there are a bunch of talented freshmen out there this year, so i thought i’d throw out my early nominations for the CF freshman all-American starting lineup.
point guard - Fletcher Loyer (Purdue) - the 6-foot-4 playmaker has become a stalwart leader for the Boilermakers (currently ranked #1 in the nation). a guard who can create for his teammates while not turning the ball over is tough to find regardless of classification, but he’s doing so as a true freshman! he currently ranks in the top-10 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio. he’s also completely capable of scoring for himself, and has done so in double digits for the last 6 games. he’s not just a shooter, either. he can break down a defense and get into the lane or finish at the rim (as his viral dunk from a couple games ago can attest). the already-two-time Big Ten freshman of the week is poised to make a historic run for Purdue (along with freshman backcourt mate Braden Smith).
combo guard - Aidan Mahaney (Saint Mary’s) - at 6-foot-3, Mahaney can either run the point or play off the ball. his midrange game is a thing of beauty, and he’s already emerging as a go-to scorer for the Gaels. he’s averaging nearly 14 points per game while shooting a superb 42.6% from 3-pt range. he’s also collecting nearly 3 rebounds and almost 2 assists per contest. not surprisingly, he’s already won WCC freshman of the week honors 3 times this year.
Wing - Gradey Dick (Kansas) - a 6-foot-8 guard with athleticism and shooting prowess, Dick is already developing a knack for playing passing lanes on the defensive end. his 15.3 scoring average leads the Big 12 freshman class, and his 24 three-point field goals made rank second in the league.
Stretch four - Kyle Filipowski (Duke) - a versatile 7-footer, Filipowski became the first ever player to win ACC freshman of the week for the first four weeks of a season. he’s scored in double figures in every game this season (the only Blue Devil to do so). he’s also put up double-doubles in half Duke’s games, the most by any freshman in the country and the 4th-most overall. enjoy him while you can, because he’ll be gone soon. he is averaging 14.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks, while shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three, and 81.5 percent from the charity stripe.
Center - Donovan Clingan (UConn) - a
7-foot-2 center out of Bristol Central High School, Clingan has played an important part in UConn’s strong start. the big man was named the Big East freshman of the week after averaging 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 17 minutes per game in wins over Long Island University and Florida. he also made 18 of 19 field goals during that stretch. on the season, Clingan is averaging 10.5 points as well as a team best 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. most of Clingan’s baskets have come by either dunks or putbacks. he’s shooting a team-leading 75 percent from the field.
