[url=http://vaughtsviews.com/?p=13415]Guest post: Which freshman basketball player excites you the most? | Vaught’sViews.com[/url]
Piece by yours truly.
[CENTER][CENTER][FONT="]What freshman do you most want to see in action?[/FONT][/CENTER][/CENTER]
[CENTER][CENTER][FONT="]BY:CIPRIAN ZISU[/FONT][/CENTER][/CENTER]
[FONT="] It seems like just yesterday that the University of Kentucky took a terrible defeat at the hands of the Connecticut Huskies. However, as many things in life, time flies and we are only a few mere months away from a new and even more exciting basketball season. The prospects for this upcoming season are endless and the expectations are as high as ever. With talks of an undefeated 40-0 season and eighth national championship looming, it’s never too early to talk basketball in this great passionate state. [/FONT]
[FONT="] Calipari heads into his third season at UK with a third consecutive top-ranked class of recruits, this one possibly being the best so far, at least by rankings. Three players ranked in the top seven, and a fourth in the top 22 in the nation makes a recipe for success. Lead by heralded consensus top-ranked Anthony Davis, weighing in at 220 lbs and an ever-growing height of 6’10”, this class promises to be indeed special. Michael Gilchrist comes in ranked as the 5th best player in the nation (1st ranked small forward), coming in at 6’6” and 190 lbs and has a motor that would make even the hardest working players in the country appear lazy. The top point guard of this class comes in at number 7 in Marquis Teague. He is raw and lacks a good jumper, but his speed and decision making are special and dare I saw Wall-esque. The fourth and final player in this class is the 22nd best player in the nation (2nd best center) and although he is frequently left out of the conversation of the elite-level Calipari commits, at 6’9”, 225 lbs, Kyle Wiltjer brings a unique and old-school type game to the table that is sure to earn him solid minutes from the get-go. [/FONT]
[FONT="] So we know Davis is a guard stuck in a center’s body. He grew nearly a foot seemingly overnight. His athleticism is straight freaky and I have him as my pick to break, if not shatter, the UK freshman and even all-time single season blocks record. There is no argument or surprise as to why he is the top player in the country and likely the top player in the NBA draft when that day comes. Gilchrist is a work-horse. He will not take plays off, he will grab that 50-50 rebound, dive for the loose ball, and guard anyone Cal asks him to. He can score in many ways and is extremely athletic and another sure lock-in for the NBA lottery. Teague is quick and decisive and will just be the next great point guard to hit the NBA lottery under Cal. I don’t want it to seem like I or anyone else takes Teague for granted. We have been spoiled by all these special point guards, but Cal makes sure they each earn their playing time. I predict that by March madness, we will see a whole new Teague; his bad shooting will be solid and he will be a nightmare for opposing teams to guard. Kyle is the biggest wildcard, because he is likely a multi-year player but with enough talent to be drafted immediately. He has an old-school, back-to-the-basket game, but can also extend to the 3-point line with ease, thus extending opposing offenses to clear up room in the paint for Davis or Jones to work one-on-one. [/FONT]
[FONT="] Now that we have a small refresher on the incoming recruits, who is the freshman that most excites you? Is it the lengthy Davis, the energizer bunny knows as Kidd-Gilchrist, the old-school Wiltjer, or the speed demon Teague? I personally cannot wait to see Davis in action. His guard abilities will make him impossible to guard one-on-one. He will score at will and block anyone within 5 feet of the rim. I predict he will be the SEC freshman of the year and become Cal’s second top-NBA pick since arriving at UK. He will break numerous records, especially on the defensive end and will become a fan-favorite the minute he steps foot on the floor. The uni-brow will strike fear into all opponents on his way to an eighth national championship for the most historic program in history.[/FONT]
[FONT="] Which freshman excites you the most? Who do you want to see play the most? Can UK go undefeated? Will this team bring home number 8?[/FONT]
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[FONT="](All stats provided by Scout.com)[/FONT]
