This article is part of our Freshman Haze series.
Last week in the Haze, we took a look at the best rebounding freshmen in the country (that we had not looked at before). While taking rebounds is all well and good, everyone knows that December is the season of giving. Therefore, it makes sense to look at the best playmakers among the freshman. I covered Lonzo Ball, the best of the freshman passers, in the initial Haze. I am also going to leave Markelle Fultz out because I have the feeling that he is going to be worth his own Haze. We'll get to him soon enough. For now, here are some top passers among first-year players.
De'Aaron Fox, guard, Kentucky Wildcats
Putting up a triple-double will put a player on the fantasy map. It will also lead to some exposure on our own excellent Barometer (which some people pronounce thermometer). I had the feeling coming into the season that Malik Monk would score more, but Fox would the more valuable Wildcat guard for fantasy teams. For once, I was right. Fox is scoring 15.9 points (to Monk's team-leading 19.9), but he is also snagging 5.3 boards, nabbing 1.9 steals, and doling out 7.9 assists. It helps to have Monk and the Kentucky bigs to make shots, but Fox is putting up number reminiscent of the best of Kentucky point guards of the Calipari era: John Wall.
De'Anthony Melton, guard, USC Trojans
The Trojans went with a dual-point guard look with Jordan McLaughlin and Julian Jacobs last
Last week in the Haze, we took a look at the best rebounding freshmen in the country (that we had not looked at before). While taking rebounds is all well and good, everyone knows that December is the season of giving. Therefore, it makes sense to look at the best playmakers among the freshman. I covered Lonzo Ball, the best of the freshman passers, in the initial Haze. I am also going to leave Markelle Fultz out because I have the feeling that he is going to be worth his own Haze. We'll get to him soon enough. For now, here are some top passers among first-year players.
De'Aaron Fox, guard, Kentucky Wildcats
Putting up a triple-double will put a player on the fantasy map. It will also lead to some exposure on our own excellent Barometer (which some people pronounce thermometer). I had the feeling coming into the season that Malik Monk would score more, but Fox would the more valuable Wildcat guard for fantasy teams. For once, I was right. Fox is scoring 15.9 points (to Monk's team-leading 19.9), but he is also snagging 5.3 boards, nabbing 1.9 steals, and doling out 7.9 assists. It helps to have Monk and the Kentucky bigs to make shots, but Fox is putting up number reminiscent of the best of Kentucky point guards of the Calipari era: John Wall.
De'Anthony Melton, guard, USC Trojans
The Trojans went with a dual-point guard look with Jordan McLaughlin and Julian Jacobs last year. Jacobs set off on his professional journey after the 2015-16 season, so the team needed a new second point. The 6-4 Melton looks like he is ready to take that position. He is one of six Trojans providing at least 10.5 points, but rounds his statistical portfolio out with 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and a team-high 2.8 steals. Melton is coming off one his best games in the nice win over BYU (12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists). With Bennie Boatright out, Melton should continue to see plenty of playing time and new opportunities.
Jaylen Fisher, guard, TCU Horned Frogs
Like USC, TCU had a point guard decision to make. Coming into the season, the team seemed likely to go with either Texas A&M transfer Alex Robinson or the 6-foot-2 Fisher. Ever the innovator, coach Jamie Dixon decided to go with both court generals. Robinson is leading the team with 11.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.8 steals. Fisher is not far behind with 11.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. He has not topped 19 minutes in his last two games, but has managed to score 28 points with four assists. Fisher may force his way into more playing time, which would help him improve his averages.
Jordan Bohannon, guard, Iowa Hawkeyes
Like the legions of Bohannon guards before him, Jordan came to Iowa with the reputation of a 3-point shooter. He is doing quite well in that area with 2.6 3-pointers per game at a 38.9-percent clip, but he has done a nice job getting the ball to Peter Jok as well. Bohannon is leading the Hawkeyes with 4.8 dimes and has bettered his average in each of his last four games. He also had a pair of 20-point games in losses to Notre Dame and Nebraska-Omaha last week. The 6-0 guard may need to work on shots within the perimeter, since he is just 2-of-15 (13.3 percent) on non-3-pointers.
Jamal Wright, guard, High Point Panthers
The Panthers have been a steady producer of fine fantasy players from the Big South. Over the last decade, the team has hosted Arizona Reid, Nick Barbour, and -– most recently – John Brown. They have come and gone, and it might be too much to expect Wright to be the next excellent Panther. He is off to a decent start with 9.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 steals. The 5-11 guard has scored in double digits in his last three games and has been getting as many minutes as he can handle. Wright is getting a trial by fire, but his career will be better off for the early struggles.
Macio Teague, guard, UNC-Asheville Bulldogs
Staying in the Big South, Teague is another guard who has been starting since the opening tip of the season. Teague starts next to Kevin Vannatta who is leading the team with 3.0 assists. Teague doles out 2.1 assists to go along with 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. The 6-3 guard is coming off his best game of the season in the overtime win against Coastal Carolina. He put up 15 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in 44 minutes. Teague is hitting 40.5 percent of his 3-pointers and looks like he could be a four-year Bulldog star.
Landry Shamet, guard, Wichita State Shockers
While Fred VanVleet is only 6-0, he left some enormous shoes to fill in Wichita. The four-year starter was a Shocker institution. Shamet was able to learn at the feet of VanVleet last season during his redshirt season. The 6-4 guard has doled out exactly three assists in each of his last six games. That's remarkable consistency. He has scored in double digits in five of his 10 games and is hitting 36.1 percent of his 3-pointers. Shamet looks completely healed from the stress fracture in his left foot that ended his 2015-16 season after just three games.
