Photo Courtesy of NCAA- Wikimedia Commons
From breakout returners to electrifying newcomers, college basketball’s next generation of stars is already putting up massive numbers early in the season.
Before every season, coaches, journalists, and individual athletic conferences select who they think will win the major National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball awards. Usually, these publications get it right, but every season it is inevitable that young players will emerge from the woodwork and establish themselves as collegiate stars. After the first couple of games, there were a few players that caught my eye who I believe will be household names by the time March rolls around.
Ryan Moesch (Point Guard): Syracuse Orange
When Gerry McNamara left Siena to return to coach Syracuse, his alma mater and the school that he starred for as its national championship-winning point guard, expectations rose immediately in Central New York. After Mcnamara’s departure, a local four-star point guard named Ryan Moesch from Chittenango, New York (just East of Syracuse), decommitted from Siena and opted to follow his head coach to play for his hometown team. Moesch, despite only standing at around 6 feet, is a dynamic playmaker and fearless competitor. This was on full display against Indiana on Nov. 9; Moesch finished the game with 20 points (game-high for the Orangemen) and dished out six assists while only turning the ball over once. As long as Moesch continues to shoot effectively from the perimeter, McNamara might just have found the best Syracuse point guard since he donned the orange.
Ivan Kharchenkov (Forward): Arizona Wildcats
After the Arizona Wildcats lost star talents Brayden Burries and Koa Peat to the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft last year, the opportunity opened for returning forward Ivan Kharchenkov. The German-Russian forward was a key piece for the Wildcats in their run to the Final Four, averaging 10.4 points per game. Yet, on the precipice of this season, his frontcourt mate, Motiejus Krivas, captured all the headlines (voted the preseason Big 12 player of the year). In the season opener against UCLA, Kharchenkov showed why analysts should have paid him more attention, pouring in 38 points along with 10 rebounds. At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Kharchenkov has NBA-level physicality, and if he continues to attack the basket with such reckless abandon, do not be surprised if he shoots up draft boards in April.
Tounde Yessoufou (Forward): St. John’s Red Storm
Yessoufou is another emerging young talent who might just be a household name in the months to come. Coming off a fantastic freshman year at Baylor (averaging 17.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and two steals per game), Yessoufou took his talents to the Big Apple to be coached by the inimitable Rick Pitino. Yessoufou has limitless potential, combining elite athleticism with a natural scoring ability. Assuming that Yessoufou matches well with the demanding coaching style of Coach Pitino, we could be looking at one of the best players in the country in the near future.
Davis Fogle (Guard): Gonzaga Bulldogs
Fogle, a crafty 6-foot-7 sophomore shooting guard for the Zags, has looked phenomenal to start the season. Playing alongside highly touted upperclassmen in point guard Xaivian Lee and big man Braden Huff, Fogle has looked most impressive so far this season. In two starts this season (Fogle had just one in his freshman year), he has scored 22 points in both games. The Washington native is a legitimate three-level scorer, featuring a smooth mid-range game and a deadly three-point stroke. Look for this Zags team to make a whole lot of noise in March if they continue to get this level of production from Fogle.
Alijah Arenas (Guard): USC Trojans
The son of former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas, it seems that Arenas’ prolific scoring ability does not fall far from the tree. Arenas recently had a career-best performance against Wichita State, showcasing his high fluidity and ability to score the basketball at will (30 points on 50 percent shooting). Arenas getting off to a hot start is a tremendous sign, especially after a freshman season that got cut short due to a torn meniscus. Along with teammate Rodney Rice, who also scored 30-plus points against the Shockers, Arenas, like his pops before him, might be must-see TV every time he suits up.