Which freshmen have made an immediate impact?

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Dec. 14—Are all freshmen created equally? Can they all have an immediate impact? The answer is no, but Illini beat writer Scott Richey takes a look at 10 that have asserted themselves as some of the top players in the country:

Looking the part of the modern NBA wing is one thing. Playing like it is another. And Bailey’s checked the box for both. The 6-10 forward is still searching for consistency as a shooter, but his 17.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game have been impactful.

Fears decommitted from Illinois because he wanted to enroll a year early and play now. The Sooners gave him that chance, and he’s made the most of it averaging 16.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds in their 9-0 start.

Flagg has long been the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. While the 6-9 forward isn’t shooting the ball particularly well, he’s doing everything else for the Blue Devils by averaging 15.9 points, nine rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Fland has been outstanding this season. At least when he wasn’t guarded by Illinois’ Kylan Boswell (eight points on 2 of 12 shooting and one assist). Even with that game, Fland is averaging 15.5 points, 5.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds.

It’s not a stretch to call Harper the best freshman in the country. The 6-6 guard ranks third nationally in scoring at 23.4 points per game, but is also averaging 5.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists while being a menace in the paint offensively.

There’s a reason Jakucionis is starting to climb up NBA draft boards. Already a potential lottery pick, the 6-6 guard’s regular stat sheet stuffing — averaging 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and six assists — puts the top five picks in play.

Johnson had a reputation as one of the best scorers in his class, and nothing about the first month-plus of the season has dispelled that notion. The 6-6 guard is the leading scorer in the SEC, averaging 19.9 points as a 48/43/84 shooter.

It turns out Queen and Julian Reese can exist in the same frontcourt. Thrive even. The 6-10 freshman ranks in…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/freshmen-made-immediate-impact-154800930.html

Author : The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Publish date : 2024-12-14 15:48:00

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