One way to see the future of both the NCAA and the NBA is to analyze the performance of players who debut in the NCAA, during the very first months. This is because a lot can be inferred by the way a player performs during her/his first year in a sort of major league the league.
As college basketball is back at full swing, their teams want to maximize early on these players so they can make a difference early on, and it’s cool to know who’s who.
This could be clearly seen at Duke University, where No. 2 overall recruit Paolo Banchero and fellow five-star freshman Trevor Keels have been exceeding all possible expectations and projected stats. Going beyond players that have gone from NCAA to being NBA legends.
The NCAA is the type of competition that for some reason the teams choose to weaponize their team to the limit very early on.
STREETOPIA wanted you to have an overview of who these players are and how they have been performing by providing you a top-three ranking in college basketball, early on, so you can expect what to come.
PAOLO BANCHERO - DUKE UNIVERSITY
It’s quite rate to see such an impressive and solid debut, clearly showing the player’s potential ahead. Banchero is an exception even among the best. He has been averaging 19.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his first three rounds -- all wins. And against Kentucky in the season-initial game he scored 22 points, picked 7 rebounds and made 2 steals -- all while battling chronic cramps – in just under 31 minutes of play.
BRYCE MCGOWENS - NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Losing to to Western Illinois was certainly a bad moment and a not-so-promising sign for its prospects this season, but Bryce McGowens is certainly not the one to blame. He scored 25 points against Western Illinois and then 29 points in a bounceback win over Sam Houston State. His consistency from beginning to end during the games has been calling his coach and everyone’s attention.
PATRICK BALDWIN JR. - MILWAUKEE
Patrick Baldwin Jr. was on fire scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists in a 77-71 loss to Eastern Kentucky. Baldwin scored consistently -- he was 7 of 20 from the floor and 2 of 9 from 3-point range -- but better days are ahead. His potential is incredible due to his versatility and continuous technical improvement.
Pick up that remote control because the NCAA championship has just begun.
