This article is part of our Freshman Haze series.
Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of many. It is the one time of the year in which moderation is thrown out the window. People gobble down turkey, stuff themselves with stuffing and cram cranberries into their gullets. In the end, we are big, which is why I decided to look at the top freshmen bigs this week in the Haze. These players are the best youngsters at cleaning their glass plates, as it were. Only one of the seven qualifies at center, but the rest are useful in a wide variety of leagues.
Miles Bridges, forward, Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans have already dropped an unfathomable three games. They have also had one of the toughest schedule in terms of both opponent and travel. Bridges looks like he will be the star of the team and has used his incredible athleticism to grab 8.7 rebounds to go along with a team-high 17.4 points. While bouncy dunkers are commonly compared to Vince Carter, the player that Bridges reminds me of is Dayton forward Chris Wright. Bridges is a better shooter than Wright, but both have eye-popping hops. Michigan State has had some one-and-dones. You can expect the 6-foot-7 Bridges to be the next.
T.J. Leaf, forward, UCLA Bruins
Much like Lonzo Ball, I did not expect the 6-10 Leaf to get enough offensive opportunities to be a fantasy player on a team that already boasted Bryce Alford, Aaron Holiday and Isaac Hamilton. I was wrong with both Bruin frosh. Leaf is
Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of many. It is the one time of the year in which moderation is thrown out the window. People gobble down turkey, stuff themselves with stuffing and cram cranberries into their gullets. In the end, we are big, which is why I decided to look at the top freshmen bigs this week in the Haze. These players are the best youngsters at cleaning their glass plates, as it were. Only one of the seven qualifies at center, but the rest are useful in a wide variety of leagues.
Miles Bridges, forward, Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans have already dropped an unfathomable three games. They have also had one of the toughest schedule in terms of both opponent and travel. Bridges looks like he will be the star of the team and has used his incredible athleticism to grab 8.7 rebounds to go along with a team-high 17.4 points. While bouncy dunkers are commonly compared to Vince Carter, the player that Bridges reminds me of is Dayton forward Chris Wright. Bridges is a better shooter than Wright, but both have eye-popping hops. Michigan State has had some one-and-dones. You can expect the 6-foot-7 Bridges to be the next.
T.J. Leaf, forward, UCLA Bruins
Much like Lonzo Ball, I did not expect the 6-10 Leaf to get enough offensive opportunities to be a fantasy player on a team that already boasted Bryce Alford, Aaron Holiday and Isaac Hamilton. I was wrong with both Bruin frosh. Leaf is leading the team with 17.1 points and has taken at least nine shots in every game but one. He is making the most of his field goal attempts and is making 67.6 percent of his field goals and 53.3 percent of his 3-pointers. Leaf may play in Ball's shadow to some extent, but the forward is just as important in UCLA's undefeated start.
Jayce Johnson, forward/center, Utah Utes
There is no one bigger on this list than the 7-1 Johnson. He is getting minutes off the Ute bench and looks like he will be a solid rebounder. The team does have Kyle Kuzma as a double-double star and Utah's schedule has been tissue thin in the first two weeks of the season. Nevertheless, Johnson has snatched at least nine rebounds in three out of the four games despite not playing more than 20 minutes. His minutes should continue to be limited behind junior Tyler Rawson, but Johnson should be a per minute warrior and a name to keep in the back of your mind for next year.
Mike Watkins, forward, Penn State Nittany Lions
Redshirt freshmen have spent a year around the team. This helps build hype along with the player's skills. Watkins had to sit out last year to get his academic house in order. The 6-9 forward has been working the boards for the Nittany Lions and has at least six rebounds in six of seven games. Watkins' scoring has not been as consistent. He is coming off a 20-point game in the win over George Washington, but had been held to single digits in his four previous games. Watkins anchors the Penn State defense with 2.9 blocks.
Tulio DaSilva, forward, South Florida Bulls
Like Watkins, DaSilva sat out last year but seemed to learn a thing or two while watching. He has started all five games for the Bulls and only his propensity to foul has slowed him down. The 6-7 forward has increased his scoring in each game from nine points in the opener to 17 points in the Nov. 28 win over Kennesaw State. He has brought down at least seven rebounds in all but one game and had a double-double in the Nov. 22 loss to Florida Atlantic. DaSilva is averaging 11.8 points on 53.3 percent from the field with 8.3 rebounds. It may be that coach Orlando Antigua has finally found a gem in Tampa.
Amidou Bamba, forward, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
There weren't many teams moving conferences before the 2016-17 season. The Chanticleers made their way to the Sun Belt from the Big South. They continued to schedule up with early season losses to Alabama, BYU, and Wake Forest. This allows players like the 6-8 Bamba to get experience against bigger players. The freshman has held his own with a double-double in the Nov. 16 win against Coppin State. He also had 10 points against the Cougars. Bamba fouled out with just four points in the Nov. 23 loss to Wake Forest. He should be ready to sweep the glass in the Sun Belt in January.
A.J. Brodeur, forward, Pennsylvania Quakers
Sometimes a big first game can lead to a player be fool's gold. Brodeur had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the Nov. 11 win over Robert Morris, which has buoyed his averages to 13.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. The 6-8 forward has not been bad in the three games since the opener (10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds), but he may have raised expectations too high with his production against the Colonials. Brodeur adds defensive stats with 1.8 steals and 2.3 blocks. At 225, he should be able to bang against any Ivy League opponent and have his fair share of double-doubles.
