2009-2010 College Basketball Season Preview: Freshman

In the one-and-done era of college basketball, the role of freshman has begun to change. No longer are they brought in to school to develop into superstars. Instead, many of the best are expected to star for and carry their respective programs from day one.

Think Greg Oden and Mike Conley, or Michael Beasley, or Kevin Durant.

But there are still plenty of coaches who recruit to fill a hole in their line-upor simply have enough talent on their roster that the freshman are not going to be asked to do more play a role, regardless of their talent level.

These are the Jrue Holidays and the Ed Davis's of the world.

Who will be this season's freshman stars? Which freshman will play the most important role's for their teams?

IMPACT FRESHMAN:

• John Wall, Kentucky: Everyone in the country should know by now what John Wall is capable of (Jerry Stackhouse sure does). Wall is a big, athletic point guard with the ability to get by just about any defender on the perimeter and finish above the rim. Wall also has the ability to find an open man if he draws an extra defender. He isn't the greatest shooter in the world, but he is effective enough that it deserves respect. Wall is the perfect fit as a guard in John Calipari's dribble-drive offense, and while he may not be the best player on Kentucky (that honor goes to Patrick Patterson until further notice), he will arguably be their most important.

John Wall will be a star from day one.
(photo credit: WUOG)

• Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech: Many people (including myself) are predicting the Yellow Jackets to be much improved over last season's 2-14 team. Favors is the main reason for that. He could use some polish on his offensive game, but his athleticism and strength will allow him to succeed at this level. Teaming with Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech will have a front line that few teams will be able to match-up with.
• Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton, Texas: Texas will have one of the biggest and best front lines in the country this season, but with the departure of AJ Abrams, the biggest question for Rick Barnes team is going to be where they get their perimeter scoring from. Bradley and Hamilton were two of the most highly sought after recruits in the nation, and their ability to create points (and make shots) from the perimeter will go a long way in determining whether Texas is going to be a good team or a great team.
• Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati: Stephenson's high school troubles were well-documented over the past year. From an overbearing father to questions regarding his eligibility to an arrest for allegedly groping a female classmate, "Born Ready" became the pariah of the 2009 recruiting class. He ended up at Cincinnati, which is happens to be a great fit for him. Stephenson may be the best all-around scorer in the class of '09, and when paired with senior Deonta Vaughn, he gives Mick Cronin arguably the best 1-2 punch in the Big East.
• Abdul Gaddy, Washington: Gaddy, like Stephenson, had a roller-coaster recruitment. Many originally thought he was destined for Memphis, but after a booster (who happened to be the CEO of FedEx) placed a call to Gaddy's mother (who is a customer service rep for FedEx), the Tigers seemed to back off his recruitment a bit. Gaddy then committed to Arizona, but backed out as a result of the changeover that program is going through. He ended up at U-Dub, where he will thrive in the uptempo system Lorenzo Romar runs. More importantly, his addition will allow Isaiah Thomas to get more minutes playing off the ball where is more effective.

Gaddy may be the best guard in the Pac-10 this year.
(photo credit: ESPN)

• Kenny Boynton, Florida: Billy Donovan's team lost Nick Calathes to Greece during the off-season, which left a gaping hole at the lead guard spot. While Boynton has a very different skill set than Calathes, he should come in and provide the Gators with a dominant perimeter scorer that can pay either guard spot.

MOST IMPORTANT FRESHMAN

• Keith "Tiny" Gallon and Tommy Mason-Griffin, Oklahoma: Both of these freshman will play very important roles for Jeff Capel. Gallon is a big body that will be relied upon to replace some of the production the Sooners lost with the Brothers Griffin leaving. Mason-Griffin is a tough point guard that can run a team, lead a break, and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Oklahoma's biggest deficiency last season was their lack of a true point guard, and this addition will allow Willie Warren to slide over to the off-guard spot where he can focus on being a scorer.
• Andre Dawkins, Duke: Dawkins may actually be the most important freshman in the country. Duke was looking at coming into this season with just two guards on their roster, but Dawkins, who was originally committed to the Blue Devils for the class of '10, was heading into his fifth year as a high schooler. By taking summer school classes, Dawkins was able to graduate a year early and enroll at Duke. Not only will he provide some much needed back court depth, Dawkins can play. A big time athlete, he is able to provide a scoring punch on the perimeter for Coach K. His size may be his most important tool, as he will be able to play the two, allowing Jon Scheyer to slide over to the point, where he was more effectice this past season. If Dawkins lives up to his hype, Duke should be able to compete for the ACC crown.
• Dante Taylor, Pitt: Taylor will be instrumental in keeping Pitt's streak on NCAA Tournament appearances intact. After losing their entire starting front line (Sam Young, DeJuan Blair, and Tyrell Biggs), there are going to be plenty of minutes and shots available for Taylor. Coming into a program known for their grit in the paint, Taylor will have a lot of pressure on him to produce immediately. The McDonald's all-american should be up to the task.
• Alex Oriakhi, UConn: Like Taylor, Oriakhi is going to have some big shoes to fill along UConn's front line. Oriakhi is not the prototypical UConn center we have become accostomed to. Much less athletic and no where near as good of a shot blocker as guys like Emeka Okafor, Hasheem Thabeet, or Josh Boone, Oriakhi is more of a Jeff Adrien - a workhorse in the paint that will be a load to handle on the glass. He should see minutes right away as UConn's front court will be wide open this season, and if he is able to handle the rigors of a Big East schedule, the Huskies should not experience the drop-off they usually do after a Final Four run.
• John Jenkins, Vanderbilt: While Vanderbilt did not have a great season in '08-'09, they do return everyone off of that team. One of their biggest issues last season, however, was the lack of a scoring punch on the perimeter. Jenkins will provide that, as he may already be the best shooter in the country. Adding Jenkins to a team with AJ Ogilvy, Jeff Taylor, and Jermaine Beal makes the Commodores a sleeper in the loaded SEC East.

John Jenkins will be one of the best shooters in the country as a freshman.
(photo credit: Station Camp Basketball)

• Noel Johnson, Clemson: Clemson will begin this season without a proven scorer or shooter on their perimeter as KC Rivers graduated and Terrence Oglesby has left to play pro ball in Norway. Johnson, who originally committed to USC before the Trojans meltdown, will be the guy Oliver Purnell looks to as a replacement. He is a shooter with deep range and has shown the ability to create for himself when he puts the ball on the floor. The biggest question mark thus far will be his ability to play Clemson's full court press, but given his length and athleticism that should not be a problem if he commits himself
• Peyton Siva, Louisville: With Terrence Williams and Earl Clark leaving, Edgar Sosa is left as the only kid on the Cardinals roster with the ability to create offensively in the half court. As you know, Sosa has been wildly inconsistent during his three seasons in Louisville, which is why Siva is so important. Siva joins Pitino's program with a reputation for being able to ceate scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates. If Sosa is unable to handle his role as the lead playmaker on this team, look for Siva to slide in and play a major role.
  
• Brandon Paul and DJ Richardson, Illinois: The Illini leaned so heavily on seniors Chester Frazier and Trent Meachem last season. Not so much in their ability to score, as big men Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale both developed into solid scoring threats. It was the little things. Those two defended, they knocked down open shots, and most importantly they were leaders. It is the little things that Bruce Weber will be looking for from Paul and Richardson. While Paul is probably a better offensive player at this point in their respective careers, it is Richardson's defense and toughness that Weber will covet. If these two can effectively replace the departed Illini back court, it will go a long way towards keeping Illinois out of the middle of the pack in a very good Big Ten.
  

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No. 24: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Illinois Fighting Illini

2008-2009 Record: 24-10, 11-7 Big Ten (t-2nd)

Key Losses: Chester Frazier (5.7 ppg, 5.3 apg), Trent Meachem (10.2 ppg, 42% 3's)

Key Returners: Mike Davis (11.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Mike Tisdale (10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Demetri McCamey (11.5 ppg, 4.6 apg)

Newcomers: DJ Richardson, Joseph Betrand, Tyler Griffey, Brandon Paul

Mike Davis is healthy and ready to anchor the Illini front line after breaking his ankle in June.
(photo credit: Lexington Herald-Review)

Illinois rebounded from a subpar 2007-2008 season to finish second in the Big Ten last year. The Illini lose Chester Frazier and Trent Meachem - their starting back court last season - to graduation, but return a team that has an outside shot of winning the Big Ten.

Bruce Weber is going to rely on his front court to be the constant for this team as he gets back Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale, both juniors. If there is anyone on this Illinois team with star potential, it is the 6'9" Davis. Still a bit slender for a big man in the Big Ten, Davis has a very good offensive arsenal. He has a solid face-up game with catch-and-shoot ability out to about 18 feet, and despite being unable to back down a stronger opponent, he has shown flashes of being a good low post scorer. His lack of strength makes him vulnerable at times defensively, especially down low, but he is a very good rebounder and a solid passer. With an inexperienced back court, I think Weber will run his offense through Davis. Expect the big fella to make a national name for himself this season.

Tisdale is pretty similar to Davis. Not quite the athlete that Davis is (and Davis isn't an overwhelming athlete either), the 7'1" Tisdale relies on a variety of jump hooks and 15 foot jumpers to be effective on the offensive end. Tisdale is a bit weak inside, and I'm sure Weber hopes that he can continue to develop as a defensive presence at the rim. There will be some depth in the Illini front court. Senior Dominique Keller is a 6'7" combo forward. Strong enough to bang with the big boys down low, Keller creates a match-up problem at the offensive end with his ability to knock down three's. 6'8" freshman Tyler Griffey and 6'10" junior Richard Semrau will also see minutes up front.

The back court is going to be the bigger question for the Illini. They do return Demetri McCamey and Alex Legion. McCamey, a 6'3" junior, was the Illini's leading scorer and second leading assist man, but truth be told, he was far from as productive as he could have been. McCamey had a tendency to force too many tough shots (he finished the year shooting just 31% from deep) and turn the ball over a bit more than you would like (2.4 per contest). That said, McCamey has a ton of scoring potential, and when he gets hot can easily go for 25 points. Legion is a 6'5" wing who transferred into Illinois from Kentucky and was not eligible, per transfer rules, until midway through the season. He showed some promise in his first few games, scoring 15 against Michigan State and 12 against Purdue, but he lost his rhythm and by the end of the year had mostly fallen out of the rotation. Legion is a talented kid, and with consistent minutes opening up as Frazier and Meachem move on, Legion will be relied upon for some points, be it off the bench or as a starter.

The rest of the Illinois back court will be made up of freshman. DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul are both top 50 recruits that will compete for a starting spot. Richardson, who is 6'3", is a scoring guard that is at his best when he is attacking. He does have three-point range, but his biggest asset for Weber is going to be his defensive intensity. A strong kid, Richardson has shown no issue with playing hard-nosed defense, and excels in jumping passing lanes. Paul, who is an inch taller than Richardson, is much more of a pure two guard. He isn't quite the defender Richardson is, and relies more on his jump shot. Joseph Bertrand, the third freshman, injured his knee in early September. He should be back and ready to go by the start of the season. Jeff Jordan, Michael's son, was a walk-on but left the team for academic reasons (good ones - to pursue his degree). He has toyed with the idea of returning, and if he does will provide experience, leadership, and tough defense to Weber's back court.

Outlook: With Weber's Illini teams, it has always been about defense, especially out on the perimeter where he loves to have his guards pressure the ball. With so many freshman in the back court rotation, it could take a while for Weber to get them to but into the system. The one thing those freshman are, however, is talented, and if given the opportunity I'd expect Weber to get them to succeed. A key factor will be how good of a player Davis ends up being. Will he be a 11 and 8 guy like last season, or will Davis develop into a go-to offensive player, averaging upwards of 15-16 ppg? Regardless, the Illini have enough for a top three finish in the league and a top six seed in the dance.
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