Honorable Mentions
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Oklahoma got the season off on a hot start and Fears certainly has played a role throughout. He’s the second-leading scorer on the Sooners, putting up 16.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game with decent shooting figures. What’s unfortunate is that Oklahoma has struggled to open up SEC play and he may not get this shot in the Big Dance as a freshman.
Boogie Fland (Arkansas)
What’s really unfortunate here is that Fland was just ruled out for the rest of his freshman season just five games into SEC play. He averaged 15.1 points and 5.7 assists per game and was one of the top assets in John Calipari’s first year with the Razorbacks. At the same time, Arkansas does not look like an NCAA Tournament team right now and clearly that road to the Big Dance is much steeper without Fland around.
Ian Jackson (North Carolina)
Jackson has put up great numbers as a freshman for the Tar Heels, averaging 14.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while knocking down 37% of his 3-pointers in an expanded role in recent weeks. Unfortunately, North Carolina is trending in the wrong direction on the bubble and Jackson in particular struggled in two terrible upset losses in the last week.
Asa Newell (Georgia)
We’ve seen great things out of Georgia this season and could very well see the Bulldogs in the Big Dance if they can notch a few more wins in SEC play. Newell is averaging 15.5 points and 6.9 rebounds a game, living up to that 5-star billing while helping this turnaround for Georgia. Unfortunately, this team has fallen short in a few games in recent weeks, though that hasn’t stopped Newell from some phenomenal play.
Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Two of the nation’s very best freshman play at Rutgers but unfortunately we likely won’t see either in the NCAA Tournament. Bailey averages 19.9 points and 7.9 rebounds while Harper puts up 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists a game, with both of these Top 3 recruits displaying their next-level talent on a nightly basis. Unfortunately, there’s not much else going on with this Rutgers roster and a team currently 11th in the Big Ten has an uphill climb to reach the Dance.