The big three of Duke’s Cameron Boozer, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson has been as excellent as advertised.
The latter of the three has unfortunately been limited by a hamstring injury suffered before the season began and has become a lightning rod for terrible hot takes. Despite only playing four games and operating at considerably less than 100 percent when he has played, though, Peterson has been dominant when available, averaging just under 20 points per game.
Meanwhile, Boozer vs. Dybantsa for National Player of the Year is shaping up to be a JJ Redick vs. Adam Morrison sort of season-long extravaganza.
Boozer jumped out to a commanding early lead in that race, repeatedly taking over in high-profile games and averaging 23.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. But Dybantsa appears to have taken those early coronations personally, averaging 27.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals in six games played in December, including a 33-10-10 triple-double one week ago against Eastern Washington. Game on.
However, it’s the incredible depth beyond that big three that makes this freshman class an early winner, feeling like possibly the best ever.
Most of the 5-star recruits have been sensational. UNC’s Caleb Wilson is averaging 19.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. is a force of nature at point guard, though Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. has been even better. Both halves of Arizona’s Koa Peat and Brayden Burries duo have been “lottery pick” good. And though he missed the first few weeks of the season with an ankle injury, UConn’s Braylon Mullins has quickly looked the part of a budding star.
Throw in Houston’s Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr., Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou, Washington’s Hannes Steinbach and the breakout star of the class, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, and it might be time to start looking up what the record is for most freshmen among the consensus first-, second- and third-team All-Americans. Because whatever that record is, it’s probably going to get smashed.