Thursday, December 2, 2010

The Rebirth: Five Freshman Who Can Counter Disappointing Start

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell
College Basketball recruiting is as misleading as the hype that surrounds it. Many players are highly-touted coming out of high school, and are proclaimed as super freshman, but not many have stepped up to the plate.

There are many freshman that have already made their mark on the College Basketball world.

Take Duke's Kyrie Irving for example. Irving currently is tied for first in scoring for the No. 1 team in the nation at 16.8 points, as well as 5.5 assist per game.

Kentucky freshman Brandon Knight, and Terrence Jones have also made major noise as the top players in the game.

However, some players aren't as fortunate, and isn't currently in the right situation coming in.

Here is a look at some of the freshman that hasn't lived up to their high expectations.

C.J. Leslie (NCSU) - 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks per game
C.J. Leslie was looked on to be the superstar of this young Wolfpack team that has just three seniors. Despite starting the season off with a 21 point, six rebound, six block campaign, Leslie has looked like a non-factor from there on. Leslie has scored in double-figures twice this whole season. Leslie has struggled from the field in his last three games nailing 6-of-21(28%) shots and NC State is (1-2) over that stretch. His jumpshot, and ability to work for his shot has to improve if he wants to live up to his lofty expectations.

Patric Young (FLA) - 4.2 points, 3.0 rebounds per game
When Patric Young committed to Florida nobody expected him to start, but most expected him to be a fearsome competitor off the bench. However, coach Billy Donavan hasn't seen much aggressiveness out of his 6-foot-9 freshman and it shows both on the court and on the stats sheet. Young, converts on a lot of his attempts but doesn't seem to take many shots. The Gators need Young to be aggressive off the bench, and ignite the second unit with great post play.

Fab Melo (SYR) - 2.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks per game
Fab Melo was considered the No. 1 center in the 2010 recruiting class. However, he has yet to live up to the expectations of being a go to post threat down low. Melo has started all seven games for Syracuse, but only logging an average of 13.4 minutes per game. Melo has struggled getting into a groove, which really hurts his playing time. Syracuse needs Melo to attack the boards, and become what everyone pegged him as, which was the best low post scorer in the 2010 class.

Terrence Ross (WASH)5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist per game
Ross was brought to Washington with the belief that he could ignite the wing. However, early he has done everything but that. Ross comes off the bench for the Huskies and rarely produces in his 13.7 minutes of play. Ross is on a cold streak hitting on 20 percent of his shots during this stretch. For Ross to bounce back, he needs to continue to work on his jumper, and build confidence in his jump shot.

Harrison Barnes (UNC) - 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assist per game
Barnes had so much unbearable pressure placed on him before he touched a basketball. He was pegged as AP Preseason All American, and is the main reason the 'Heels were a top-10 team when the season started. Barnes hasn't necessarily played bad, more so, hasn't played good. Barnes has been off from the field, but that is definitely commendable and could be curbed in no time. I expect Barnes to shake his cold shooting and become the leader the 'Heels need.

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