With the NCAA men's basketball season underway, and the focus - from fans and National Basketball Association (NBA) talent scouts alike - has been on the crop of talented freshmen playing at various college basketball programs around the country. Here is a look at several of the freshmen that has teams talking tanking in the NBA:
SF Andrew Wiggins - University of Kansas
Wiggins started off slowly against against Iona College, Tuesday night, scoring only four points in the first half of the their game but bounced back in the second half to finish the game with 13 points - on a four-of-nine shooting night, seven boards, three assists, and two steals in the Kansas Jayhawks victory over Iona, helping them defeat the Gaels 86-66. Despite a solid performance and the victory, Iona senior guard Sean Armand - who scored 14 points on five-of-15 shooting, tweeted "Of course this kid is the headline on espn. Overrated," in regards to playing against Wiggins.
SF Jabari Parker - Duke University
Parker helped prevent the East Carolina Pirates from upsetting the Duke University Blue Devils, blocking a shot, with the team down five points late in the game, taking the ball coast-to-coast for the slam dunk. Parker has shown great defensive prowess, blocking six shots in the game including two key blocks late in the game, and one steal to go with his 21 points, nine points, and two assists against East Carolina.
PF Julius Randle - University of Kentucky
On a team full of McDonald All-Americans (eight freshman on the roster who played in the annual high school game currently on the Kentucky Wildcats' roster), Randle has managed to stand out, posting a double-double in every single game he has played in a Kentucky Wildcat uniform. Randle scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out four assists and got two blocks in the Wildcats victory over the UT-Arlington on Tuesday. Randle is averaging 20.8 points per game and 13.4 rebounds thus far and looks to be the more polished of the "super freshmen" at the moment.
PF Aaron Gordon - University of Arizona
Aaron Gordon, the 6' 9" forward that has drawn comparisons to Blake Griffin, helped his Arizona Wildcats advance to the NIT semifinals, taking place in Madison Square Garden later in the month, by beating the University of Rhode Island Rams. Gordon dropped 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and two blocks against the Rams. A win over Drexel University next Wednesday, in New York City, sets up a potential preseason NIT championship game against Jabari Parker and the Duke Blue Devils.