Ranking the freshman seasons of former number one high school recruits

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: Former Syracuse Orange player Carmelo Anthony (C) receives his jersey from athletic director Daryl Gross (L) as his number is retired during a ceremony at half time during the game against the Georgetown Hoyas at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2013 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Nate Shron/Getty Images) /

19 of 26

Kevin Love (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Ranking the freshman seasons of former number one high school recruits: 8. Kevin Love

Freshman stats: 17.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg

There were a ton of notable names that were set to come onto the college basketball scene in 2008. Amongst the notable ones were Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, and Eric Gordon. All of those players had terrific years but none of them were as ballyhooed as Kevin Love.

It isn’t difficult to figure out why Love was considered the best high school player in the nation. After all, he dropped 35.9 points, 17 boards, and 2.8 blocks per game at Lake Oswego High School.

UCLA was happy to get their hands on him and Love certainly didn’t disappoint. In his first and only season in California, Love dropped 17.5 points, 10.6 boards, and was unstoppable virtually everywhere on the court. Love shot a ridiculous 61.1% from 2-point range and 35.4% from behind the arc.

With the help of Love and some kid named Russell Westbrook, UCLA ran through the competition for most of the season. They finished the year with a 35-4 record and were the number one seed in the West by the time March Madness came rolling around.

Love and UCLA almost went all the way as they found themselves in the Final Four. Ultimately, their title dreams were crushed by Memphis, 78-63.

Home/NCAA Basketball News