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One & Done: The 10 Best Freshmen of the 2010-11 College Basketball Season
The new college basketball season begins tonight with the annual 2K Sports Classic, which means the coming months will feature epic upsets, irritating Duke white boys, and awesome facials. But, let's be honest: Most people don't really start paying attention to college ball until March Madness. There is, however, at least one good reason to watch NCAA hoops before the spring...actually, we're giving you 10 good reasons: The 10 Best Freshmen of the 2010-11 College Basketball Season. Everybody loves a new phenom—you know, we get older, they stay the same age—so we've compiled and ranked the hottest blue-chippers from across the nation. Who's the next John Wall? Who will be rocking a Clippers jersey next year? Read on and get familiar.
#10. Brandon Knight, Kentucky
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'4"/PG
HOMETOWN: Coral Gables, FL
COMPLEX SAYS: Can anyone replace John Wall at Kentucky this season? Brandon Knight seems up to the task, with all the makings of a Wall clone—except more of a scorer’s mentality. The more important question: How's his Dougie?
#9. Fab Melo, Syracuse
HEIGHT/POSITION: 7'0"/C
HOMETOWN: Juiz de Forz, Brazil
COMPLEX SAYS: Illest.basketball.name...ever? The ’Cuse's newest Melo is a 7-foot beast who is sometimes called "The Big, Bad Brazilian Banger." Uh, pause. It's only a matter of time before you hear "Fab Melo" pop up in a Joe Budden freestyle.
#8. Kyrie Irving, Duke
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'2"/PG
HOMETOWN: Elizabeth, NJ
COMPLEX SAYS: The Blue Devils may be hard-pressed to repeat, but they're primed for success with Irving playing point. He may not have quite the scoring ability of Brandon Knight or Josh Selby, but he's got a wicked crossover and the type of flair that will give Cameron Crazies wet dreams.
#8. C.J. Leslie, N.C. State
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'9"/PF
HOMETOWN: Holly Springs, NC
COMPLEX SAYS: For a player of his height to have the speed and athleticism that he possesses, C.J. can best be described as a Tila Tequila on hardwood: straight FREAK.
#6. Josh Selby, Kansas
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'2"/PG
HOMETOWN: Baltimore
COMPLEX SAYS: Selby has the potential to be a dominant force in the Big 12 Conference—that is, if he even gets a chance to play. Assuming the NCAA does make him eligible, we have Selby pegged as the cream of this year's PG crop.
#5. Terrence Jones, Kentucky
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'9"/SF
HOMETOWN: Portland, OR
COMPLEX SAYS: Not unlike C.J. Leslie, Terrence Jones is fast and athletic. But what separates Jones is his PG-like handle, which should help him create for himself like a modern-day T-Mac. With incoming frosh like Jones, Brandon Knight, and Turkish sensation Enes Kanter, it's pretty obvious that John Calipari is college basketball's best recruiter—the slick bastard!
#4. Tobias Harris, Tennessee
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'8"/PF
HOMETOWN: Dix Hills, NY
COMPLEX SAYS: With his mean jumper and sophisticated post moves, Tobias Harris has been compared to everyone from Carmelo Anthony to Bernard King. But don’t sleep on his defense, either. In college, Tobias is what we call a "matchup nightmare," but he may be get that dreaded "tweener" tag in the NBA. We'll see. Sidebar: His cousin is Channing Frye, and his sister, Tesia, is a starting guard for the University of Delaware.
#3. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'9"/PF
HOMETOWN: Columbus, OH
COMPLEX SAYS: Sullinger has the best post-up game out of any of the incoming freshmen and possesses an all-around game that many scouts are already calling NBA-ready. Plus, he looks a lot like Big Noyd. That should count for something.
#2. Will Barton, Memphis
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'6"/SG
HOMETOWN: Baltimore
COMPLEX SAYS: Will "The Thrill" is another freshman who had his eligibility questioned, but he appears good to go for the new season. Silky-smooth and sinewy with Showtime-esque skills, we're predicting Barton will be a SportsCenter regular by spring.
#1. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina
HEIGHT/POSITION: 6'7"/SF
HOMETOWN: Ames, IA
COMPLEX SAYS: Without even playing a single collegiate minute, this versatile forward was named to the AP preseason All-American team—the first freshman to ever achieve the honor. Suffice to say, Barnes is on his way to big things. In short: Blake Griffin (or John Wall), you'll be getting some help next year. Hold tight.
