Who do you think it is?

My completely biased answer to my own question is Marcus Morris, University of Kansas.

I really think he is THAT good.

What are we talking?

In college, I think it is Kyle Singler
Pro potential, I think Jared Sullinger or Kyrie Irving

I think it's gotta be Kyle Singler. Mainly because of his versatility and ability to completely take charge of a game, no matter what style of defense is thrown at him or position he is asked to play. He can go inside and score around the rim with moves as limber and stalking as a youthful Hakeem Olajawon, or cause the opposition to protrude beyond the rainbow-line and kill you with triples reminiscent of those launched from the hands of Dale Ellis. There's even been times when Singler shows big-man passing skills similar to that of a budding Arvydas Sabonis. (I wanted to use Larry Legend in that scenario, but nobody could pass the ball like Bird. He simply was the best, in my opinion even more deft than the Pistol. Of course, I never saw either during their prime.) Singler has excellent delivery from the high post and is a dangerous passer when running in transition. On more than a few occasions last year, Kyle went for six or more assists and left the Cameron crowd on its knees a few times with out-of-nowhere behind-the-back tosses for scores. And, of course, his shooting touch, defensive capability and toughness are as polished as you will find in the country. He could be the next Elvin Hayes.

Most here will ascribe the above to my unerring loyalty to Duke. This, however, is not the case. As proof of this, another player I feel is deserving of this honor is Nolan Smith.

I also really like Steven Gray of Gonzaga. That kid is as skilled as a scorer as I've seen in college the past five or so years. Jimmer is great, but Steven has another gear of quickness that makes him the most adept scorer in the country, in my opinion. He can, and will have to, absolutely will the Zags to a deep birth in the NCAAs. Unfortunately for Steven and for Spokane, this will not happen. But Gray is great.

Laley23;569929 wrote:What are we talking?

In college, I think it is Kyle Singler
Pro potential, I think Jared Sullinger or Kyrie Irving

In college.

Is anyone else unimpressed with Harrison Barnes? I mean he's obviously got physical talent, and he will be very good in the future, but he's not all that right now. His jumper is slow and awkward, and not very good. He doesn't have a whole lot of touch around the rim. He forces bad shots. I'm just not on the bandwagon.

Cleveland Buck;569947 wrote:Is anyone else unimpressed with Harrison Barnes? I mean he's obviously got physical talent, and he will be very good in the future, but he's not all that right now. His jumper is slow and awkward, and not very good. He doesn't have a whole lot of touch around the rim. He forces bad shots. I'm just not on the bandwagon.

I think people went a little over the top because of the recent string of PGs. But I along with quite a few others who follow HS basketball closely didnt have him as the #1 PG in the class, let alone player. But he is VERY special. It just isnt realistic for PGs to dominate college bball, and we have had that recently with consecutive classes.

Barnes will probably go nuts the rest of the year and really make me eat my words. But I wasnt convinced he was better than Irving, Knight, or Selby.

SportsAndLady;569944 wrote:In college.

Than I go with Kyle Singler. Id have to give a lot more thought to come up with a good list though. Maybe tomorrow sometime.

My completely biased answer to your own question is Brandon Knight, University of Kentucky.

I really think he is THAT good.

For professional potential I would go with (again not a moment of incredulity here), Irving from Duke. It's rare to find a freshman point endowed with so much speed, agility and poise when handling the ball, in addition to playing absolute lock-down defense and possessing dead-eye range from deep. Coach K, I think, hit the mark when drawing comparisons between Irving and Chris Paul. Irving obviously isn't at that level yet, but, even through three games, it's evident he's the most ready Duke frosh over the last couple of decades. Guys like Redick and Jason Williams might be better scorers as freshman, but Irving is the most equipped.

Laley23;569958 wrote:I think people went a little over the top because of the recent string of PGs. But I along with quite a few others who follow HS basketball closely didnt have him as the #1 PG in the class, let alone player.

Because he isn't a point guard?

rec so far you've listed 3 Duke players lol I know you're TRYING not be biased, but come on man...

As far as talent is concerned, overall this is one of the weakest years in a LONG, LONG while. I honestly don't know how th best player is. I am not sure there is a single player who is heads and shoulders above the rest as Turner and Wall were last year.
One player who comes to mind though, is the kid from BYU, Fredette. I think his kid is really, really good. That is my UNBIAS pick.

Right now-Kyle Singler

End of Year-Harrison Barnes

As a huge Carolina fan, I will say that Barnes has a ton of potential, but he has a long way to go before he should even be mentioned in this conversation. He's still adjusting to the college game at this point, and to have him as a pre-season 1st Team All-American is absolutely ridiculous. By the end of the season, he may be worthy of that status, but I really doubt it. I honestly don't believe he's going to be one-and-done, so he'll have quite a while to live up to the college hype that he is receiving.

It pains me to say this, but I would have to say that Kyle Singler is probably the best player in college basketball. I can't stand him, for obvious reasons, but he's a great all-around player.

I am convinced that Joe is the best in the NCAA right now.

Hey, I threw Robert Sacre or Steven Gray or whomever in there, too.

I truthfully do feel Singler and Smith are the best college players, if, when considering the definition of best, that means most fit to excel and win on this level. There are no two players in the country that can stop these two, respectively. There are more naturally gifted talents, but I feel, on the college platform, they're the most equipped players in the game. (If that makes sense.)

But yeah, it certainly makes me look more skewed than a rubber band geoboard.

reclegend22;569984 wrote:For professional potential I would go with (again not a moment of incredulity here), Irving from Duke. It's rare to find a freshman point endowed with so much speed, agility and poise when handling the ball, in addition to playing absolute lock-down defense and possessing dead-eye range from deep. Coach K, I think, hit the mark when drawing comparisons between Irving and Chris Paul. Irving obviously isn't at that level yet, but, even through three games, it's evident he's the most ready Duke frosh over the last couple of decades. Guys like Redick and Jason Williams might be better scorers as freshman, but Irving is the most equipped.

Have you been in a coma the past few years while all the great freshman 1 and done Pgs were playing?

Hb31187 wrote:Have you been in a coma the past few years while all the great freshman 1 and done Pgs were playing?

No. Had I been in a state of deep unconsciousness for the past 10 years, I'd probably have better things to experience than freehuddle.com.

Three or four point guards coming out in five years with that type of talent is still rare, at least by how I discern the definition of the term.

Rose, Wall, Mayo, Irving, etc. Those are the truly special point guards, the once-in-a-great-while type of lead men (in a general sense of the phrase), and there have been like five in the last decade. I know there's probably one really big one I am just not remembering the name of right now, but, in reality, there have been about a handful of the truly "one-and-done" point guards.

A handful equals rare.

reclegend22;570243 wrote:Rose, Wall, Mayo, Irving, etc. Those are the truly special point guards

Putting Irving, after 3 games, in the same breath as Rose, Wall, and Mayo is ridiculous rec. You know I respect Duke and never bust your chops when it comes to Duke, so please don't take this as Duke bashing. But the kid has played 3 games...lets hold off on the accolades here for a minute.

I agree with you whole heartedly, Sport, in that judging somebody on three games seems absurd.. But the intangibles are all there in terms of understanding of the game and feel for the floor, and Irving's physical gifts of speed, athleticism, deftness with the ball and scoring prowess are all already more than distinguishable at this point. It also doesn't hurt that Coach K's comments back me up, in that he has referred to Irving as the best freshman he's ever had in terms of preparedness and pure basketball attributes during his tenure at Duke -- and that Irving has a "Chris Paul game." Those comments stand on their own, I guess is what I am trying to say.

As I said, Kyrie will have to prove this as the ACC season begins and the competition increases. He hasn't earned it yet. But it's only a matter of time. With some players, you can just feel it right from the start. And, in my opinion, Irving is one of those players.

Okay, so he can POTENTIALLY be up there with those guys..sounds much better

Basically, that is what I meant. I just didn't convey that very well. He has the talent to be there, and, like I said, you can already see the signs. He's got that special something extra.

But yeah.

GOONx19;569990 wrote:Because he isn't a point guard?

The sad thing I know that, thought about it, and then completely posted what I didnt want to post lol.

Conley, Mayo, Rose, Wall, Evans, Jennings(had he wanted to play college bball). I mean theres one in just about every class of late honestly

Aaron Craft.