With the NBA's age limit forcing most elite prospects to spend at least one year in school, the NCAA is rapidly becoming a freshman-dominated league? Who will be this year's Kevin Durant or Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley? Here's a look at three of the top incoming freshman for the 2008-09 season -- we'll be adding more each week throughout the summer.
1. Willie Warren
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Not many incoming college freshmen would have the confidence to talk smack to Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. But the way Willie Warren sees it, those guys will be his competition soon enough. Besides, he has the game to back up his talk.
2. Jrue Holiday
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A key member of yet another great recruiting class for Ben Howland at UCLA, Jrue Holiday's game often draws comparisons to that of Dwyane Wade.
3. Al-Farouq Aminu
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Wake Forest isn't generally considered to be one of the super-elite basketball schools... but the Demon Deacons have produced a couple of the NBA's best players of the last 15-20 years in Tim Duncan and Chris Paul. Al-Farouq could be the next Wake player to emerge as a big star at the next level -- the small forward has drawn comparisons to another ACC star, Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls.
4. Tyreke Evans
Photo Courtesy McDonald's
The Memphis Tigers lost three starters to the NBA Draft, leaving a pretty big void for a freshman like Tyreke Evans to fill. But the 6'5" combo guard has already proven himself on the big stage, posting a 21-point, 10-board double-double at the prestigious McDonald's All American game in March, and taking home MVP honors. He might not make Tiger fans forget Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts, but he's a good bet to become the next great Memphis guard.
5. Kemba Walker
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Before he even sets foot on the court at UConn's Gampel Pavillion, Kemba Walker's credentials as floor leader are pretty well-established. Thrust into a leadership role with the national under-18 team this summer, Walker took home the FIBA Tournament of the Americas MVP Trophy. With A.J. Price coming back from knee surgery, Walker will give Jim Calhoun tremendous depth in the backcourt... not unlike Calhoun's '99 team that won the national championship.
6. Demar DeRozan
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Demar DeRozan has some pretty big shoes to fill -- he'll step into O.J. Mayo's spot in the Trojans' starting five. But with his NBA size (6'6", 210) and jaw-dropping athleticism (check out his YouTube clips), those shoes will probably fit just fine.
7. B.J. Mullens
Image Courtesy McDonald's
Another year, another elite freshman center for Thad Matta's Buckeyes. This year's edition is B.J. Mullens, a 7'1", 265-pound offensive force with the ability to face up or play with his back to the basket. He'll follow in the footsteps of fellow Ohio State freshmen centers Greg Oden and Kosta Koufos as a force in the paint... and most likely, as a one-and-done before jumping to the NBA.
