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

3) Casey Morsell, SG, Virginia

Winning the national championship last season was a landmark moment for this Virginia program, but it also created a tougher road for the Cavaliers.

Ty Jerome, Kyle Guy, and De’Andre Hunter all decided to leave school early, creating major holes in the lineup head coach Tony Bennett now has to fill. Luckily, Morsell appears up for the challenge.

Though he’s 6-2, Morsell is a true two guard and has truly elite scoring ability. He’s an above average athlete who excels at attacking the basket, but he’s also a deadeye shooter who can spot up and create his own shot off the dribble. We may see him play some point guard behind Kihei Clark but don’t be surprised if he ends up being UVA’s leading scorer.

And, in true Virginia fashion, Morsell has a reputation for being a quality defender as well. He has good lateral movement with quick hands and a nasty competitiveness about him.

The Cavaliers expect Mamadi Diakite to have a breakout season and for Clark to take a step forward, but even the best case scenarios of that won’t be able to make up for the offensive production of Jerome, Guy, and Hunter. Braxton Key and Jay Huff aren’t really threats on perimeter (though they can hit occasional three-pointers), so someone is going to have to step up.

Morsell has the opportunity and ability to carry a lot of that needed offensive load.