My bold prediction that “Freshmen will take the West by storm” is not looking so good right now. Most of the headlines were focused on the talented trio of point guards coming into the league but so far only one of them has made an impact. Oregon guard Jabari Brown got off to a great start during a preseason exhibition tour in Italy and looked like could average 15 points this season. Unfortunately, he only lasted two games before deciding he wanted to transfer. There are some talented freshmen still in the conference but it appears that most of them are a year or two away from being an elite fantasy option. Here are the first year players that are making some noise on the Left Coast.
Tony Wroten, guard, Washington Huskies
The 6-foot-5 native of Seattle is the clear frontrunner for the Pac 12 Freshman of the Year award after the first month of the season. He leads all conference freshmen in points (13.0), assists (3.8) and steals (2.2) despite not starting a single game. He is also contributing on the glass by pulling down 4.2 rebounds. His superior athletic ability allows him to be a factor all over the court but it’s also something that causes him to play out of control from time to time. He is third in the conference in turnovers (4.5) despite playing a little over 24 minutes a night. He also is going to have to work on his touch (29% from deep and 49% from the charity stripe) if he is going to blossom into an All-American candidate down the road. He should be one of the best players in the conference over the next couple of years provided he doesn’t get tempted by the dollar signs of the NBA.
Chasson Randle, guard, Stanford Cardinal
The 6-foot-1 native of Illinois has looked comfortable from the moment he stepped on the Cardinal campus. He beat out one of my favorite sleepers, Anthony Brown, in camp and has started every game. His 6-foot-7 wingspan has made him a terror on the defensive end and allows him to get off his shot over taller players on offense. He is second on the team in minutes (27.4) and third in scoring (11.2 points). He has shown the ability to shoot the ball (42% from three-point land and 84% from the line) and contribute on the glass (3.7 rebounds). He showed he isn’t afraid of the moment when he scored 29 points in two games at Madison Square Garden during the NIT Season Tip-Off. He is going to have quite the career in Palo Alto.
Nick Johnson, guard, Arizona Wildcats
The 6-foot-2 Phoenician is starting to hit his stride and has found himself in the starting lineup the last two games. On a team lacking consistent scorers, he is the one player that can create his own shot consistently. He is averaging 10.8 points and has a good chance to lead the team in scoring this year. He is explosive at the rim, can shoot from deep (46%) and even played some backup point guard earlier in the season. Grab him now if he is available in your league as he should start to put up some good numbers with the increased minutes.
Josiah Turner, guard, Arizona Wildcats
There were some rumbles before the season that the 6-foot-3 native from Sacramento was a one-and-done type of talent. He had a tough start in the first two games and was saddled with the dreaded DNP-CD in game three. He could have gone downhill after that but he has returned to play some solid basketball lately. He is a natural playmaker who occasionally tries to do too much. He has started to take care of the ball (zero turnovers in three of his last four games) and has seen his minutes increase steadily. He needs to work on his outside shot (14% from three-point land) as opponents are backing off of him to keep him out of the lane. He is averaging 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists and could see those numbers rise quickly if he can bust his way back into the starting lineup.
Jahii Carson, guard, Arizona State Sun Devils
The 5-foot-10 local from Mesa was supposed to step right into the Sun Devils vacant point guard spot. The only problem is that the NCAA Clearinghouse is still waiting for an ACT score in order to declare him eligible. I would advise owners to be patient as there is plenty of basketball left to be played and he should still provide an impact after the New Year. The Sun Devils are last in the Pac 12 and 327th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (0.58) so the need for a legit distributer is still there. If he is available in your league, scoop him up and hope he gets clearance to lace them up shortly.
Spencer Dinwiddie, guard, Colorado Buffaloes
The 6-foot-5 native of Los Angeles saw his career get off to a rough start. He shot 7-for-30 in the first five games but that didn’t cause the team to lose confidence in him. Their patience has been rewarded as Dinwiddie has scored 32 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the last two games. With Andre Roberson not taking the leap as a scorer, Dinwiddie could be the one to help take the load off Carlon Brown. Another Buffalo newbie that could be making a name for himself soon is forward Damiene Cain, who left the team in September to focus on academics. He has since returned to the team and impressed the coaching staff in practice. He hasn’t played in a game yet but expect to see him before the calendar turns to 2012.
DaVonte Lacy, guard, Washington State Cougars
The 6-foot-3 native of Tacoma hasn’t been intimidated by the collegiate level. While he has only started two of the Cougars eight games, he is the third-leading scorer (9.8 points) on the team. He is only shooting 39% from the floor but his 89% clip from the foul line indicates it’s most likely just a function of his shot selection. He is showing flashes of an ability to contribute across the board (season highs of six rebounds, five assists and three steals) and could develop into a nice player in dynasty leagues.
David Kravish, forward, California Golden Bears
The 6-foot-9 lanky forward from Missouri is carving a nice role for himself on a deep team. I was interested to see how he would do if given a starting role when Richard Solomon was suspended, but the Bears went with a four-guard lineup instead. Right now he is providing 5.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in a little less than 20 minutes. He is showing a nice touch around the basket (63% shooter) and could develop into a double-double threat down the road if he puts on some weight.
Desmond Simmons, forward, Washington Huskies
The 6-foot-7, 220-pounder redshirted last year after undergoing knee surgery prior to last season. He is only playing 13.7 minutes off the bench this year but appears to have a bright future as coach Lorenzo Romar has compared him to Dennis Rodman due to his relentless effort and junkyard dog mentality. He is doing some damage with his limited court time averaging 4.2 points and 4.3 rebounds. He’s not just a banger either as he has shown range by knocking down all three of his three-point attempts. He figures to have a starting spot next season when Darnell Gant moves on and could be a double-double waiting to happen. He should be owned in all Pac 12 dynasty leagues.