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The incoming NCAA freshman class (Class of 2013) features a number of potential
one and done talents and a lot of depth. What last year’s freshman class lacked
in both categories, the current freshman class possesses in droves.

NCAA Freshman Rankings – Class of 2013

John Wall 6-4 182 PG Kentucky Fr. — The freshman
dynamo has tremendous upside and the potential to come in and take the country
by storm. He’s physically mature but he might need
time for his skills to fully round into shape. He lacks a consistent jumpshot
and although he has natural playmaking instincts at the point guard position,
he still needs time to develop his decision making in the half court set. Calipari’s
wide open system should allow him to utilize his amazing physical gifts, getting
out on the break for breathtaking finishes and setting up teammates for easy baskets.

Derrick Favors 6-9 225 PF Georgia Tech Fr. —
A freakishly long and athletic forward with a high motor. Favors has the look
and feel of a one and done top 5 pick talent. If his offensive game develops to
the point where he can consistently knock down midrange shots, it’s a slam dunk
(top 5) and he’ll have a chance to make a push for the top overall selection. He’s added
some bulk since his senior year but still needs to work on his offensive post
skills and prove he has a consistent face up game.

John Henson 6-10 190 PF UNC Fr. — Some feel
Henson has the most long term potential of anyone in this class. He’s currently more prospect than player. Henson oozes upside, but he’s
far from NBA ready and doesn’t have the aggressiveness or body strength to battle
inside at the college level right now. He will likely struggle to get the necessary
playing time to be a one and done guy, and could be 2 – 3 years away. His lack
of aggressiveness borders on the alarming at times and he has developed a number
of detractors. He’ll need to develop a mean streak on the floor to counter his
nice guy persona off the court.

DeMarcus Cousins 6-10 250 PF Kentucky Fr.
— When inspired, Cousins is a multifaceted bigman with a great deal of talent.
His biggest enemy appears to be himself as he doesn’t always seem to push himself
to get the most out of his abilities. Being able to put the ball on the floor
and create offense facing the basket along with his physical gifts makes him very intriguing to scouts and he’s clearly among the top handful of prospects in the class.

Xavier Henry 6-6 220 SG Kansas Fr. — After
missing much of his senior year after being injured in a car accident, Henry appears
to be back close to 100 percent. He bulked up a little too much before the summer
so it will be interesting to see his body once the season begins. He’s a deadeye
shooter with excellent strength and explosiveness. His lateral quickness and foot
speed are keys.

Avery Bradley 6-3 180 SG Texas Fr.
— Has been built up as a combo and some rumors have him pushing to play PG for
Texas at least part time as a freshman. In the half dozen times we’ve seen him
he has appeared to be more of a 2 than a PG or combo. He’s got a huge wingspan
which counteracts the lack of height (6’3). He’s a tremendous defender and has
both the quickness to get by opponents off the dribble as well as a picture perfect
jumpshot. Regardless, he may need 2-3 years before he’s ready to take his game
to the next level.

Michael Snaer 6-4 185 SG Florida St. Fr.
— A late bloomer, Snaer is an explosive wing with the ability to score attacking
the rim. He could be an instant impact guy, but probably ends up hanging around
Tallahassee for a few years before blossoming into a college star and becoming
a first rounder.

Wally Judge 6-9 220 SF Kansas St. Fr. — One
of the bigtime talents in this class, Judge is still making the transition from
the 4 to the 3 position. It remains to be seen how much he’s asked to play inside
being so efficient rebounding the ball and using his athleticism to score inside.
Judge has excellent potential as a natural wing forward, but will need to develop
his skills on the perimeter.

Daniel Orton 6-10 240 PF Kentucky Fr. — The
third Kentucky recruit on this list, Orton is a bigtime talent in his own right.
He’s more likely to hang around for 2-3 years than Wall and Cousins. Another physical
specimen, Orton has shown a commitment to improving his body over the offseason
working with Chameleon style trainer Frank Matrisciano. Orton might get
caught up in a numbers game initially but could turn into a lottery pick by his
sophomore season.

Mouphtaou Yarou 6-9 240 PF Villanova Fr. —
Has come a long way in a short time after coming over to the US from Benin (West
Africa) in early 2008. Yarou shows a high motor and excellent strength inside
with good hands and touch. He’ll have a shot to develop into a lottery pick in
a few short years at Villanova.

NCAA Freshman Rankings – Class of 2013

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21 Comments

Author: Aran Smith

21 Comments

  3. To answer your question
    To answer your question Dend, I am from NC and have seen both play. Ryan Kelly is a 4 year player straight up. He has a picture perfect stroke and moves well for his size, but is a below average athlete, and spends too much time on the perimeter. That being said he will thrive in Duke’s system.

    Plumlee has incredible potential. He has a lot of guard skills as a 6’11” prospect. However he is a tweener. Has the perfect body for a 4 but tries to play the 3. He has awesome athleticism and is incredible quick and agile. With his skills and his size he should have dominated high school instead I never really saw him dominate a game and he would be guarded by someone 6’5″ every game. If he can put all his tools together though he will be a monster.

  4. it’s almost criminal that
    it’s almost criminal that Lance Stephenson and Renardo Sidney aren’t on this list. I would chose them over everyone on this list except for Wall and Favors. And r u seriously thinking Cousins is in better shape and plays harder than Sidney. If Sidney is lazy on the court, then Cousins is sleeping out there

  5. TheEND – check again. both
    TheEND – check again. both players you mentioned are listed – Plumlee (28), Kelly (44).

    Q – Judge is a real nice prospect, still raw but shows a great deal of potential. I think he’s going to instantly be solid, with the potential to be like a Caron Butler (looks a little bit like him) down the road. Right now he’s a raw athlete, very active without much range or skill on the perimeter.

  6. J’Covan Brown
    J’Covan Brown will play his way onto this list and probably into the top half of it, but I don’t blame you for omitting him. Jordan Hamilton is 6’8 and will be move up this list this year.

  7. What about the incoming Aussies?
    I can’t believe your Freshman rankings have not even considered the incoming class of Australian’s direct from the Australian Institute of Sport. In fact it appears whop have ignored many of the incoming internationals!
    There are some highly talented Aussie prospects, including combo guard Matthew Dellavedova who is set to replace is compatriot Patty Mills at Saint Mary’s. Dellavedova just recently debuted for his national senior team and was integral in gaining wins over China (complete with Sun Yue etc), Angola and Argentina.
    Also, keep an eye on athletic froward Brock Motum at Washington State, Cody Ellis (Forward) and Christian Salecich (Guard) at Saint Louis, Shane Harris-Tunks at Colorado (Centre), and Mitchell Young (Forward) and Jordan Page (Guard) who are also headed to Saint Mary’s.

  8. Lance Stephenson
    I knew you wouldn’t put Lance Stephenson on there but he the better prospect then all of them maybe besides John Wall.Stephenson will have a great year in college and will help Cincinnatti make run at the big east title and even futher.

  9. Foreign players entering college

    The incoming Aussies are pretty good college ball players, but I am not sure you would consider them top 50 incoming. 

    I watched Matt Dellaveda play against France and he has a great stroke ( he can definitely shoot the ball and even was able to make a few pump fakes, one dribble shot) but the 5 foot 8 Albicy from France was giving him fits.  He was not able to run the team nor was he able to shoot over him and definitely was not able to stay with him defensively.  But that being said he was a great shooter and is a zone breaker.  He just has lots of trouble against quick guards which is not much of a problem in the WCC but can be to be considered top 50 incoming Freshmen with pro potential.  I also watched him against the Croatian Prostran and he had the same problems (especially dealing with handling the ball when guards apply pressure on him). 

    That being said Brock Motum (even though I loved Cody Ellis’s style he too just lack athleticism) is probably the best pro prospect of the Aussies because he was the most athletic of their big men.  He is listed as 6’9 but lacks strength in the post that would be required for him to bo be considered in the list but is fundamental and has decent athleticism.  The 6 foot 7 Christophe Leonard, from France, manhandled the entire Australian front line and the same could be said about Delas and Zubcic for Croatia.

    IMO the best incoming international Freshmen are not Australian but Canadian:

    The Canadian Kelly Olynyk at 6’11 probably could be included on the list.  He can hit the internatioan 3 pointer and saw him have a top of the key pump fake two dribble one hand dunk against team USA that was quite impressive.  He appeared to have the same level of athleticsim as Moum, was stronger in the Post, has more range in his jump shot and is two inches taller.  There could be a compelling argument to add him to the list.  He is headed to Gonzag.

    The other Canadian and Zag Mangisto Arop at 6’5 came in with some hype but was not as impressive in games I observed in the FIBA u-19 tournament.  He is long and has athletic attibutes that may lead him to be an NBA prospect with skill development.

    I know that Aran was aware of all these international players but he believed that those 50 are better than the incoming international players. 

    We also should remember that the pool of international players going to college isn ot what it once was , except for players from countries such as Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, and New Zealand the best players for the most part do not play in NCAA because they rather play against the best competition which happens in the most part to be in pro leagues.  The NCAA changed the rules (or started enforcing) of international eligiblity and has made it more difficult for college age players to have kept their amateur status.  Furthermore many are receiving some form of compensation as early as in high school and the best young athletes other than the countries listed above prefer to play for a pro league instead of worrying about their eligibity status to play in a foreign country for nothing more than an education taught in a language different than their own. 

     

  11. freshmen
    Can you give us some info about michael snaer, xavier henry and other probably freshmen stars?With strengths,weaknesses and numeric evalutation about athleticism,size…
    thank you

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