Rant Sports NCAAB Season Preview: Top 5 Freshmen Shooting Guards
In preparation for the 2012-13 season, the college basketball staff here at Rant Sports will be running through a number of player and team breakdowns from now until the start of the season.
Another year is approaching and so too are the debuts of many highly-regarded freshmen.
Let’s take a look a look at the Top 5 Freshmen Shooting Guards heading into the 2012-13 season:
No. 5: Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke)- At 6-foot-3, Sulaimon can score in a variety of ways. The loss of Austin Rivers opens up a spot in the back court, while Coach K welcomes back Seth Curry and sophomore Quinn Cook. Sulaimon should have no trouble finding a rhythm with the Blue Devils, thanks to his high-energy and motor in transition.
No. 4: Ricardo Ledo (Providence)- Ledo will be one to watch, as he hasn’t yet been cleared by the NCAA to play at Providence. If he is however, watch out. Head coach Ed Cooley brought in one of the better recruiting classes that the Friars have seen in recent time, but fellow incoming freshman Kris Dunn will miss most of the year with a shoulder injury. That makes Ledo’s eligibility all that more important for a program certainly looking forward to brighter days.
No. 3: Archie Goodwin (Kentucky)- John Calipari has another loaded recruiting class coming to Lexington and Goodwin is a key part of it. At 6-foot-5, the Arkansas-native is part of the reloading process to help replace a number of former Wildcats who bolted for the NBA Draft. However, this is what UK fans are used to and after last season’s National Championship, Goodwin and the Cats will be out looking for banner No. 9. Goodwin should start in the back court alongside eligible N.C. State transfer, Ryan Harrow.
No. 2- Gary Harris (Michigan State)- An Indiana-native, Harris signed with Michigan State last fall and has the talent to instantly impact the Spartans’ back court. Harris is part of a four-man recruiting class that should prevent the Spartans from missing a beat in 2012-13. At 6-foot-4, Harris has the length to be a great perimeter defender, a characteristic that can go along way in the rugged, Big Ten Conference.
No. 1- Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State)- Head coach Travis Ford brought in one of the top recruits in the country last year in LeBryan Nash. More so, Nash is back and Ford once again has one of the nation’s elite prospects joining the program. Smart, who stands at 6-foot-4, is a native of Texas and his ability to mold and produce quickly at OSU may hold huge dividends for the squad’s NCAA Tournament hopes.
Other Freshmen Shooting Guards to Watch- Rodney Purvis (North Carolina State), Omar Calhoun (UConn), Katin Reinhardt (UNLV), Montay Brandon (Florida State), D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Georgetown), Jordan Price (Auburn), Gabe York (Arizona), Kellen Dunham (Butler), Melvin Johnson (VCU), Raphael Davis (Purdue), Alex Caruso (Texas A&M), Michael Frazier (Florida).
Check out Rant Sports Top 5 Freshmen Point Guards.
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