ACC Basketball: 5 impact freshmen to keep an eye on in 2018-19

3. Jalen Carey, Syracuse

6-foot-3 combo guard Jalen Carey is the latest play-making guard to step on the Syracuse Orange campus. Carey is a four-star prospect who chose the Orange over Connecticut and Miami. He has the ability to get to the basket as well as the ability to light it up behind the arc.

The Syracuse coaching staff have given comparisons to Tyler Ennis and Johnny Flynn in drawing the interest of Carey, who has one-and-done potential.  The New York native made waves when he lit up the EYBL Circuit last summer for the Playaz Club (NJ). He averaged 18.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game for his AAU squad. Carey shot 45.8 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from the 3-point range across 21 games on the circuit.

He’s a player who models his game after Russell Westbrook. Bringing that mentality to the Syracuse rotation is certainly something they could use. The Orange are on the verge of losing leading scorer Tyus Battle (19.2 points per game) if he chooses to stay in this year’s NBA Draft class.