Conference Call: Freshman of the Year in each league

The college basketball season is upon us and the high school class of 2017 will now have the chance to leave its mark on the college basketball world. We predict the freshman of the year within each power league and others that are likely to round out the all-freshmen team.

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We heard this story last year as Duke assembled an extraordinarily good freshman class, but it was all for not due to a rash of injuries, a hole at the point guard position and some chemistry issues. This year may be different because of Bagley III. One of the most dominant prospects that the high school ranks has produced within recent years, Bagley is so good that he practically skipped his senior year of high school and is still a favorite to be selected first overall in next June’s NBA Draft.

A 6-foot-11 power forward that can play a variety of roles, Mike Krzyzewski will likely pair Bagley alongside fellow five-star freshman Wendell Carter, creating a dominant 15-foot and in frontline and one of the top rebounding tandems in America. Expect 15 points, seven rebounds and a block or two per game from Bagley this winter.

DARK HORSE: Marcus Carr (Pitt)

REMAINING FRESHMAN TEAM: Wendell Carter (Duke), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Virginia Tech), Chaundee Brown (Wake Forest), Lonnie Walker (Miami)

It took an extra year for him to get onto the floor, but the wait will be worth it as Villanova will finally get the chance to unleash Spellman onto its competition. A 6-foot-9 center with a strong, thicker frame but impeccable hands and touch within the paint, talk from the Big East program is that Spellman has lost some of the girth during his redshirt year and is in better shape.

While coach Jay Wright has relied more heavily on his guard tandems in the past, Spellman brings a bit of a change to the Main Line, where he is very skilled and multi-faceted big man. He is capable of knocking down the perimeter jumper, but is more than okay with nailing mid-post or baby hooks. A fine rebounder that can pass and defend his area, Spellman could create a daunting frontline alongside Eric Paschall and Mikal Bridges as Wright could actually produce a jumbo lineup with three players 6-foot-7 or taller at the same time; 12 points and seven rebounds might do it for Spellman in taking home Big East freshman honors.

DARK HORSE: Jamarko Pickett (Georgetown)

REMAINING FRESHMAN TEAM: Naji Marshall (Xavier), Makai Ashton-Langford (Providence), Paul Scruggs (Xavier), Jaylen Butz (DePaul)

Talk from Iowa City has surrounded Luka Garza and his dominance in the paint. While the Hawkeyes will miss Peter Jok, they return practically their entire roster. There will be a handful of complementary pieces in tow, but expect Garza, a four-star prospect and member of the Rivals150, to outplay his final ranking and become an interior force for Fran McCaffery.

A 7-foot center who is a very polished and efficient low post producer, Garza is more of your throwback on the blocks, but he is also a type of big man that the Hawkeyes have had on their roster during their more successful campaigns. In the mold of former Iowa star Adam Woodbury, Garza has done a phenomenal job of reshaping his body over the past few years, which should enable for immediate production.

DARK HORSE: Mark Smith (Illinois)

REMAINING FRESHMAN TEAM: Bruno Fernando (Maryland), Jaren Jackson (Michigan State), Darryl Morsell (Maryland), Isaiah Livers (Michigan)

Oklahoma returns a majority of its minutes and points from last season and also welcomes their first five-star recruit to campus since Blake Griffin. Trae Young, a 6-foot-2 guard who is the closest that the college game will see a Steph Curry-type, will have ample amounts of opportunities and shots permitted in pushing OU back into the Big 12 conversation. He will be asked to facilitate and create more often for others compared to his previous situations, but that still shouldn’t hinder his final box score numbers. Young displays range out to the parking lot and with the confidence that will exude onto the rest of his teammates. Coach Lon Kruger did a phenomenal job of placing a handful of shooters around Young this winter, something that should enable his freshman to average close to 17 points and four assists per game, all while making over 80 3-pointers.

DARK HORSE: Lindell Wigginton (Iowa State)

REMAINING FRESHMAN TEAM: Mo Bamba (Texas), Matt Coleman (Texas), Billy Preston (Kansas), Kouat Noi (TCU)

There remains a dark cloud over the Arizona program thanks to the ongoing FBI investigation into the sport and a prior assistant on staff. The new season may be the perfect remedy for the Wildcats as Sean Miller likely has his most talented, deepest team he has ever assembled. The guy that puts things over the top is a native of the Bahamas that, as a freshman in high school, put up 17 points and 18 rebounds against North Carolina during a scrimmage with a Bahamian travel team.

Ayton has been dogged for his hot and cold motor, but when he puts it all together, there is no more of a dominant force in college basketball than the 7-footer. Ayton found the perfect coach to develop him as Miller has become known for his no-BS approach in cultivating prospects. Arizona is deep and talented, but that doesn’t mean Ayton can’t average close to 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per contest, helping Miller to his first ever Final Four appearance.

DARK HORSE: Daejon Davis (Stanford)

REMAINING FRESHMAN TEAM: Jaylen Hands (UCLA), Kris Wilkes (UCLA), Troy Brown (Oregon), Emmanuel Akot (Arizona)

Looking for a member of the Kentucky basketball program to fall here? Think again as Porter Jr., Rivals’ top-ranked 2017 prospect, decided to follow his father to Missouri and the 6-foot-8 forward will become the face of the program. A skilled, smooth and athletic wing-forward that can play anywhere from shooting guard to power forward, it will be interesting to see how Porter deals with physicality and in being ‘the guy’ atop of every scouting report.

While there is a lot being asked out of him, Porter is one of the most versatile scorers that the college game has seen from a freshman in some time. He has a strong, underrated cast of characters supporting him, but he will have to carry a heavy load if he wants to play deep into March. A boosted stat line of 20 points and seven rebounds per game would not be a surprise from the future top-five NBA pick.

DARK HORSE: Chuma Okeke (Auburn)

REMAINING FRESHMAN TEAM: Kevin Knox (Kentucky), Hamidou Diallo (Kentucky), Rayshawn Hammonds (Georgia), Collin Sexton (Alabama)