Freshman Haze: Devil Heating Up

For most college basketball teams, the season is about a third over. Where did it go? Freshman that are going to contribute are doing so, but we should keep in mind that the non-conference slate is largely preseason. Conference play starts in the next couple of weeks, so these first-year players will really begin to be tested. Will they continue to grow or they shrink against similar competition (sort of like Anthony Bennett a few years ago). My guess is that these seven players are here for the duration. Let's start at Cameron and take a spin around the country.

Brandon Ingram, guard, Duke Blue Devils

After a slow start, the pencil-thin 6-foot-9 Ingram has found his way into a prime spot in the Blue Devils' offense. The length guard has scored at least 23 points in his last three games. Ingram has started to hit 3-pointers (8-of-14, 57.1 percent) in those games, which will make things difficult for Duke's opponents with Grayson Allen also filling up the hoop. The freshman is making just 60.4 percent of his free throws, but has improved his field goal percentage to 48.2 percent. Ingram will be tested in ACC play, but he should be expected to have more good games than bad.

Ivan Rabb, forward, California Golden Bears

California came into the season with the nation's best 1-2 recruiting punch. We will get to Jaylen Brown in due time, but the 6-7 forward is holding up with 14.3 points and 5.3 boards. Rabb, an Oakland native who stayed home, has been cleaning the glass as expected. The 6-11 forward has four double-doubles, including dub-dubs in his last two games. Like many freshmen bigs, Rabb has been plagued by foul trouble. He has fouled out twice and accrued four fouls in three other games. Still, the big man is providing 12.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 25.6 minutes.

Caleb Swanigan, forward, Purdue Boilermakers

I didn't expect Swanigan to be productive this season. While he came to Purdue with a lot of praise, the Boilermakers already had A.J. Hammons and Isaac Haas in the post. How would the 6-9, 260 lb forward find a role? Cream rises to the top and Swanigan has played meaningful and productive minutes. In his last three games, the Indiana native has averaged 15.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. He is comfortable taking 3-pointers, although he is hitting just 30 percent of his long range shots. One can only wonder what kind of numbers Swanigan would be putting up if he were on another team and could get more opportunities.

Khyri Thomas, guard, Creighton Bluejays

Like Swanigan, Thomas did not have a clear path to playing time. The Bluejays seemed to have plenty of guard depth in Isaiah Zierden, BU transfer Maurice Watson, and James Milliken. Yet, Thomas has forged a role by scoring with aplomb. The 6-3 guard has hit 65.7 percent of his field goals and a cool two thirds of his 3-pointers. Thomas doesn't always get a lot of shots, but he makes the most of his opportunities. He went 9-of-10 from the field with four 3-pointers in the Dec. 5 loss to Loyola (IL) on his way to a career-high 22 points.

Dedric Lawson, forward, Memphis Tigers

In the Josh Pastner era, Memphis has been known to get excellent recruits, but they don't always seem to pan out. It looks like Pastner found himself a winner with the 6-8 Lawson. The forward is leading the Tigers with 15.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. It may have been a good thing for Lawson that Austin Nichols decided to go to Virginia because it opened up plenty of minutes and shots. The Memphis native is not a good outside shooter (just 16.7 percent on 3-pointers), but he doesn't take too many long range shots. Lawson has three double-doubles and put up 28 points and 14 boards in the Dec. 5 win over Southeastern Missouri State.

Jarrell Brantley, forward, Charleston Cougars

Some freshmen take a few weeks to find their sea legs at the collegiate level. Brantley did not do much in November, but has started to produce in the last month of the calendar year. The 6-7 forward has four double-digit scoring games in his last five and the Cougars have rolled off a five-game winning streak. Brantley did not contribute to the win over LSU on Nov. 30 (he accrued four fouls in 10 minutes), but he has averaged 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in his last three games. Look for the power forward's role to continue to grow.

Tyler Hall, guard, Montana State Bobcats

Hall is one of those do-it-all guards that could be a multiple year contributor to teams in keeper fantasy leagues. The 6-4 guard has scored at least 12 points in every game but one. He has scored 24 points or more three times, most recently in the win over San Jose State on Dec. 13. Hall has nailed nine 3-pointers in his last three games. He also contributes on the glass with 5.0 boards and a double-double (25 points, 10 boards) in the Dec. 1 win over Utah Valley State. The guard is doing all of his scoring efficiently as well (49.2 percent from the field, 43.8 percent on 3-pointers, 88.5 percent from the line). Look for Hall and senior point guard Marcus Colbert (17.8 points, 4.7 assists) to lead the Bobcats to the top of the Big Sky.