo Pinson

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Theo Pinson was the 10th-ranked recruit in 2014, according to ESPN, and he's one of many talented freshmen on the UNC roster this season. However, the Greensboro, North Carolina, native needs to stay in school for another year or two to work on his strength and versatility.

Pinson is currently only a bit player on a stacked Tar Heel team, averaging only 3.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. But the 6'6", 192-pound freshman is a future star and uses his energy and athleticism to provide a spark when the team needs it. 

In UNC's one-point loss to Notre Dame, Pinson came off the bench to play his best game of the season—he helped UNC (almost) recover from a double-digit deficit with seven points and eight rebounds. His teammates, including junior guard Marcus Paige, noticed his contribution, as reported by Bret Strelow of The Fayetteville Observer:

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Coach (Hubert) Davis said it takes one guy to step up and make some plays to get the whole team going. [Pinson] was that guy. He responded with his energy.

I told him at halftime, we need him to make those kinds of plays more often. Recognize your talents and abilities and try to use those. Don't just try to fit in.

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If Pinson can spend some more time under Roy Williams' wing in Chapel Hill, he could be a great NBA player.

Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk

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OK, so this one is a bit different from the rest—Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, the prodigy from the Ukraine—is definitely not going to the NBA after his freshman season, but that's primarily because he won't be old enough yet! His plan all along has been to spend two seasons at Kansas until he turns 19 and can declare for the draft.

Already, NBA scouts are excited about his arrival, as reporterd by Gary Parrish of CBS Sports: 

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What NBA scouts told me is that Mykhailiuk—again, just Svi for short—is the best longterm prospect on KU's roster because he's a 6-foot-8 wing who is a good-enough passer, a willing defender, and a top-shelf shooter even though he hasn't actually shot the ball well through six games this season.

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Mykhailiuk needs the second year at Kansas badly, too. Although he's impressing scouts and his teammates in warm-ups and practice, his shooting proficiency hasn't necessarily transferred to the games yet—the 195-pound, 17-year-old is only averaging 4.4 points per game.

But with the proper time with Bill Self and Co., Mykhailiuk will grow stronger physically and get used to the pace and pressure of top-level NCAA basketball. When he does, watch out, NBA.

Domantas Sabonis

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The Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis was a big get for the Gonzaga Bulldogs this year—the former EuroLeaguer and son of Hall of Famer Arvydas Sabonis is a 6'10", 231-pound force on the court.  

The forward has been a great asset to Gonzaga so far, coming from the bench to get 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He's been a great sixth man and a key part of Gonzaga's early-season success, but he needs to stay at least until his sophomore year if he wants to become a star.

Sabonis is very athletic and has excellent mobility for a big guy, but he still has a lot of growing to do. He needs to get stronger and more aggressive and learn to truly use his size to his advantage by attacking the rim frequently. He's also still very raw offensively. 

The 18-year-old might never reach the career heights that his father did, but his future in the sport is still bright if he gives himself the proper time to develop.