As a reminder to those who are inevitable going to spam my twitter account with outrage that your guy isn't on this list – this has nothing to do with who I think are the top freshmen in the nation. It's all based on what they've done on the court, to date. And no, one great game on national tv does not qualify your guy.
And now we're four weeks into the season. We're getting somewhere. Guys can't live off of three or four good games anymore. Now there's some data!
1. Anthony Bennett, UNLV (last week: 1)
Bennett continues to impress. There are only two freshmen in the nation who draw more fouls than Bennett, and so far he's knocked down 78% of his freebies. He averaged 17.5 and 7 in his two games this week, and for the season is averaging 18.8 points and 7.8 rebounds. He also added four blocks and three assists this week, while only committing two turnovers.
2. Jordan Adams, UCLA (lw: 8)
While many freshmen struggled for good team this week, Adams did the opposite. He tried to hold together a team which is falling apart. The least acclaimed player from the nations No. 1 class has separated himself from the pack with his nonstop motor and aggressive play. Though he's fallen to just a 91% free throw shooter, Adams is averaging 17.8 points and 3.4 rebounds. In their loss to San Diego State Adams made 5-9 3s while the rest of the team went 3-11.
3. Alex Poythress, Kentucky (lw: 2)
All of the heralded Kentucky freshmen struggled this week, but Poythress was the best at hiding it. He made 6-9 2s and 1-2 3s, even though he only averaged eight points a game. On the year he's made half his 3s and is averaging over 15 a game, though turnovers are beginning to become an issue.
4. T.J. Warren, North Carolina State (lw: unranked)
Warren worked his way back into the top 10 by a) having a great game, and b) having that game during a week in which the top freshmen struggled. Warren was right in the mix during weeks 1 and 2, and is now back after a week off. On the season he's only turned it over five times in six games. And though NC State lost this week to Michigan, Warren had 18 points on just 10 shots, and chipped in three offensive boards.
5. Jalan West, Northwestern State (lw: unranked)
Entering the top-10 for the first time is 5-10 Jalan West from little known Northwestern State. He's made 58% of his 2s, 52% of his 3s and 92% of his free throws. He's also filling the statsheet with 4.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. He also only turned the ball over twice this week in two games.
6. Nerlens Noel, Kentucky (lw: 5)
Noel struggled from the floor this week, making just 7-24 2s, but in two games he averaged 11.5 boards (5 offensive) and four blocks. He continues to fill the statsheet, averaging 11.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 3.0 steals, and 2.6 assists.
7. James Woodard, Tulsa (lw: 7)
Woodard continues to be one of the most efficient freshmen in the nation, with a 133.2 offensive rating. He's made 38% of his 3s and 62% of his 2s. He also has one of the smallest turnover rates in the nation.
8. Michael Kessens, Longwood (lw: 9)
Kessens is no longer the only freshmen to be averaging a double-double, but no one has put up the 13 points and 11.4 boards like him. Early in the week he posted an 18 point, 17 rebound, 3 steal and 3 block game. He's now had double-doubles in five of eight career games.
9. Tim Williams, Samford (lw: unranked)
Williams has been hovering around the bottom end of this list for a couple weeks now, but due to solid play and struggles above him he's finally arrived. In two games he scored 30 points on just 17 shots and added six boards and 1.5 blocks per game. For the year he's averaging 15.6 points (by making 56% of his 2s), 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.4 steals.
10. Archie Goodwin, Kentucky (lw: 4)
Goodwin really struggled in Kentucky's two losses this week, making just 6-18 shots from the field. But he continues to fill it up by recording 13 rebounds and 10 assists in two games. And on the year he's averaging 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
