Myron MedcalfApr 9, 2025, 09:10 AM ET
Shut
- Covers school basketball
- Joined ESPN.com in 2011
- Graduate of Minnesota State College, Mankato
Editor’s word: This tale was once first printed in November and has been up to date to incorporate Cooper Flagg in addition to Tyler Hansbrough, who will have to have made the preliminary version. Brandon Miller and Paolo Banchero have been got rid of to stay true to a height 25.
Cooper Flagg has been probably the most hyped freshman in males’s school basketball in years.
The projected height pick out within the 2025 NBA draft has been praised by means of NBA superstars who will quickly grow to be his friends. And to grow to be some of the largest newcomers in contemporary school basketball historical past, he needed to play at a degree few have reached, sweeping nationwide participant of the yr awards.
This is the place his marketing campaign stands some of the height 25 seasons by means of newcomers over the last 25 years. There have been many different standout performances to imagine. Sorry, we could not come with all of them.
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Malik Monk amongst perfect guards within the draft
See why the previous Kentucky big name and SEC Participant of the Yr might be the most efficient taking pictures guard within the draft.
Kentucky’s 2016-17 season featured a trio of newcomers — De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo, Malik Monk — who would all cross directly to have various ranges of good fortune within the NBA. Whilst Monk hasn’t reasonably reached the all-star standing of the opposite two, he had the most efficient collegiate season. The crew misplaced to North Carolina within the Elite 8, however Monk gained SEC participant of the yr after averaging 19.8 PPG that season for the Wildcats.
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Arizona takes rubber fit from UCLA, advances to %-12 ultimate
Lauri Markkanen leads No. 7 Arizona with 29 issues whilst No. 3 UCLA’s Lonzo Ball is held to 8 issues, because the Wildcats win 86-75 within the %-12 semifinal.
The 2016-17 was once a wild yr that presented the sector to LaVar Ball, the daddy of long run NBA avid gamers Lonzo and Lamelo. LaVar’s presence was once nonetheless a sidebar to the elder Ball’s manufacturing at UCLA, the place he averaged 14.6 PPG, 7.6 APG (main the country in assists) and hooked up on 41% of his 3-point makes an attempt. The Bruins reached the Candy 16 that yr.
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RJ Barrett breaks down highlights from Duke
RJ Barrett joins Omar Raja to wreck down highlights Duke, and stocks the way it felt to be drafted by means of the Knicks.
23. RJ Barrett, G (Duke, 2018-19)
Despite the fact that his teammate Zion Williamson gained the 2019 Picket Award, somebody who watched Duke all over the 2018-19 marketing campaign knew Barrett was once the stabilizing pressure for a crew hampered by means of key accidents. Barrett was once the one participant at the roster to begin all 38 video games for the 32-6 Blue Devils, who made it the entire approach to the Elite 8. And he was once rewarded when he joined Williamson that yr, as a primary crew AP All-American after averaging 22.6 PPG.
22. DeMarcus Cousins, C (Kentucky, 2009-10)
Cousins was once the primary famous person giant guy at Kentucky beneath John Calipari. With John Wall anchoring the motion at the perimeter, Cousins was once a dominant pressure, averaging 15.1 PPG, 9.8 RPG and 1.8 BPG. He completed 2nd in offensive rebounding share that yr, in line with KenPom, and helped Kentucky finish its season with a 35-3 file and an Elite 8 look. He earned a primary crew AP All-The us spot, and stays one in every of maximum dominant submit avid gamers in this record.
There have been a large number of ordinary moments for Simmons, who was once adopted by means of a movie workforce right through his time in Baton Rouge. The 6-10 standout additionally averaged 19.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG and four.8 APG, impacting the sport in tactics few newcomers had prior to he arrived at the scene. The Tigers in the end fell wanting expectancies with Simmons at the roster, however his manufacturing was once sufficient to earn a place as a 2nd crew AP All-American.
Bagley, the No. 1 recruit within the ESPN magnificence of 2017, earned Trainer Ok’s agree with early in his profession — an indication of his adulthood — when the mythical chief stated he felt ok with Bagley taking the final shot in a detailed recreation all over a tricky non-conference loss. Throughout his freshman season in Durham, Bagley averaged 21.0 PPG and 11.1 RPG and in addition made 65% of his pictures throughout the arc. He additionally completed with a double-double in his crew’s additional time loss to Kansas within the Elite 8.
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1H UK Ok. Cities Block.
1H (17:00) UK Karl-Anthony Cities Block.
The 2014-15 Kentucky crew is among the largest that didn’t win a countrywide identify. And Cities was once a key piece for the Wildcats, who went on a 38-game profitable streak prior to shedding to Wisconsin within the Ultimate 4. Whilst the uncooked numbers do not appear vital, you must word Cities (10.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG) performed simply 21 mins in line with recreation on a squad with 9 long run NBA avid gamers prior to he become a 2nd crew AP All-American and the No. 1 pick out within the 2015 NBA draft.
Ayton was once the highest participant in ESPN’s recruiting magnificence of 2017 prior to Michael Porter Jr. after which Marvin Bagley III surpassed him. But, Ayton arguably had the most efficient statistical season of the trio, all of whom entered the NBA draft in 2018. Ayton gained %-12 participant of the yr and a primary crew AP All-The us spot after averaging 20.1 PPG and 11.6 RPG.
Past due within the season, Kansas had simply hit its stride when Joel Embiid suffered an damage that ended his collegiate yr. However Wiggins, who averaged 17.1 PPG and 5.9 RPG and was once in the end the No. 1 pick out within the 2014 NBA draft, persisted his very good effort — which incorporated a 41-point efficiency within the Jayhawks’ common season finale loss at West Virginia. Kansas wasn’t at complete energy within the postseason, exiting in the second one spherical of the NCAA event, however Wiggins nonetheless put in combination some of the largest freshman seasons in contemporary reminiscence.
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Wiggins outdueled Parker the final time Kansas performed Duke
The final time Kansas performed Duke in 2013, Jabari Parker scored a game-high 27 issues, however Andrew Wiggins and the Jayhawks walked out of the United Middle with the win.
16. Jabari Parker, F (Duke, 2013-14)
In his effort to face out within the recruiting fight for Parker, Mike Krzyzewski confirmed as much as Parker’s Chicago highschool in a limo for one recreation. It labored. Parker signed with Duke, averaged 19.7 PPG as a freshman with the Blue Devils and secured a slot at the AP All-The us first crew. He led a Duke roster that completed first in adjusted offensive potency on KenPom that season.
The 7-foot-1 big name’s idol is Kevin Durant. Just like the NBA famous person, Holmgren challenged the normal knowledge about what the tallest man at the court docket was once able to attaining in school basketball. It wasn’t simply the numbers — 14.1 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.7 BPG, 39% from the 3-point line — that inspired the rustic as he earned a 2nd crew AP All-The us nod and helped his crew succeed in the Candy 16. It was once additionally the sheer dominance from a participant who showcased a versatility few avid gamers his dimension had ever exhibited at this degree.
14. Tyler Hansbrough, F (North Carolina, 2005-06)
Hansbrough wasn’t within the authentic model of those scores, however he will have to were. The previous North Carolina big name averaged 18.9 PPG and seven.8 RPG as a freshman with the Tar Heels. He additionally made 57% of his pictures throughout the arc that season. He was once an Related Press All-The us third-team variety, too — the primary of 4 consecutive appearances on an AP All-The us crew in his profession.
13. Kevin Love, F (UCLA, 2007-08)
On a crew with 4 long run NBA avid gamers, Love emerged because the chief, and helped the Bruins succeed in their 1/3 consecutive Ultimate 4. With averages of 17.5 issues, 10.6 rebounds and a 61% clip throughout the arc, Love completed his freshman season because the %-12’s participant of the yr and a primary crew AP All-American. His ultimate school statline — the Ultimate 4 loss to Memphis — was once 12 issues, 9 rebounds and three blocks.
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In this date: Wall, Cousins win SEC identify for Kentucky in OT
On March 14, 2010, the Wildcats, led by means of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, pressure additional time with a buzzer-beater and beat Mississippi State for the SEC identify.
12. John Wall, G (Kentucky, 2009-10)
The “John Wall dance” was once the previous Kentucky big name’s maximum viral contribution to university basketball in 2009-10 — additionally John Calipari’s first in Lexington. Wall was once additionally memorable as a result of few collegiate newcomers have ever performed together with his explosiveness and aggression. In his lone season in Lexington, Wall averaged 16.6 PPG, 6.5 APG and 1.8 SPG, led his crew to the Elite 8 after incomes a place as a Picket Award finalist, profitable SEC participant of the yr and being named to the AP All-The us first crew. He additionally completed 1/3 within the nation in assists in line with recreation.
11. Jared Sullinger, C (Ohio State, 2010-11)
A yr prior to he led Ohio State to the Ultimate 4 as a sophomore, Sullinger was once a catalyst for the Buckeyes’ 24-0 get started and height seed within the NCAA event. At the back of 17.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG and a 55% clip throughout the arc, Sullinger earned a place at the AP All-The us first crew — an honor he would repeat a yr later.
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3H DUKE J. Okafor made Layup.
OT (1:44) DUKE Jahlil Okafor made Layup.
10. Jahlil Okafor, C (Duke, 2014-15)
Okafor and his 2014-15 Duke teammates have been simply the second one freshman nucleus to safe a countrywide identify within the one-and-done generation — which began with the 2007 NBA draft. Whilst Okafor misplaced the Picket Award race to Wisconsin big name Frank Kaminsky, he submit giant numbers (17.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 66% clip throughout the arc) and ended his season with Mike Krzyzewski’s 5th — and ultimate — nationwide identify, together with a primary crew AP All-The us spot.
9. Derrick Rose, G (Memphis, 2007-08)
Rose was once seconds from finishing his first and most effective season of school basketball even upper in this record. However former Kansas standout Mario Chalmers hit the game-tying 3-pointer within the Jayhawks’ nationwide identify recreation victory over the Tigers, and adjusted historical past. The all-Convention USA first crew variety averaged 20.8 PPG, 6.0 APG and six.5 RPG all over the NCAA event and gained a countrywide championship, which might have punctuated a outstanding yr on a stacked roster.
8. Michael Beasley, F (Kansas State, 2007-08)
There’s no respected top-25 record about freshman performances in males’s school basketball that doesn’t come with Beasley within the top-10. With the Wildcats, Beasley averaged 26.2 PPG, 12.4 RPG and shot 38% from past the arc, becoming a member of former Loyola Marymount big name Hank Gathers to guide the country in each scoring and rebounding that season. Ok-State misplaced in the second one spherical of the NCAA event, however Beasley’s numbers that yr didn’t appear actual — particularly for a freshman.
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Trae Younger finishes roller-coaster freshman season
Oklahoma’s Trae Younger went from being under-recruited in highschool to being the primary guy to ever lead the country in scoring and assists in only one yr with the Sooners.
When Younger was once at the court docket for Oklahoma seven years in the past, it wasn’t unusual for him to peer NBA big name Russell Westbrook within the stands or to get a textual content message from long run hall-of-famer Chris Paul after a really perfect recreation. Younger become the primary participant in males’s school basketball historical past to guide the country in assists (271, averaging 8.7 APG) and issues (848, averaging 27.4 PPG), production an unmatched résumé. The most important mark on it: The Sooners misplaced within the first spherical of the NCAA event to Rhode Island.
6. Greg Oden, C (Ohio State, 2006-07)
The No. 1 pick out within the 2007 NBA draft battled a proper wrist damage all season, so we will by no means understand how just right a faculty basketball participant he may in point of fact were when wholesome. And but, he averaged an improbable 15.7 PPG, 9.6 RPG and three.3 BPG, gained the NABC defensive participant of the yr award and was once a primary crew AP All-American, after he led his crew to a 35-win season and the nationwide championship recreation.
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Duke greats beneath Trainer Ok: Who ya were given?
Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson are one of the vital nice avid gamers to play beneath Mike Krzyzewski at Duke. Relive a few of their perfect performs.
The day after Williamson’s shoe broke all over a house recreation towards North Carolina, Nike’s inventory worth reportedly dropped by means of greater than $1 billion. Williamson’s have an effect on was once felt no longer simply within the inventory marketplace despite the fact that, but additionally at the court docket. He averaged 22.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.1 SPG and 1.8 BPG and led the Blue Devils to the Elite 8. His stature was once confirmed by means of his dominant, uncontested run to the Picket Award (he was once the 1/3 freshman to reach the glory) and the ACC participant of the yr nod.
Despite the fact that he fell wanting his dream to guide Duke to a countrywide championship, Flagg — simply the fourth freshman to win the Picket Award — had some of the largest freshman seasons in NCAA historical past. He averaged 18.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.3 BPG and 1.4 SPG. He additionally made 37% of his 3-point makes an attempt. Even with no ring, few newcomers have matched Flagg’s marketing campaign.
3. Carmelo Anthony, F (Syracuse, 2002-03)
Final week, Anthony’s son, Kiyan, dedicated to Syracuse. When he arrives, he’s going to see his father’s identify at the apply facility — which isn’t the complete extent of Anthony’s legacy. Throughout the 2002-03 season, the all-Large East first crew variety and rookie of the yr carried Syracuse to its lone nationwide championship and gained Maximum Exceptional Participant after averaging 20.1 PPG and 9.8 RPG, whilst connecting on 48% of his 3-point makes an attempt.
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Flashback: Kevin Durant tallies 37 issues, 23 rebounds at Texas
On Jan. 31, 2007, Texas freshman Kevin Durant ruled Texas Tech to the music of a 37 issues and 23 rebounds in a 76-64 win.
Durant by no means skilled a deep run within the NCAA event, after his crew was once ousted in the second one spherical. However he noticed an abundance of significant achievements all over his quick stint with the Longhorns: He gained the Picket Award after averaging 25.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG and 1.9 BPG, whilst additionally connecting on 40% of his 3-point makes an attempt and 81% of his loose throws. His rookie season featured some of the largest offensive shows in school basketball historical past.
Davis ended his lone season in school basketball with Kentucky’s first nationwide championship in 14 years and a choice of accolades no freshman in The us has matched over the last 25 seasons. That record contains the Picket Award, Maximum Exceptional Participant within the NCAA event and the NABC defensive participant of the yr award. Davis (14.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.7 BPG in 2011-12) additionally led the country in blocks.
