Top College Basketball Freshman in 2021-22 Season

With the season just around the corner, freshmen are soon to get a glimpse of what college basketball is all about. With an incredibly talented class, the 2021-22 prospects will be looking to make an immediate impact on their teams. 

Here is a look at the three best college basketball freshmen coming into the season and what potential they bring. 

Paolo Banchero, Duke

The No. 2 incoming high school recruit is headed to the Duke Blue Devils. At 6-foot 11 and 250 pounds, Banchero has the size, athleticism and talent to be one of the best big men in college basketball. Banchero can score from anywhere on the court and is a matchup nightmare for any team. 

247 Recruiting Analyst Josh Gershon says Banchero plays at his “best from the high post where he can hit jumpers, take bigger defenders off the dribble or use his outstanding vision to find cutters.” This fits Duke’s dynamic perfectly when they run their simple motion offense. Spreading the floor, Banchero has the room to isolate and either look to score or draw attention from the defense to hit open teammates on the perimeter.

This season, Banchero will work alongside a well-rounded roster that is returning three of its top six scorers, as well as the fifth-best recruiting class in the nation. We’ll see how the freshman pans out in Coach Krzyzewski’s final season on the sideline.

Emoni Bates, Memphis

Emoni Bates has been quite famous for some time. Before committing to play for the Tigers, Bates decided to reclassify to 2021 after being the No. 1 player in the 2022 class. Standing at 6-foot-9 and 200 pounds, the versatile small forward is a proven scorer. Emoni started his high school career at Lincoln HS in Ypsilanti, Michigan and helped the team to its first state championship as a freshman while being named the MaxPreps Freshman of the Year. Earning the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award during his sophomore campaign, he averaged 32.4 points per game. He continued his offensive dominance as a junior while averaging 24.6 points per game. 

247 Recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins compares Bates’ game to all-star veteran Paul George. Bates is “dangerous contested shot-maker” and “has multi-year all-star type potential in the association.”

His future head coach Penny Hardaway says, “He is one of the fiercest competitors I have ever recruited, and he instantly makes everyone around him better. His will to win makes us a better team.”

Given that his birthday comes in January, the 17-year-old will not be eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft. Thus, he’s got some more years to develop on the college basketball level.

Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga

Crowned the term unicorn big man, Holmgren fits the phrase perfectly. As a 7-foot-1 and 195-pound freshman that can shoot from the perimeter, handle the ball and defend the rim, he’s a do-it-all player. A McDonald’s All-American who won four state championships in high school, Chet averaged 21 points, 12.3 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 4.5 assists and shot 80 percent. 

247sports’ college basketball analyst Brandon Jenkins has high praise for the up and coming star, evaluating Holmgren as “unique of a prospect as there has ever been in the national recruiting database era.” Comparing him to Laker’s all-star Anthony Davis, Jenkins says Chet is “a true game-changer on the defensive end with his rim protection. He additionally is one of the most versatile players in the senior class and while he fills the stat sheet in multiple categories and is extremely productive, his upside is still immense. He impacts the game in so many areas and plays with a huge chip on his shoulder.”

As of now, Holmgren is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, according to ESPN.

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