Each week we release the Freshman Tracker, and each week there are new names and movement.
We’ve got a new No. 1 this week. Well, actually it’s an old No. 1 who moves back to the top spot.
Check back each week as we'll have updates on how the top freshmen did on the floor and give you the rundown on the top first-year players in the country in a season in which the young guys wasted little time taking center stage.
Here is our updated ranking of the 10 best freshmen in college basketball.
1. Jabari Parker, F, Duke Blue Devils
6-foot-8, 235 pounds
Parker went through a rough stretch early in ACC play, but that’s ancient history.
The skilled Chicago native had 21 points and eight boards in a win over Wake Forest on Tuesday and then went for career highs of 29 points and 16 rebounds in a victory at Boston College.
This week: Wednesday at North Carolina; Saturday vs. Maryland
Stats: 19.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 48 percent FG, 37 percent 3-pointers |
Previous rank: 2
2. Tyler Ennis, PG, Syracuse Orange
6-2, 180 pounds
Ennis took only five shots in the win against Notre Dame, but he still found a way to make a major impact on the game. The Canadian finished with six points, eight assists and just two turnovers. Ennis has an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 4-to-1.
This week: Sunday vs. Clemson; Wednesday at Pittsburgh; Saturday vs. NC State
Stats: 12.1 PPG, 5.7 APG, 3.3 RPG, 2.3 SPG |
Previous rank: 1
3. Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky Wildcats
6-9, 250 pounds
Randle had a semi-quiet week, averaging 14 points and six rebounds in a pair of wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State. He had 12 points and five boards against the Rebels and 16 points and seven rebounds in a road win over the Bulldogs.
This week: Wednesday at Auburn; Saturday vs. Florida
Stats: 16 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 53 percent FG |
Previous rank: 3
4. Joel Embiid, C, Kansas Jayhawks
7-0, 250 pounds
The skilled big man from Cameroon struggled in the win at Baylor, finishing with five points and seven boards. He then got into early foul trouble in the victory against West Virginia but still managed to go for 11 points and 12 boards as well as swatting three shots.
This week: Monday at Kansas State; Saturday vs. TCU
Stats: 10.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.6 BPG, 62 percent FG |
Previous rank: 4
5. Andrew Wiggins, SF, Kansas Jayhawks
6-8, 200 pounds
Wiggins had a lackluster first half at Baylor but wound up with 14 points, seven boards and five assists in the win. He finished with 19 points in a home victory over West Virginia on Saturday.
This week: Monday at Kansas State; Saturday vs. TCU
Stats: 16 PPG, 6 RPG, 44 percent FG, 37 percent 3-pointers |
Previous rank: 5
6. Jordan Mickey, PF, LSU Tigers
6-8, 220 pounds
Mickey scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a loss at Georgia and then went for 14 points, 10 boards and three blocks in a victory against Auburn on Saturday.
This week: Wednesday at Texas A&M; Saturday at Arkansas
Stats: 13.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.6 BPG |
Previous rank: 7
7. Marcus Foster, G, Kansas State Wildcats
6-2, 200 pounds
No one knew about Foster a few months ago. Now just about everyone knows about the unheralded recruit. Foster erupted for 34 points (13-of-16 from the field) in the Wildcats' huge win over Texas in Manhattan.
This week: Monday vs. Kansas; Saturday at Baylor
Stats: 14.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 37 percent 3-pointers |
Previous rank: 10
8. Aaron Gordon, F, Arizona Wildcats
6-9, 225 pounds
The Wildcats' athletic forward plays with a high motor, but his offensive game has really struggled of late. Gordon had just six points and eight boards in the win over Oregon, was just 2-of-11 from the line in that contest and is now shooting 42 percent for the season from the charity stripe.
This week: Sunday vs. Oregon State; Friday at Arizona State
Stats: 11.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG |
Previous rank: 6
9. Isaiah Taylor, PG, Texas Longhorns
6-1, 170 pounds
The California native has come on strong the last month or so. He had 11 points, seven assists and two turnovers in a win at TCU on Tuesday and scored 17 in the losing effort at Kansas State.
This week: Tuesday vs. Oklahoma State; Saturday vs. West Virginia
Stats: 12.3 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.2 RPG |
Previous ranking: 8
10. Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana Hoosiers
6-10, 240 pounds
Vonleh put up two more double-doubles last week. First, it was 10 points and 12 boards in a win over Michigan in Bloomington and then came a 12-point, 12-rebound effort in a loss Saturday at Minnesota.
This week: Wednesday vs. Penn State; Saturday at Purdue
