This article is part of our Recruiting Recap series.
While Duke and Kentucky have dominated the recruiting landscape for the last 10 years, the most productive freshman often comes from another school. The problem with having a lot of good players is that they have to share the rock, and it becomes difficult to get the counting stats necessary to be a fantasy star.
On the other hand, players like Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons were able to put up fantastic numbers while dominating the ball. Granted, neither of the recent first picks played in the NCAA Tournament, but that does not matter for most fantasy leagues. Most, if not all, of the following players should play in the Big Dance next March. While the Duke freshmen seem poised to get the biggest spotlight, one of these players could be among the most productive players if his situation falls just right.
Romeo Langford, G, Indiana Hoosiers
Langford may be the player to lead the Hoosiers back to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence. The 6-foot-6 wing is a big-time scorer who should combine with senior forward Juwan Morgan to provide Indiana with the best scoring duo in the Big 10. Langford is a high IQ player who will make his teammates better, both with his passing and the attention he gets from opposing defenses.As shown by the highlight video below, Langford can score from the perimeter and the paint. He is crafty in getting to the basket and converting. His size will cause problems for most opposing
While Duke and Kentucky have dominated the recruiting landscape for the last 10 years, the most productive freshman often comes from another school. The problem with having a lot of good players is that they have to share the rock, and it becomes difficult to get the counting stats necessary to be a fantasy star.
On the other hand, players like Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons were able to put up fantastic numbers while dominating the ball. Granted, neither of the recent first picks played in the NCAA Tournament, but that does not matter for most fantasy leagues. Most, if not all, of the following players should play in the Big Dance next March. While the Duke freshmen seem poised to get the biggest spotlight, one of these players could be among the most productive players if his situation falls just right.
Romeo Langford, G, Indiana Hoosiers
Langford may be the player to lead the Hoosiers back to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence. The 6-foot-6 wing is a big-time scorer who should combine with senior forward Juwan Morgan to provide Indiana with the best scoring duo in the Big 10. Langford is a high IQ player who will make his teammates better, both with his passing and the attention he gets from opposing defenses.As shown by the highlight video below, Langford can score from the perimeter and the paint. He is crafty in getting to the basket and converting. His size will cause problems for most opposing guards. Langford is also a solid rebounder for a guard and can clean up his own messes. If the Hoosiers are successful, Langford could be in the mix for conference player of the year. A successful year could also lead the freshman to the NBA after one season.
Quentin Grimes, G, Kansas Jayhawks
The 6-5 Grimes will run into similar problems as the Duke and Kentucky recruits. Kansas looks stacked for the new season, but Grimes should be able to push his way into the starting lineup. His offensive opportunities may be somewhat curbed by the Jayhawk depth chart that includes the Dedric and K.J Lawson (transfers from Memphis), Legerald Vick, Marcus Garrett, and Charlie Moore (a transfer from California).Like Langford, Grimes is a versatile scorer who can knock down shots from 3-point territory. He showed an active mid-range game in the below highlights against Argentina. Grimes likes to leak out on the break and score in transition. The freshman from Texas can also set up teammates in transition or forays to the basket. The 6-5 guard will learn more defensive skills from coach Bill Self. He has been a bit too content to swipe at the ball rather than playing solid positional defense.
Naz Reid, C, LSU Tigers
The Tigers already have a star in the backcourt in Tremont Waters, but none of their major forwards return from last year. The 5-11 Waters is the team's leading returning rebounder. With the 6-10 Reid and Washington transfer Kavell Bigby-Williams on the roster, Waters should have plenty of easy entry passes to the post. Reid is a strong post player who can finish around the basket. He should anchor the LSU defense for coach Will Wade.Reid may need to learn how to curb his aggressiveness a bit in college ball. He looks like a player who could accrue fouls while he figures out how to play on the next level. In the highlights below, he shows off some sweet passing skill. Reid's ball handling may not be advanced enough to lead the offense or set up his own offense as efficiently as he did in AAU. If he can stay out of foul trouble, Reid could be among the SEC leaders in rebounding.
Bol Bol, C, Oregon Ducks
Manute Bol was an NBA curiosity from 1985 to 1995. He was so tall and thin that whenever he did anything positive on offense, it seemed rather amazing. Manute's son, Bol Bol, is not quite as tall as his father at 7-2, but he looks more athletic and has a better shooting stroke. Manute only hit 43 3-pointers on 21.0 percent over his career, but he did lead the NBA in shot blocking twice in his first four seasons.Bol should be an impact shot blocker for the Ducks and could lead the Pac-12 in swats. Bol will also use his 7-8 wingspan to snatch boards over smaller players. Like his father, Bol is reed thin and only weighs 225 lbs despite his extreme height. Oregon has Payton Pritchard returning and has surrounded Bol with a solid recruiting class that includes wing Louis King, point guard Louis Richardson, and power forward Francis Okoro. The Pac-12 could be wide open, and Oregon could return to the top of the conference behind a big performance from Bol.
Moses Brown, C, UCLA Bruins
If Bol has competition in the paint in the Pac 12, it will come from the 7-1 UCLA recruit. The New York City native Brown has made the same trip to Westwood as the former Lew Alcindor. While no one is expecting Kareem-like production from Brown, he should start as a freshman (which is something Abdul-Jabbar did not do – because it was not allowed). Brown averaged 26.0 points, 17.0 rebounds, and 6.0 blocks as a high school senior for Archbishop Molloy. He plays with more aggression than Bol, but does not have as much shooting range.The Bruins lost two of their top three scorers, including center Thomas Welsh. Kris Wilkes should be the team's leading scorer, but Brown will defend the paint and clean the glass. As seen in the McDonald's All-American game, Brown can gather himself near the basket and convert. He is agile and active for such a big player. Bol may have the name value, but Brown may be the more effective player.
Charles Bassey, F, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
After many teases, things did not work out between the Hilltoppers and center Mitchell Robinson last season. Robinson took the year off and was still drafted by the Knicks. Bassey could make up for the lack of a star center last season. The 6-11 center showed what he could do against Bol Bol in the Nike Hoop Summit. He outrebounded Bol and was able to score on aggressive dunks.Western Kentucky has an interesting roster that could dominate Conference USA if everything comes together for coach Rick Stansbury. Bassey should start at center next to Auburn transfer Desean Murray, an undersized forward who was great at Presbyterian. The Hilltoppers also have Taveion Hollingswoth (13.3 points) returning along with Buffalo transfer Lamonte Bearden. Prospects like Bassey don't often play in Conference USA and he could put up some eye-popping stats.
