Above all other college sports, freshmen dominate college basketball. Between the urge to declare for the NBA and the craziness of the NCAA Tournament, freshmen are needed to keep the sport fresh and changing.
In the past, dominant freshmen have led their teams to national championships. From Jahlil Okafor to Anthony Davis, we’ve seen one-and-done players take center stage in the world of college basketball.
Even if a player doesn’t lead their team to a national title, they can still have a major impact. Zion Williamson took over the world of college basketball in his only season at Duke. Trae Young put Oklahoma on the map, and other freshmen have done similar things around the country.
Whether your team is looking to burst onto the scene or return to relevance, a star freshman can be all it takes to turn the tables in your favor. With so many teams relying on recruiting, it matters more than ever. With that in mind, these are the incoming freshmen who have what it takes to play pivotal roles for their NCAA basketball teams. Can any freshmen put their team over the edge?
JD Davison, PG, Alabama
Davison is the next Ja Morant. He can win on the outside, but he dominates by driving and using his freakish athleticism. His dunks are eye-popping, and he brings it on defense as well.
Alabama basketball had a program-building season in 2020, and they retain a lot of last year’s team. Depending on if Shackelford and Primo return, they will have every key shooter except for John Petty back. This will give Davison options when he drives, and defenses will have no way of stopping him from making a play.
Alabama likes to play scrappy defense, run the floor and score early. This is the best way to maximize Davison’s potential, and Nate Oats will be looking to do just that. Pairing Jahvon Quinerly with JD Davison will be a devastating tandem, and it should be enough for Alabama to repeat in the SEC.
Alabama has +1600 odds to win the national championship next year, but they can’t do it without Davison. If he blossoms in his freshman season, look out for Alabama to be a one-seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Either way, he will have quite the highlight reel.
Patrick Baldwin Jr., SF, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
This feels like a cheap answer because Milwaukee won’t be competing for a national championship. Still, Baldwin will be a program-altering talent for his single season in college basketball.
Many will question why he chose Milwaukee over teams like Duke, but it doesn’t hurt that he will be playing for his father. Milwaukee hasn’t had a winning season since his father took over, and Baldwin Jr. will be looking to change that.
Milwaukee has never signed a recruit better than a three-star, and Baldwin is a five-star and the best small forward in his recruiting class. There is no doubt that he will have an impact. At the very least, people will now want to watch this team play basketball.
Now, will this be enough for Milwaukee to win the Horizon? Maybe not, but keep an eye on the odds. They’ll easily have the best player in the conference, and that may be enough to win the conference tournament and earn an NCAA Tournament bid. That’s Milwaukee’s only hope of making the NCAA Tournament, so it will all come down to the end of the year.
Peyton Watson, SF, UCLA
UCLA only signed two players out of high school this year, but they are coming off of an insane run last season. Unfortunately, it will be hard to repeat that success. They made the Final Four, but they were not one of the four best teams from last year. They were truly a bubble team who got hot at the perfect time.
With +1200 odds to win a title, UCLA will need to improve as a whole. They can’t rely on a hot streak at the right time. They have the experience, and Watson will give them the talent to pull this off.
The Pac-12 is a tough conference, and the Bruins will be tested. With Watson, they may add to their resume from last year
