College Basketball: Busting Brackets Midseason Awards

Best Freshman

Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Jahlil Okafor, Duke

OK, honesty moment. I was originally going to attempt to shock the world by declaring Trimble as the Freshman of the Year instead of Jahlil Okafor, but I coward into conformity and went with the obvious choice. Okafor has been the best player on the second most talented team in the country (a team that would be the most talented team in the country in any other season of this century besides this one and 2011-2012).

Okafor is by no means undeserving. Averaging 18.6 ppg and 8.9 rpg, his play has him in contention for both freshman honors and player of the year awards. His play has solidified himself as the top pick in next year’s draft, and he’s the country’s greatest hope to avoid seeing Kentucky win a ninth national championship. There’s a lot riding on his broad shoulders, but there’s no reason to suggest that he can’t handle the load. He has absolutely dominated any team that dares to play Duke man-to-man, and collapsing the paint has not slowed him much either.

At the midway point of this season, it’s clear that Okafor has an opportunity to go down as one of the truly great one-and-done players, especially if he parallels Carmelo Anthony by spearheading a national championship run in his only season.

Next: Mid-season Coach of the Year