Needed a topic that wasn't our lame duck coaching situation or Chris Beard. Who are the best freshman in the country you've seen play? Thought Boogie Fland, Ace Bailey and Derek Queen were all really good, but got my first chance to see Dylan Harper last night, and, wow! For one game at least, I thought he was the best of the bunch I've seen, although admittedly I've not watched nearly as much bball this year. Who else is out there that I need to watch this season?
Best Freshman?
- Thread starter kkott
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You mean besides Cooper Flagg?
After Flagg, I'd say there are a handful of really, really good Frosh...Harper, Bailey, Illinois PG, Queen, Fland before he got hurt, Kneuppel, McNeeley has had a good year so far...I'm sure I'm missing some.
I saw Flagg hit a runner with his left hand and high rotation off the backboard and thought-That was one beautiful shot.
He's the best overall player in college basketball, and it isn't particularly close. Let alone the best frosh.
Georgia got one of the Montverde guys also, forgot his name, looked pretty good the 1 time I watched them play
We were discussing Reed Sheppard a month or more back. They sent him to the G league and he scored about 30 each of his first three games so the brought him back up. He had a few more minutes next game against the Nets and scored 16 and his 3 looked good.
I haven't really watched Flagg, so I was just relating folks I've seen play. The thing that seems to distinguish Flagg is his motor. Not many guys who come in and can play at that level.
His slow start in the NBA has been a little suprising. But the Rockets are quickly becoming really, really good.
For certain. That's often what separates the really good players, from the truly great ones. He has that Kobe-like drive, and for someone as talented as him...well, we're seeing the results of it. In every game he plays in he's the best scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender on the court. I've been pretty vocal that teams led by freshmen are very unlikely to win Natty's, but Duke, and he, might be an exception to that.
So give me your top 5. I was just really impressed with Harper and being a PG, he gets others better scoring ops and impacts the game. You think he's still way behind Flagg? As I said, it was one game, but he was the best freshman I've seen, and again, not including Flagg because I haven't really watched him play a full game, just highlights.
They are playing much better this season. Amen Thompson is in his second year and starting to show flashes.
Flagg, IMHO, is without doubt the best freshman and the most dynamic right now. However, I'm not certain Ace Bailey isn't the best pro out of the group in 10 years. Guy just has some crazy Durant similarities to me. Now Durant dominated college basketball his one year and Bailey has been a bit up and down. But he looks like he'll figure it out and be similar to Durant in the future.
Flagg Queen Newell Mcneely can't remember who their guards were but if last year's Montverde team went to college together with the right coach, I would think they would have been a top 10 team this year.
I believe the only Freshman to win national player of the year and win a championship was Anthony Davis. Zion and Durant were NPOY but no championship. If Duke wins the championship then Flagg a lock for NPOY. If Auburn wins then ilikely Broome. If neither wins then more of a question
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Oh man...this is really spitballing...
Top 5 in terms of impact and talent
1. Flagg
2. Newell
3. Queen
4. Fland
5. Bailey
But I think Harper should also be in the discussion, Jaciounus or whatever his name is at Illinois, Pettiford at Auburn... Freshmen aren't getting as much ink as they used to, with the portal dynamics changing things...but this years Freshman class is historically good.
Illinois has three really good freshmen. Not in the same category as Flagg and such, but if they all stick around, the illini will be a tough out in a few years.
Only problem with this is the schedule to announce NPOY is April 6th and championship game is April 7th so championship not determined but finalists known prior to announcement.
The award will likely come down to those 2 guys. I would think how their respective teams finish their regular seasons, and the first couple weeks of tournament season, will determine who wins it. Flagg is a better overall player, without question. But if Auburn keeps beating SEC teams, and Broome stays healthy...it'll be hard for anyone else to win NPOY.
Agreed, although he's only a inch or two shorter, but wingspan definitely appears a bit less than KD's . I'll still wager on him being the best pro out of the group....although Flagg is going to be something special too.
Our NPOY’s were of course May, Cheaney, and Oladipo so none since 2013. For Indiana high schoolers add Oscar (3 times), Bird, and Glenn Robinson.
Hard to think of a good comparison to Flagg. The Bailey/Durant comp is a good one, I think. Obviously with Durant being a more sure thing coming in to the NBA. Flagg though, he's much more of an all around stat stuffer, than Bailey is. Bailey could come in and be a 25 ppg game scorer, and he'll become incredibly valuable and famous if he does that. Flagg, doubt he ever averages that many points, though he's probably capable of doing it. He'll be more of a triple double, high end defending, type player.
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