Ranking the top 10 freshmen hoopsters in NCAA

[Guest abovetherim]

Ranking the top 10 freshmen hoopsters in NCAA

Cut to the chase

By Chase Hidalgo, Sports Writer

Everyone knows I’m a huge college football guy, but when November hits I get just as excited for hoops season. That’s right, college basketball is on the horizon and that can only mean one thing — it means I get to hear one of the greatest voices on television, Mr. Dick Vitale. If you know Dicky V, then you know what he always likes to talk about — Diaper Dandies! And with all the great young talent coming onto the college basketball scene this year, this gives me a great chance to rank the top 10 freshman of the 2007-08 season. These are kids who won’t be riding the pine for a year or two but the kids will make an immediate impact in the basketball world. Remember Kevin Durant and Greg Oden.

10. Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky

This kid will be huge help for Billy Gillispie’s Wildcats. The Kentucky backcourt is already stacked with talent, but the frontcourt needed some help, enter Mr. Patterson. Patterson had the college basketball world on the edge of their seats while he waited until the final day of the recruiting process to make a commitment, but now that he has a home in Lexington, he will have Wildcat fans very pleased.

9. Kosta Koufas, C, Ohio State

This talented center made a huge commotion on the International scene this year playing for Greece at the Under-18 championships in Spain. Koufas was named tournament MVP after averaging a whopping 26.5 points, 13 boards and 3.5 blocks per game. With the recent departure of phenom Greg Oden to the NBA, this youngster will provide fans in Columbus with a little closure.

8. Donte Green, SF, Syracuse 

This kid tore it up in last year’s McDonald’s All-American game making SU fans very eager to start the season. It’s not fair to compare him to Carmello Anthony, but he certainly has All-American talent. With Green and incoming freshman point guard Johnny Flynn (who was also a McDonald’s All-American) coming to Syracuse, the Big East will be a cakewalk for several years.

7. Kyle Singler, SF, Duke 

This kid already has ACC Rookie of the Year honors sown up. Singler is a great perimeter shooter and will remind the Blue Devil nation of a certain Dukie that roamed Cameron Indoor Stadium, ala Mike Dunleavy Jr. Singler is also a good defender because of his long wingspan, and is a perfect fit for Coach K’s group.

6. DeAndre Jordan, C, Texas A&M

I got a chance to see this 7-footer play in Nederland at the Bulldog Classic last year and let me tell you, he’s nothing nice! Probably the best center in the class of ’07, Jordan chose to remain an Aggie even after Gillispie left for greener pastures at Kentucky. New head coach Mark Turgeon comes in and

finds gold, as he inherits Jordan and veteran Joseph Jones. These two playing beside one another will be the reason A&M could win the Big12 title.

5. Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis

The Tigers just keep getting stronger while C-USA keeps getting weaker. Rose will come in and start immediately for the Tigers at the point, but some say only for one year.  Some project Rose to only for one of the top three picks in the NBA Draft in 2008. This Chicago born phenom could turn out to be the best player in the nation, not just the C-USA.

4. Eric Gordon, SG, Indiana

This is about as talented a young man as your going to find. Gordon averaged 28 points per game over the Hoosier’s Labor Day-weekend trip to the Bahamas, and will be the main reason Indian could win the Big Ten. Some believe with the commitment of Gordon, comes Final Four appearances. I won’t disagree.

3. Kevin Love, C, UCLA

Talented, fundamentally sound and smart…that’s what is commonly used to describe Kevin Love, who is the best recruit to fall in the hands of Ben Howland since his arrival at UCLA. Love is what the Bruins need to get over the hump and finally win a National Title, and with one of the best point guards in the nation (Darren Collison), three Final Fours in a row isn’t enough. And if the  pressure of winning the title isn’t enough, Love is already getting compared to Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton. Good luck with that, Kevin.

2. OJ Mayo, SG, USC

With current USC point guard Daniel Hackett out with a broken jaw, the reigns will be handed to Mayo to lead this team right out of the gate. Mayo lit it up in his first exhibition game as a Trojan scoring 29, but now that the spotlight is on him (just as it’s always been), he gets his chance to show the world whether or not he is deserving of all the hype. Grab some popcorn folks, because this kid is amazing.

1. Michael Beasley, F, Kansas State

Even though Beasley was quoted as saying he would follow Bob Huggins anywhere he went, he chose to stay in Manhattan and remain a Wildcat. With that said, KSU sold out their season tickets for the first time in over 25 years. Regarded as one of the best players ever in the high school ranks, Beasley could have Wildcat fans thinking Big12 title. The lack of guard play will prove  otherwise, but none-the-less, this kid is the real deal. Beasley definitely has the ability to put up numbers like UT’s Kevin Durant (now a SuperSonic) did last year and win awards, but winning ball games is more important and that’s hard to do by yourself...Just ask Kobe!

http://www.theexaminer.com/npps/story.cfm?ID=1998

[lonestar]

Jordan did well tonight in the Aggies first exhibition game.  I am excited to watch him this season.....I just hope it isn't his only one in college.

[lonestar]

Having seen Jordan play again, I will say that he is going to be the victim of the hack a shack method.  He is great down low, but is absolutely terrible at free throws.

[Cameron Crazy]

Kyle Singler is one legit basketball player, he dominated in California.

Should be a good season for him.

[Roll_Left15]

Eric Gordon is something to watch...he went for 33 last night in Indiana debut, while Kevin Love went for 21 in another Bruin victory.