NCAA Basketball: Top 25 most impactful freshmen for 2019-20 season

13) DJ Carton, PG, Ohio State

Ohio State enters the 2019-20 season with high expectations thanks to a quality incoming recruiting class and number of talented returners including star big man Kaleb Wesson, but they do have major questions in the backcourt.

Starters C.J. Jackson (who felt like he was in Columbus for eight years) and Keyshawn Woods are both gone. Luther Muhammad figures to step in and fill one of those positions but Carton is expected to replace Jackson as the starting point guard.

The No. 33 overall prospect in the country according to the 247sports Composite, Carton is one of the rare blue-chip prospects that earned his ranking without being able to athletically dominate his competition in high school. He’s a good athlete at 6-1 but is more skilled than anything else.

A throwback point guard that serves as a floor general, Carton is an exceptional passer with a high basketball IQ and knows how to put his teammates in position to be successful. He also stretches opposing defenses with his shooting ability, making him the kind of triple threat that is extremely difficult to defend. On the other end, Carton is also an above-average defender.

Michigan State and Maryland are entering the new season as the favorites in the Big Ten with Ohio State projected to be among the handful of teams fighting it out behind them. If they get quality point guard play from Carton, however, the Buckeyes may be able to separate themselves from that tier and emerge as a top-15 team in the country.