The 2015 college basketball season is right around the corner and while there are plenty of returning players that we already know what to expect from heading into this year, there is also a strong class of incoming freshmen that is ready to make an immediate impact. The four players on this list might not be names that you’re familiar with just yet but you’ll be knowing them very soon.
Ben Simmons, LSU Tigers
Freshman
LSU went off the board looking for a potential star recruit that could help take their hoops program to the next level and they found what could potentially be the top pick in next year’s NBA Draft with Simmons. The Melbourne, Australia native is a 6’9’’, 225-pound freshman that topped ESPN’s Top-300 list of recruits heading into this season. He has been talked about as a potential NBA superstar in the making who has all of the tools to thrive at the next level. He’s a player is more of a small forward than anything else but he’s versatile enough to play the power forward position too – especially in the new NBA. There’s a lot of comparisons being thrown around but the most popular one is Tracy McGrady.
Simmons will showcase his skills as the potential No. 1 pick at LSU this season, so don’t be surprised when he becomes the prospect that absolutely everybody is talking about.
Skal Labissiere, Kentucky Wildcats
Freshman
Kentucky has been an absolute factory when it comes to turning out talented one-and-done players and Labissiere could be the latest to join that list. He’s one of the top recruits for the Big Blue this past year. The 6’10’’ forward is the type of inside-outside big man that can both dominate under the basket and step outside and beat opponents with his pure shooting ability and that is an absolutely lethal combination. Some scouts have compared his pure talent potential to that of New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis and San Antonio Spurs All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. There is no doubt that if he lives up to expectations he will be in the conversation to go first overall in next year’s NBA Draft. Right now, the conversation is between him and Simmons, and neither have even played one minute of regular season college basketball action.
Brandon Ingram, Duke Blue Devils
Freshman
Duke is another program with a long list of top recruits that have solidified their position as top NBA Draft picks by thriving with the Blue Devils. Heading into this year, Ingram is projected to be the next big thing (currently projected as a top-five pick in the 2016 Draft). Ingram was ranked No. 3 in the ESPN Top-300 list of recruits during his last year of high school and he arrives at Duke looking to make a name for himself in his freshman season. The 6’8’’ small forward has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant based on his size, style, shooting ability and the way that he plays the game. Don’t be surprised when he lights it up this season playing with his former high school teammate Darnell Dunn this season.
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Kris Dunn, Providence Friars
Junior
The one player on this list that is not a freshman Dunn, who is entering his junior season as one of the more underrated players in college basketball. While he hasn’t been talked about nearly as much as he should have been, that’s because he plays for Providence and not an A-list team. Dunn opted to pass on the NBA Draft last year in order to return to Providence and improve his draft stock and after he averaged 15.6 points, 7.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds while being named co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season. He is in line to break through as an absolute star for the Friars this season. Star point get a lot of love from the media and Dunn is one of the best in the country heading into the 2015-16 season.
