This article is part of our Freshman Haze series.
At the end of each season, we like to look back and make a countdown. That has always been the way here at the Freshman Haze. This morning I did my annual copy and paste job to get a Freshman Haze spreadsheet together to rank the 85 freshman I have profiled this year. Over the next three weeks, I will profile the top 21. There are plenty of excellent players outside the rankings, including Texas center Mo Bamba and Alabama guard Collin Sexton. Remember, these are fantasy rankings and do not take into account pro potential – both of the aforementioned players are probable lottery picks in the upcoming draft. The rankings hereare derived my ordering of freshman on minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, and three percentages (field goal, free throw, and 3-point). I do not weigh big conferences or various categories. I hope It all comes out in the wash. Without further ado, let's get to players 21 to 15.
21. Jaren Jackson (F) 
One can only wonder what numbers Jackson would have put up if he did not join a team that already had Miles Bridges and Nick Ward in the frontcourt. Simply put, there is little that the 6-foot-11 freshman can't do on the basketball court. He was second among freshmen with 3.6 blocks and has hit 43.3 percent of his 3-pointers. Jackson has six double-doubles, but only one in Big 10 play, during which fouls have been in the way. He has accrued four
At the end of each season, we like to look back and make a countdown. That has always been the way here at the Freshman Haze. This morning I did my annual copy and paste job to get a Freshman Haze spreadsheet together to rank the 85 freshman I have profiled this year. Over the next three weeks, I will profile the top 21. There are plenty of excellent players outside the rankings, including Texas center Mo Bamba and Alabama guard Collin Sexton. Remember, these are fantasy rankings and do not take into account pro potential – both of the aforementioned players are probable lottery picks in the upcoming draft. The rankings hereare derived my ordering of freshman on minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, and three percentages (field goal, free throw, and 3-point). I do not weigh big conferences or various categories. I hope It all comes out in the wash. Without further ado, let's get to players 21 to 15.
21. Jaren Jackson (F)
One can only wonder what numbers Jackson would have put up if he did not join a team that already had Miles Bridges and Nick Ward in the frontcourt. Simply put, there is little that the 6-foot-11 freshman can't do on the basketball court. He was second among freshmen with 3.6 blocks and has hit 43.3 percent of his 3-pointers. Jackson has six double-doubles, but only one in Big 10 play, during which fouls have been in the way. He has accrued four fouls in six conference games and fouled out twice. Jackson could be one of those players who explodes in the NCAA Tournament.
20. Kobe Webster (G) 
Not all that much has changed for Webster since I profiled him last week. The 6-0 guard did help the Leathernecks snap a four-game losing streak on Saturday in the win over Oral Roberts with 21 points and six rebounds. Webster ranked well in minutes, points, assists, and 3-point percentage. He has started every game for WIU and scored 20 points or more six times, including four times in his last six games. Webster is averaging 16.5 points and should be in contention for the All-Summit League team for the next three years.
19. Brandon McCoy (F) 
McCoy opened the season with five double-doubles in his first six games. He looked like the missing piece for the Rebels to lead them back into Mountain West contention. The 7-1 forward was slowed somewhat at the beginning of conference play, but has scored at least 21 points in his last three games and helped UNLV win two of those games. McCoy is averaging a double-double (18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds) and is hitting 60.0 percent of his shots. He is helped in the rankings by only attempting three 3-poitners and making a pair of his long-range attempts.
18. McKinley Wright (G) 
Expectations of the Buffaloes were tempered coming into the season. The inexperienced unit lacked an identity, but it didn't take long for Wright to put his stamp on the team. The 6-0 guard helped the Buffaloes beat South Dakota State in double-overtime on Dec. 15 with 30 points, nine boards, and 11 assists. He has two other double-doubles and helped Colorado beat Arizona and Arizona State in a big weekend for the team. The Sun Devils got their revenge on Wright by holding him to a season-low two points on 1-of-10 from the field on Jan. 27. The freshman leads the Buffaloes in scoring (14.6 points), assists (5.3), and steals (1.0).
17. JD Notae (G) 
Like Wright, Notae came into the season and took the reins of his team's offense. He has combined with Navy transfer Jace Hogan to give the Dolphins a competent one-two scoring combo that has lifted the team in second place in the Atlantic Sun. Because they lost two of their last three games to Florida Gulf Coast, it will take some A-Sun tournament magic to get Notae into the Big Dance. The 6-2 guard has scored 20 points or more seven times with a high of 30 points in the win over Mid Georgia State on Dec. 28. He is averaging 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals, and is hitting 40.0 percent of his 3-pointers.
16. Colbey Ross (G) 
The Waves have not made the NCAA tournament since 2002 and it looks like they will truly have to upend the WCC apple cart in the next four years for Ross to go dancing. At least they have a solid player at point guard. Ross has provided 14.1 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.1 rebounds. His scoring has slowed down of late and he has been held to single-digit scoring in his last four games after being held to 10 points or fewer just four times in the first 20 games of the season. The Waves are unlikely even to win the nine games they won a year ago, but Ross, Kameron Edwards, and Eric Cooper will return next year and may push the team into competitiveness.
15. Oshae Brissett (F) 
Brisett has become the third member of the Orange triumvirate that has led the team to the brink on the NCAA bubble according to our Bracketologist, Adam Zdroik. Syracuse is set in the backcourt with Tyus Battle and Frank Howard, who have two first names between them. Brissett has been solid on the boards all season and has pulled down a team-leading 9.0 rebounds. He only has one double-double in ACC play after seven in the non-conference. He leads all freshman by playing 38.2 minutes, but will need to improve his shooting accuracy in future seasons (33.3 percent from the field, 31.1 percent on 3-pointers).
