2012 College Basketball Picks and Predictions: Top 5 Impact Freshman: Since the NCAA made it mandatory for players to attend at least one year of college, freshmen have been playing a bigger and bigger role in the success of programs throughout the country. One great recruit can transform a normally mediocre program into a contender, and while many of the top freshmen are one and done, sometimes one good year is all it takes to put a program on the map. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s John Calipari has taken the method recruiting the top freshmen to the extreme as he basically finds himself a new starting five every year. Of course, there is a difference between a player being the most talented freshman and being the most impactful. After all, a team’s individual needs ultimately determine how much playing time and what type of role a freshman will have. With that mind, here is a look at the freshmen that will make the biggest impact with their new teams for the upcoming 2012-13 college basketball season.
2012 College Basketball Picks and Predictions: Top 5 Impact Freshman
1. Marcus Smart, Point Guard, Oklahoma State Cowboys
This is a case of talent and need coming together at the perfect time. The Cowboys desperately need a floor general at the point guard spot, and Smart has the talent and intangibles to be just that. In high school, he posted an impressive line that included 15.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. More importantly, he has both the ability to score and distribute from the point guard spot and the knowledge of when to do both. Smart led his high school team to back-to-back state titles, and he will immediately become the most important player in a thin Oklahoma State backcourt. While he may not be the most physically gifted or NBA-ready player in this year’s class, no player will fill a bigger need at a higher level than Smart.
2. Nerlens Noel, Center, Kentucky Wildcats
Replacing a frontcourt that featured the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the NBA Draft isn’t easy, but adding Noel will go a long way to helping ease the pain of Kentucky fans that are pining for Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Noel was the top high school player in the country and the top freshman prospect by most publications. With a 6’11” frame to go along with excellent agility and athleticism for a big man, it isn’t hard to understand why many scouts believe he can be a better shot blocker than Davis was. Granted, Noel’s offensive game will be limited to simply finishing around the rim, but he should be a human eraser in the middle of the Kentucky defense this season. The dominant presence he will bring to the defensive end of the court is something that just can’t be taught.
3. Anthony Bennett, Power Forward, UNLV Rebels
Bennett will join junior big man Mike Moser at UNLV, giving the Rebels one of the best frontcourt duos in the country. Bennett is an athletic player that can overpower defenders in the post and deliver highlight-reel moments in transition. He showed decent range on his jump shot in high school, as well. He is going to step right into the UNLV starting lineup this year, and with Moser ensuring that he doesn’t face double teams, Bennett is in a great situation to succeed. He will play a big role for the Rebels this year, and Bennett should be one of the top scoring and rebounding freshmen in the country.
4. Shabazz Muhammad, Small Forward, UCLA Bruins
He attacks the rim as well as any young player in recent memory, and Muhammad can finish when he gets into the lane and get the foul line. His combination of strength and speed combined with his ability to get his own shot will make him an instant force on the offensive end. In fact, Muhammad is arguably the best pure scorer of any player in this freshman class. However he won’t necessarily shoulder the entire scoring load with highly-touted prospects Kyle Anderson and Tony Parker also coming to UCLA. Questions about his eligibility also bump him down the list a bit.
5. Isaiah Austin, Center, Baylor Bears
There are a few reasons why the Bears are salivating at the chance to unleash their freshman big man. For starters, Austin is 7’1” and can get up and down the court. More importantly, he is a game changer on the defensive end with his shot blocking ability and has a ton of upside on the offensive end thanks to his soft touch. Sure, he could use a little muscle and some more refined post moves, but Austin is going to be blocking shots, grabbing rebounds and slamming home dunks from the moment he steps on the court. Throw in Baylor’s need for some size inside with the departure of Perry Jones III and Quincy Acy, and Austin will get plenty of minutes and opportunities to shine all season long.
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