Freshmen Preview

Year one of the NBA's new age restriction on the draft proved to be a massive success at the college level. A plethora of freshman had tremendous impacts across the country including the likes of Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Brandon Wright and Mike Conley Jr. With year two just a few weeks away, this crop of freshman, though they likely will not produce a player of Durant or Oden's caliber, should prove to have an immediate impact. Several of this year's newcomers have been receiving significant press even before they arrived at their respective campuses. With that said, here is a breakdown of some of this year's top incoming freshman.

Best Player
Michael Beasley - Kansas State
The Wildcats should be fun to watch when Beasley teams up with Bill Walker this season. Beasley brings the total package offensively. At 6'10" with a large frame, Beasley should have no problem asserting himself physically right away; there will be few players in the country that will be able to stop him from what he wants to do. The most intruiging part of his game though is the fact that Beasley is an inside and outside threat. He can post up and handle his own down low, and then step outside and attack from the perimeter. Don't be surprised if Beasley is the focal point of the Kansas State attack from day one.

Biggest Impact
Kevin Love - UCLA
Love was rated as the number one player in his class by several scouting services, but regardless of ranking, he could be the missing piece for UCLA's national title hopes. Love is already a very polished post presence and should fit right into the Bruin offense from day one. UCLA has had solid big men the last few years, but none of them have been of the same pedigree as Love.

Most Anticipated
O.J. Mayo - USC
After what seems like forever, Mayo has finally reached college. We first heard about him several years ago as the heir-apparent to Lebron James as the next high school phenom. Though things may have not completely gone as planned along the way for Mayo, he is still one of, if not potentially the best player in his class. A tremendously gifted player physically, Mayo possesses tremendous explosivness and scoring ability. Don't be surprised if he leads this year's class in scoring. Tim Floyd has gotten himself and the Trojans a player that could really put the program near the top of the AP rankings this year.

Best Playmaker
Derrek Rose - Memphis
What is the only thing scarier than having the top freshman point guard in the country flying down the court at you on a fast break? Surrounding that same point guard with the type of talent that the Tigers sport this season. Memphis pretty much their entire team from last season's 30-win club, and now add Chicago's finest in Rose. The Windy City native is a lightning fast getting up and down the floor, but the most dangerous part of his game is his already highly developed basketball IQ. Rose just has a knack for finding open players in transition, and that will fit in very well with John Calipari's offense.