NCAA Basketball: Luguentz Dort and James Akinjo latest freshmen on the rise

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 21: Luguentz Dort #0 of the Arizona State Sun Devils carries the ball in the final seconds of the second half of the championship game against the Utah State Aggies in the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arizona State won 87-82. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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Xavier Johnson goes off for 2⃣0⃣ including this tie-breaking bucket to get @Pitt_MBB to 6-0!#ZooEra (@TheXavierJ0) pic.twitter.com/B0clO1Rp7K
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) November 21, 2018

Xavier Johnson, Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Panthers have started a new era under head coach Jeff Capel and they’re set to have a special season behind the play of point guard Xavier Johnson.

Johnson has been one of a kind in his debut for Pittsburgh, becoming the first freshman in school history to score in double figure in the first seven games of the season. He’s averaging 16.9 points, 5.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game for the Panthers so far in 2018-19.

1 of a kind#ZooEra pic.twitter.com/CxUQHCPZNi
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) November 29, 2018

Johnson and the Panthers played a solid game against the 14th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, but in the end, Pitt fell 69-68.

He’s shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from behind the arc as the team enters its City Game against the Duquesne Blue Demons on Friday.

The Blue Demons have a top-rated freshman of their own in Sincere Carry but Johnson and company should be more prepared than ever with a record of 6-1. After suffering their first loss, they’re hungry for a victory and with Johnson leading the way, losing is an afterthought.

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