NCAA Basketball: Top 5 candidates for National Freshman of the Year

Hunter Dickinson | 7’1 Center | Michigan Wolverines

The big man isn’t a dying breed, at least in the Big Ten Conference. In Iowa, there’s Luka Garza and in Ann Arbor, there’s Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson has been a huge step in the right direction for the Michigan Wolverines in 2020-21.

Since being inserted into the starting rotation, Dickinson has produced 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per contest through four games.

The 7-foot-1 big man has brought new life and then some into the Michigan frontcourt and it’s paying off in a big way as they’re 9-0 on the season and 4-0 in Big Ten play.

Dickinson put up 19 points, three rebounds, and a block on 8-of-12 shooting from the field on Sunday evening against Northwestern. While he’s scored in double-figures in all nine of his appearances in 2020-21, he’s done so shooting the ball efficiently.

He’s shooting 71.8 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from the free throw line on the season while doing his best to stay out of foul trouble as well. Head coach Juwan Howard has quite the big man to develop and after their 85-66 victory over Northwestern, look for him to get a boost in the Freshman of the Year discussion.