Every Top 25 College Basketball Team's Most Intriguing Freshman in 2016-17

As sad as it may be to see so many great college basketball players leave the game each year, some after only one season, there's never a shortage of star talent to get excited about for the following season. The overall talent base is boosted annually by another crop of promising freshmen, many of whom we've been hearing about for years as they starred at the high school level.

But there are also plenty of relatively unknown freshmen who could end up having a big impact on their team for the 2016-17 season, not just the ones who were atop the national recruiting rankings. Using Bleacher Report's most recent preseason Top 25 rankings as a guide, we've picked out one incoming freshman from each team who piques our interest.

In many cases these are the highest-rated player that a team is adding from the prep ranks, but not always. Often it's one of the lesser-regarded prospects who ends up being the most intriguing, partly because we don't know as much about them and also because they could end up filling a major need that wasn't addressed via a blue-chip recruit.

25. Creighton: Kobe Paras

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Position: Shooting guard

Recruiting rank: 141st

Kobe Paras could someday be the first NBA player born in the Philippines, but his route to the pros is now going through a different school after a switch this summer. The 6'6” guard—who played high school ball in Los Angeles—signed with UCLA in November but withdrew from school in late June because "academic conditions of his admission were not met," per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

The Bruins loss was Creighton's gain, as Paras committed to the Bluejays a few weeks later. He comes to Omaha with a strong reputation from his success in international play, particularly the 2013 FIBA Under-18 3-on-3 World Championships and the 2014 FIBA Asia U-18 tournament.

The three-on-three tourneys included dunk contests, which he won both times. He's the son of Benjie Paras, a two-time Philippine Basketball Association MVP.

24. Dayton: Kostas Antetokounmpo

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Position: Small forward

Recruiting rank: 102nd

When your older brother has a nickname like the "Greek Freak," there are high expectations to deal with. But while Giannis Antetokounmpo went straight into the NBA from Greece—as a first-round draft pick, no less—Kostas Antetokounmpo has some work to do to get his game to that level.

Dayton is the beneficiary of being where the 6'10”, 190-pounder will cut his teeth and develop from more than just a lanky defender with a ridiculous wingspan into someone who can contribute in all areas.

Antetokounmpo played high school ball in Wisconsin, coming to the U.S. with Giannis when he was picked by the Milwaukee Bucks. He shined mostly on defense, blocking shots and disrupting others, and that figures to be how Dayton uses him this season as Antetokounmpo hones his offensive game.

"If he wants to take the next step while at Dayton, Kostas will need to work on adding a consistent jumper to his game, muscle to his frame, and learn how to assert himself in games," Nicholas LeTourneau of SB Nation's Ridiculous Upside wrote.

23. Connecticut: Christian Vital

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Position: Guard

Recruiting rank: 167th

Connecticut coach Kevin Ollie probably figured he was done recruiting for 2016-17 when he signed four players in November, but when the opportunity came up in the spring to add another guard he couldn't pass up the chance. Christian Vital was originally pledged to UNLV, signing a scholarship agreement but not a binding letter of intent, but he decommitted in March while the school was still looking for a head coach.

That was before UNLV hired Arkansas-Little Rock's Chris Beard, only to see Beard leave a few weeks later for Texas Tech, eventually being replaced by New Mexico State's Marvin Menzies.

As all that was going down Vital was considering Iowa, Louisville and the Huskies, ultimately picking UConn because of his familiarity with players on the roster. He played in high school with sophomore forward Steve Enoch, played AAU ball with sophomore guard Terry Larrier and is well-acquainted with sophomore guard Jalen Adams.

Vital told Dom Amore of the Hartford Courant that he figures he can be the answer to the perimeter shooting issues UConn had in 2015-16. Though four Huskies shot at least 37 percent from three-point range there were several games in which the entire team couldn't hit an outside shot.

22. Clemson: Scott Spencer

Position: Shooting guard

Recruiting rank: 184th

Clemson is set to have one of its deepest and most balanced teams in years, aided by Jaron Blossomgame's return for his senior season along with the arrival of three players from the transfer market. The trio of guards Shelton Mitchell and Marcquise Reed and center Elijah Thomas could all end up being starters.

Those additions have taken pressure off the Tigers' lone freshman signee, Scott Spencer, to have to do much in his first season. A redshirt is very possible, but not if he shows enough in preseason practice to warrant getting into the rotation.

Three-point shooting could be the way the 6'5” Spencer gets into the mix. Five Clemson players had at least 30 threes in 2015-16, but none averaged more than two per game.

21. Butler: Joey Brunk

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Position: Center

Recruiting rank: 107th

The Big East is one of the more physical leagues in college basketball, yet Butler had only one player taller than 6'8” on the roster last season. That was 6'10” Nate Fowler, who logged just 125 minutes as a freshman but figures to be more involved in 2016-17.

If the Bulldogs look to become more invested down low, they could end up turning to Joey Brunk, the highest-rated of their three signees. A local product who chose Butler over Oklahoma, the 6'9” Brunk is coming into a good situation to be able to contribute immediately.

The graduation of Roosevelt Jones, the team's second-leading rebounder despite being 6'4”, leaves a void on the defensive end that Brunk could fill. And if he can produce offensively it would be an added bonus.

"No one will outwork Brunk—he is relentless under the boards," TodaysU.com's Dan Stack wrote. "Brunk uses his muscular, wide body to bully his way to the basket. Once he establishes position in the paint, he uses sound footwork to his advantage and is great at finishing at the rim."

20. Saint Mary's: Jock Perry

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Position: Center

Recruiting rank: N/A

His name alone is enough to create intrigue, but we're sure there's more to Jock Perry than an awesome moniker. It's just hard to find a lot of information on what will be one of seven Australians on a Saint Mary's team that's become a pipeline for basketball players from Down Under.

Probably the most notable thing about Perry, though, is his size. He's listed at 7'1” and 260 pounds, which is a great foundation to build off. Basketball Australia wrote in November that he has "perhaps a few inches to grow."

Perry won three national junior championships, though a knee injury kept him from playing as much in the past year. Playing time isn't a guarantee with the Gaels, which have three others centers (two from Australia) on the roster.

19. Louisville: V.J. King

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Position: Small forward

Recruiting rank: 27th

V.J. King is the only recruit that coach Rick Pitino signed for 2016-17, so it's not as if we had many options for Louisville's most intriguing freshman. But even had the Cardinals brought in a dozen newcomers it would still be King that stood out because of his potential to be an impact player.

Pitino has already said the 6'6” King "will see a lot of playing time as a freshman" via his blog, noting that practice against other wings like Deng Adel and Donovan Mitchell will prepare him for what could be the starting spot that Damion Lee held last season.

"He has the versatility to do many things with the ball," Pitino said.

King could be the first Louisville freshman since Samardo Samuels in 2008-09 to average better than 10 points per game.

18. Rhode Island: Mike Layssard Jr.

Position: Power forward

Recruiting rank: 261st

Injuries played a tremendous role in Rhode Island's 2015-16 season, first when star guard E.C. Matthews was hurt in the season opener and then at various times when forward Hassan Martin missed time. Earl Watson was able to effectively replace Martin in the lineup but he's graduated, leaving that backup slot open for Mike Layssard Jr.

A 6'9”, 270-pound prospect from Louisiana, Layssard has the size to be a real force if he can properly control his body. He'll likely get small bits of time on the court at first until he can hold his own, but Martin's injury history makes it important to get Layssard up to speed as soon as possible.

Rhode Island is looking to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998-99, something made easier by having a full assortment of healthy and capable players.

17. Baylor: Mark Vital

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Position: Small forward

Recruiting rank: 89th

A key ingredient to Baylor's success the past two seasons has been the ability to get major production from a sixth man, often outscoring most starters. It was Taurean Prince in 2014-15 and Johnathan Motley most of last season, yet there isn't immediately a top candidate for that role this fall.

Mark Vital can assert himself as a viable option during summer workouts and in the preseason, showing off his “relentless motor,” per 247Sports' Ashley Hodge.

"I try to make my attitude like Russell Westbrook, always in attack mode," Vital said. "I already have the nickname 'BeastMode.'"

If all else fails, he can sell himself with the promise of the kind of dunks that landed him in the High School Slam in April, such as one in which he jumped over three people to flush it home.

16. Texas: Andrew Jones

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Position: Guard

Recruiting rank: 31st

Anyone with concerns that Shaka Smart wouldn't commit long term at Texas to the same "Havoc" approach he implemented with VCU can rest easy knowing that Andrew Jones is perfectly suited for this style.

Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller called Jones "an ideal candidate" for Smart's system because of his athleticism and strong defensive instincts, but the kind of player that likely wouldn't have considered VCU as the fifth-best combo guard in the 2016 class. The 6'4” guard can play all over the perimeter, a valuable asset for a Longhorns team that lost both Javan Felix and Isaiah Taylor from last year's team.

While Eric Davis, Tevin Mack, Kerwin Roach and Kendal Yancy are all back, none of them are as versatile as Jones and he's apt to play more than any of that group.

15. Xavier: Quentin Goodin

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Position: Point guard

Recruiting rank: 79th

Xavier used 10 players at least seven minutes per game last season, with seven of them coming back. Norfolk State transfer RaShid Gaston is expected to help fill the void in the frontcourt while Quentin Goodin can make inroads with the guards if he's able to handle himself on the defensive end.

That's where Remy Abell, who averaged 6.4 points per game as a senior, made his mark. While Abell did that as a starter, the 6'3” Goodin figures to do this off the bench at first as he settles into the rotation while J.P. Macura moves into the starting lineup.

However, Macura and fellow guard Myles Davis have both had run-ins with the law. If either ends up missing time, that thins the Musketeers' backcourt depth and makes Goodin more valuable.

14. Indiana: De'Ron Davis

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Position: Power forward

Recruiting rank: 40th

Indiana coach Tom Crean signed five players in the 2016 class and got three of them to enroll in June for a head start on the upcoming season. A fourth, junior college forward Freddie McSwain, recently completed coursework and will be on campus by Aug. 17, per Scout.com. That just leaves De'Ron Davis to complete the Hoosiers' newcomer group, though his status is still up in the air.

The 6'10” Davis, the top-ranked player from Colorado who picked Indiana over Mississippi State, has had his arrival delayed several times because of academics. In early July his high school coach told 247Sports' Alex McCarthy that Davis would get to Bloomington in early August, but on Wednesday that date was pushed back to Aug. 21.

Indiana doesn't have a dire need for Davis, not with Thomas Bryant returning for his sophomore year and both OG Anunoby and Juwan Morgan poised for breakout seasons, but depth in the frontcourt always helps. In Davis the Hoosiers are getting an athletic big man who can play in the paint as well as take his game away from the basket.

13. Purdue: Carsen Edwards

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Position: Point guard

Recruiting rank: 118th

Guard play was Purdue's biggest weakness last season, with no player able to step in and handle the ball effectively without giving it up just as much. The Boilermakers turned it over almost 12 times per game, with Ryan Cline and Kendall Stephens the only players who didn't have a turnover rate of greater than 10 percent.

Making matters worse: Forward Vince Edwards was the team's assist leader, at 2.9 per game, as no Purdue guard managed to assert himself as the primary ball-handler.

If Carsen Edwards wants to crack the rotation in 2016-17, the 6'0” freshman will need to focus on providing heady play while on the court.

"We've just got to keep helping him and bringing him along, because he brings some things to our team that we don't have," Purdue coach Matt Painter said of the 6'0” Edwards, the Boilermakers' only freshman.

12. Gonzaga: Zach Collins

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Position: Center

Recruiting rank: 32nd

Gonzaga's sustained run as not just the best mid-major program in college basketball but also one of the top overall outfits has made it possible to land the kind of recruits that normally only consider power teams. Mark Few is going to continue to look outside the U.S. for hidden gems—three of his five 2016-17 signees are from other countries—but if he manages to get more prospects like Zach Collins he might not have to.

Collins, a 6'11” product of Las Vegas, is Gonzaga's highest-rated recruit since Austin Daye in 2007. He could very well end up starting right away if 7'1” senior Przemek Karnowski can't return to form after missing most of last season following back surgery. Combined with the loss of frontcourt forces Domantas Sabonis and Kyle Wiltjer, the Bulldogs situation in the paint is an uncertain one that Collins could help in a big way.

ESPN's staff thinks highly of Collins, listing him as the best NBA prospect on the roster and noting his "rare combination of size, skill and mobility."

11. Michigan State: Miles Bridges

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Position: Small forward

Recruiting rank: 12th

Michigan State has had plenty of well-regarded freshmen during Tom Izzo's long tenure, but with a few exceptions they make their greatest mark after a season or two of development. There's no time—or need—to wait with Miles Bridges, who has a chance to be the Spartans' highest-scoring freshman of the Izzo era.

Only six freshmen in the last 20 years have averaged more than 10 points per game, the highest being Gary Harris' 12.9 average in 2012-13, usually because most MSU teams have reliable veteran scorers to handle that load. This upcoming team is different, as senior Eron Harris (9.3 per game) is the top returning scorer.

The 6'7” Bridges has a level of explosiveness that will make it natural for the Spartans to build the offense around him, his game capable of working inside and out and thus creating matchup issues. MSU has had eight 30-point scorers since 2010-11, all seniors, but Bridges has that scoring ability.

10. Wisconsin: D'Mitrik Trice

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Position: Point guard

Recruiting rank: 357th

With basically the entire group back from a Wisconsin team that got hot late in 2015-16 and nearly made the Elite Eight, freshman contributions could be at a minimum this season. That's nothing new in Madison, where former coach Bo Ryan arguably made better use of redshirts than any other coach in college basketball.

Whether Greg Gard opts to go the same route might depend on how deep he wants to go in the backcourt, where tiny D'Mitrik Trice will start out at the bottom of the depth chart but could work his way up with strong effort. The 5'11” prospect, whose brother Travis played at Michigan State from 2012-15, will come to Wisconsin with a little more seasoning than the normal freshman after doing a post-graduate year at IMG Academy in Florida.

"He's a floor leader who makes good decisions, creates for others, takes care of the ball and can make shots from mid-range," ESPN's Jeff Goodman said of Trice, who will be competing with Jordan Hill for backup minutes behind senior Bronson Koenig.

9. UCLA: Lonzo Ball

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Position: Point guard

Recruiting rank: 3rd

The intrigue surrounding Lonzo Ball has multiple layers, each as important as the other. First and foremost is his talent and skill, which has prompted comparisons to former UCLA star Russell Westbrook. The 6'6” guard is known for his ability to whip no-look passes into traffic, but he can also take over a game with his own scoring.

The more pressing issue, though, is how he will fit into a Bruins backcourt that was pretty loaded to begin with. Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton and Aaron Holiday combined for 43.2 points and 12.5 assists per game last season and provided 86 percent of UCLA's three-pointers, but one of them is going to have to come off the bench since Ball is too good not to start.

Holiday figures to be the odd man out, but Alford and Hamilton's roles will also change and be dictated by what Ball does. Coach Steve Alford is putting a lot of faith in Ball to fix what went wrong in 2015-16, when despite all that backcourt talent the Bruins went 15-17.

8. Virginia: Kyle Guy

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Position: Guard

Recruiting rank: 37th

At 6'3” and 165 pounds, Kyle Guy doesn't pass the "eye test" as far as impressive college basketball prospects goes. Looks can be deceiving, though, as he's sure to show this season when given a chance to run Virginia coach Tony Bennett's complex system.

You don't rise up to the cusp of 5-star status and be the top-rated player in a basketball-rich state like Indiana without knowing how to play. Guy has proven doubters wrong for years with his blend of confidence, swagger and execution, as well as the ability to fill highlight reels.

London Perrantes remains the floor leader heading into his senior year, but Guy is there to spell him or play alongside him at the 2, creating a potential star duo if each gets involved in the scoring.

7. Arizona: Lauri Markkanen

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Position: Power forward

Recruiting rank: 21st

Even with top recruit Terrance Ferguson choosing pro ball in Australia over college life in the desert, Arizona is going to be just fine in the backcourt. The Wildcats bring in two other strong guards in Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons to go with several returners, including Allonzo Trier and Kadeem Allen.

It's the frontcourt where the Wildcats have much more uncertainty, having lost 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski and forwards Ryan Anderson and Mark Tollefsen to graduation. The answer to how they protect the rim and produce in the paint might be coming all the way from Finland.

Lauri Markkanen, a 6'11” native of Helsinki, signed with Arizona in November and since has continued to develop his game against professionals in Europe. He just recently starred for his country's under-20 team at the FIBA European Championships, and though Finland was 15th out of 16 teams Markkanen made the all-tournament team thanks to his tourney-best 24.9 points per game.

If Markkanen can play defense as well as he does offense, he'll beat out junior Dusan Ristic for the starting center spot.

6. Kentucky: Bam Adebayo

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Position: Power forward

Recruiting rank: 9th

Talent is never an issue at Kentucky, where John Calipari annually brings in a treasure trove of top prospects. Getting those stars to live up to expectations, especially when most are only going to be around for one year, is a different story. It's what the Wildcats had to deal with last year with Skal Labissiere, a highly rated power forward who struggled mightily at a position where his team desperately needed consistency.

Three of Kentucky's five-man recruiting class play the position vacated by Labissiere, with the 6'9”, 232-pound Bam Adebayo figuring to get first crack at the starting job.

Guards De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk are the flashy members of that group, while Adebayo figures to be the one doing the dirty work. He'll be rewarded with plenty of dunk opportunities, though, which is how the player whose real name is Edrice got the nickname "Bam."

Dominant post play is what got Kentucky to the Final Four with an unbeaten record in 2014-15 and the lack of that contributed to a disappointing second-round NCAA tournament exit last year. How Adebayo performs will tip the scales in one direction or the other.

5. North Carolina: Seventh Woods

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Position: Guard

Recruiting rank: 48th

While Marcus Paige has moved on, North Carolina is in pretty good shape in the backcourt with the return of Joel Berry, Nate Britt and Theo Pinson, as well as rising sophomore Kenny Williams. Never wanting to be be short on guards, though, Roy Williams used two of his three available scholarships on that position.

With Seventh Woods, his signing comes after years of being pursued by the Tar Heels. First offered by UNC in October 2013—when he was in his sophomore year of high school in South Carolina—it was more than two years before Woods picked the Heels over Georgetown and South Carolina. In doing so, he started the process of potentially being Paige's replacement some day.

"With Woods, they get someone who can play either guard position thanks to his athleticism," Sporting News' Brian Flinn wrote in November. "A natural scorer, Woods has refined his lead guard game over the past year or so and should fit into the position nicely long term."

Expect Woods to be used in short bursts initially, with more minutes to come as he gets more comfortable shifting from point guard to the two depending on the scenario.

4. Oregon: M.J. Cage

Position: Power forward

Recruiting rank: 100th

Oregon won the Pac-12 regular-season and conference titles and reached the Elite Eight in 2015-16 and almost the entire lineup is back. Dwayne Benjamin and Elgin Cook graduated but Chris Boucher, Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey all passed on the NBA while the NCAA gave Villanova transfer Dylan Ennis a sixth year of eligibility after injuries limited him to 21 minutes of action last season.

In other words, the Ducks are looking pretty set in terms of their rotation and might not have much room for freshman contributions. M.J. Cage will do his best to make it hard for coach Dana Altman to keep him off the court.

Cage, the son of former NBA forward Michael Cage, is the same height as his father at 6'9” but has room to add to his 210-pound frame. How he strengthens during the summer and into the preseason will dictate his involvement in the frontcourt, where he could serve as a nice backup for Boucher and juniors Jordan Bell and Roman Sorkin.

3. Villanova: Omari Spellman

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Position: Center

Recruiting rank: 19th

Villanova is currently in Spain, the defending national champions set to play a trio of exhibition games against Spanish pro teams. Not among the touring party is Omari Spellman, the Wildcats' top incoming recruit who is still working to get eligible for the 2016-17 season.

On Monday the school announced (h/t SB Nation) that Spellman was staying home while Villanova and the NCAA work to "complete the eligibility certification process" for the 6'9”, 269-pound freshman. He's enrolled in school, on scholarship and eligible to practice but is being held back because he's not able to play in games, real or exhibition.

Spellman's eligibility issues stem from his freshman year of high school, according to coach Jay Wright (h/t ESPN's Dana O'Neil), but no specifics were given. Villanova still has more than three months before the season begins, so there's plenty of time, but not getting the No. 2 center in the 2016 class involved in the Spain games could slow his progress toward contributing right away.

2. Kansas: Udoka Azubuike

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Position: Center

Recruiting rank: 35th

Kansas welcomes the nation's No. 1 overall recruit in Josh Jackson, a 6'7” wing who figures to shine in Bill Self's system for one year and then head off for the NBA. He's as known a quantity as there is in college basketball, and frankly there's not much intrigue associated with him.

The same can't be said for Udoka Azubuike, the Jayhawks' latest promising-but-raw big man. At 7'0” and 280 pounds he's a massive specimen, though it remains to be seen if he'll turn into a Joel Embiid while at Kansas or struggle to fit in like Cliff Alexander and Cheick Diallo.

Early workouts indicate he's leaning more toward the former. According to Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star, he came to school at 301 pounds but has worked hard to sculpt that frame to something more manageable while also picking up the system.

"I think he probably is a faster learner than what I thought that he may be for a kid that young," Self told Newell. "He’s picked up stuff pretty quick. I think he’s real excited, because he’s starting to figure some stuff out."

After Kansas went through an endless supply of big men searching for a 5 last season, the goal is to be more streamlined this time around. Azubuike probably won't start ahead of Landen Lucas but if he continues to develop he'll see more time than Diallo or Alexander did as freshmen.

1. Duke: Frank Jackson

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Position: Point guard

Recruiting rank: 13th

Duke's top-rated recruiting class features four 5-star prospects, including two of the top four. Frank Jackson is, in effect, the third-best newcomer in this group but his potential impact on the 2016-17 Blue Devils has the potential to be far greater than anyone else.

Jackson potentially brings to the roster what Duke sorely lacked a season ago, that being a true point guard. Derryck Thornton never developed to the point that he could be run the offense, that job split between him and shooting guards Grayson Allen, Matt Jones and Luke Kennard. With Jackson coming in this season, Thornton made the right choice to transfer since his minutes were going to go to the newcomer.

But will Jackson be content to handle the ball and distribute to others and, like Tyus Jones in 2014-15, only look to score at the proper time? Bleacher Report's Rob Goldberg notes the 6'3” Jackson "is better when looking for his own shot" and settling into a more traditional point guard role could lead to growing pains.

All statistics courtesy of Sports-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information from 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.