Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball: 2018-19 preseason all-conference and awards predictions

By Lukas Harkins

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: The Villanova Wildcats celebrate their overtime win over the Providence Friars during the championship game of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: The Villanova Wildcats celebrate their overtime win over the Providence Friars during the championship game of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: Jahvon Quinerly #5 of Hudson Catholic High School looks on. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: Jahvon Quinerly #5 of Hudson Catholic High School looks on. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Freshman of the Year: Jahvon Quinerly, Villanova

Not only is Jahvon Quinerly the most highly-touted recruit joining the Big East this season but he is also one of the few who should see an immediately significant role for his respective team. In Villanova’s three-guard set, it seems likely that Quinerly will join the starting lineup alongside senior guards Phil Booth and Joe Cremo from Day 1. An extremely talented scorer and playmaker, Quinerly will, in my opinion, put up the best numbers of any Big East freshmen while also making the most impact for his team.

light. Related Story. Breaking down Villanova's 2018 recruiting class

While it may seem like the obvious choice to pick the highest-rated freshman for the award, Quinerly’s potential role for Villanova makes this more than reasonable. There are not that many freshmen in the conference who will play similar or more minutes than Quinerly and that already limits the pool of players to consider.

Furthermore, it does not hurt Quinerly’s case that Villanova will likely be the best team in the conference. Starting, and contributing, on a team of that caliber as a freshman will definitely put him in the running for freshman of the year. If he is able to be a double-digit scorer during his first year on campus, which is not altogether out of the realm of possibility, then I feel like he will be a shoe-in for the award barring a major season from someone else.

Top contenders: James Akinjo (Georgetown) and A.J. Reeves (Providence).

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