With all this talk about Kevin Durant being perhaps the best frosh we've ever seen, I thought I'd take a moment to remind everybody of fella from a few years ago nicknamed Mello...that's right, Carmelo Anthony; the best freshman in the history of college basketball. I don't say this because I'm a complete 'Cuse homer [disclaimer], but rather because of the rather large banner hanging from the rafters at the Carrier Dome, the one that says '2003 NCAA Mens College Basketball National Champions' (or words to that effect).
Now, mind you, should Durant find a way to lead the Longhorns to a national title, I'm sure I might change my mind on this subject. Durant is simply having one of the great freshman seasons anyone has ever had, including guys like Chris Jackson, Pervis Ellison (another national champeen), and Kenny Anderson (one of my all-time favorites).
For comparison's sake, we can take a quick look at the respective statlines for Mello and Durant...
In 35 games in '03, Anthony averaged: 22.2 ppg, 10 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.9 bpg, and 1.6 spg while shooting 45.3% from the floor, 33.7% from three, and 70.6% from the charity stripe.
Through 28 games this season, Durant is averaging: 24.7 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.8 bpg, and 1.8 spg, and is shooting 48.1% from the floor, 40.4% from three, and 80.3% from the line.
I would say that, statistically speaking, Durant has to get the clear edge; that being said, I don't believe that the edge is large enough to offset Anthony's national title should Texas fall short this season.
I do think that while both teams were very young, Anthony did have a bit of a better supporting cast going eight deep with fellow frosh, Gerry McNamara and Billy Edelin, sophomores Hakim Warrick, Josh Pace and (even) Craig Forth, junior shotblocker Jeremy McNeil, and lone senior Kueth Duany. Whether Anthony wins the title without the majority of those guys can never be known, but I'm fairly certain that the existence of these other "go-to guys", so to speak, might've knocked a few points off his scoring average.
On the other hand, Texas is an even more "up and down the floor" team than those Orangemen were - 82.2 ppg vs. 79.6 (a surprise considering they really only go seven deep), and with A.J. Abrams (14.9) and D.J. Augustin (14.5), they do have a couple guys beside Durant that can fill it up if need be.
Let me know what you guys think - whether you'd name somebody completely different, etc. Keep in mind that freshmen weren't allowed to play in the days of Maravich, Alcindor, and Walton, to name just a few all-time great college players.
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Also being a Cuse homer I would edge slighty toward Carmelo. As a frosh and just a kid he had one of the most memorable first game breakout performances dropping 35 (I believe it was) in the Garden back in '03, you don't see that often on the national stage as a coming out party for any freshmen. Melo got the credit but Syracuse as we all well know did not, due to the fact that there were not in the top 25 most of the year which makes there championship run even more grand.
Durant is having, I would agree, a dominant seaon, probably the most dominant I have seen, for a freshmen this year (statistically). He will be remembered for having such a great season but it end there is a very long shot for Texas to pull it together to make a championship run and thats the difference maker for me when you are picking the best Frosh ever to play the game.
Durant's ability, athleticsm, and dominance are without a doubt the best I have seen for a Frosh, but the most complete season by a Frosh, which in my mind makes Melo stand alone at top, is the fact that he (Melo) took a average team that year and made the champions....Durant ain't gonna do that!!!
I would also say that Pervous Ellison had the 3rd best freshmen season ever again leading his team to a championship but to me wasn't as dominant as Melo or Durant!!!
I must add that I saw Durant play last night, he does have an impact and does have more ability as a freshmen than Carmelo, Carmelo was great, but was not talked about as being player of the year in College like Durant is currently and take into consideration this years freshmen alone...best freshmen class of players I have seen I think...
I wouldn't say that Durant has more ability than Carmelo did, I just think he's called upon to do more than Anthony was . . . Durant also seemingly disappeared for large stretches at the end of that game the other night.
Here are a few freshmen classes i might rank ahead of this years:
1979
Isiah Thomas, Indiana; Dominique Wilkins, Georgia; James Worthy, North Carolina; Ralph Sampson, Virginia; Clark Kellogg, Ohio State; Sam Bowie, Kentucky.
Even I was too young to really appreciate these guys as frosh, but are you fucking kidding me? How many NCAA and NBA rings do I see there????
1981
Michael Jordan, North Carolina; Patrick Ewing, Georgetown; Ed Pinckney, Villanova; Chris Mullin, St. John's; Milt Wagner, Louisville.
Fuhgeddaboutit - Jordan, Ewing, and Mullin - 'nuff said.
1988
Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown; Christian Laettner, Duke; Malik Sealy, St. John's; Chris Jackson, LSU; Billy Owens, Syracuse.
SICK, SICK, SICK - better than this year's crop.
1994
Joe Smith, Maryland; Jerry Stackhouse, UNC; Tim Duncan, Wake Forest; Rasheed Wallace, UNC
Pretty much stack these guys up against anybody , eh?
1995
Stephon Marbury, Georgia Tech; Vince Carter, UNC; Antawn Jamison, UNC; Paul Pierce, Kansas; Chauncey Billups, Colorado; Shareef Abdur-Rahim, California.
Imagine if Garnett had gone to college????
Durant is at another level, and I would say if he ends up winning player of the year, since following college basketball which is now 27 years for me, I have not seen a freshmen WITH THE TOTAL PACKAGE (and I am not talking bout what is in his underpants you queer), this good.
You are taking into consideration alot of these freshmen classes and players being being better based on what they did post-freshmen and college years. I cannot remember a freshmen with the ability that Durant has right off the bat and I mostly remember all those late 80's and early 90's teams you talk about but still matched up ability wise off the start as a freshmen, I still think Durant maybe better.
I would still argue that Durant has more ability than Carmelo. Durant plays somewhat of a different role but this guy can shoot, rebound, dish, all three at a top notch level and his scoring is high (may be contributed to the fact that Texas put all there eggs in one basket but still he can have huge games). Again Caremlo was great but still not to the level that Durant has shown us here this year. I called it in my preason top frosh that this guy could be freshmen of the year...and now they are all saying he is player of the year...thats sort of remarkable when you think about it, with a lot of great freshmen playing this year. In 10 years you may put on your list of best freshmen...2006/07 class!!!
However you asked who I would pick and of course it will always and forever be Carmelo unless Syracuse gets a better player in that can win them a championship or two or three or four!!!
Agree for the most part about Durant, but one or even two players does not an "all-time greatest freshmen class" make . . . remember how much impact guys like Chris Jackson, Zo, and Owens had their freshmen years? Nearly every guy mentioned had solid freshmen seasons which is why I might still go with other years over this one . . . hell, I might take the Fab 5 as the all-time best freshmen class by itself :) . . .
RyanExpress
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