The college basketball season is collecting more games, to the point that most teams have played at least five or six games this season. Playing at least five or six games means that, in most cases, teams have begun to play equally strong if not better competition. Many high-end teams start by playing three or four cupcakes, the easy games which serve as mere tune-ups. After five or six games, programs eventually test themselves, either in holiday tournaments or scheduled on-campus games. We’re beginning to learn more about teams, coaches, rotations, and individual players. Which freshmen are getting the hang of things in their first few weeks of college basketball? Here are five.
Malik Monk
Kentucky Wildcats
The young start of the Kentucky backcourt is valuable primarily because he’s the best three-point shooter the Wildcats have at this point, but he’s so much more versatile and capable than his shooting indicates. He’s been effective on defense and has set a tone for this team with his energy. He is playing above his freshmen identity so far this season. If he continues on his present trajectory, Kentucky has a great chance of living up to its potential this season.
Markelle Fultz
Washington Huskies
This might be the most purely impressive player in the country, because of his one-on-one prowess. Fultz is throwing down scorelines in the area of 30, 8 and 7 (points, rebounds and assists) on more than one occasion. He is extremely hard to handle individually. However, Fultz has not been able to make a large impact on the Huskies as a team. Washington lost at home to Yale and is trying to find a sense of balance and stability. If Fultz can lift Washington to a higher level, he’ll begin to get even more national notice, but hoops junkies are already excited about what this freshman can do on the court.
Miles Bridges
Michigan State Spartans
It’s a treat to watch Bridges, who seems destined for stardom. Though erratic with his shotmaking and some of his decisions, Bridges – more than any other player on this list – plays above the rim and has a muscular game which enables him to bang in the low post. He is extremely strong and agile. He finishes with great power on fast breaks. He can play above the rim better than any other freshman on this list with the possible exception of Josh Jackson of Kansas. His bigger frame, however, enables Bridges to absorb more body contact and still finish through a foul if he gets hit hard by a defender.
Michigan State has had a really rough go of things early on this season. They have just four wins through seven games, but the good news is that all three losses were against ranked teams. They’ve lost to No. 20 Baylor, No. 2 Kentucky and No. 10 Arizona. Even though you’d like to have won one of those games – at least – it’s still early in the season and Sparty can recover.
Lonzo Ball
UCLA Bruins
This is the best passer in the group with the possible exception of Fultz. Ball might not collect as many assists as Fultz, but he is often the player who makes the pass which sets up the assist pass. He has given continuity and shape to the UCLA offense and could be extremely valuable for that one reason alone.
The Bruins have had an excellent start to the college basketball season as they are a perfect 6-0. They’ll get a stern test in the coming days, though, as they’ll play Texas A&M, Kentucky and Michigan in the next week of action.
Josh Jackson
Kansas Jayhawks
The smaller, thinner version of Bridges, Jackson is making his share of mistakes, but he is quickly learning just the same and is getting the hang of being a college basketball player for a top program. He is missing fewer defensive assignments and suffering fewer lapses. He is learning to attack opposing defenses and identify what makes a good shot and a bad shot. He will be a great player at the end of the season.
Kansas has had an excellent start to the season as they’re 5-1 through six games. They’re lone loss on the year was in their opener to No. 11 Indiana.
