Editor's note: The 2016-17 college basketball season will be the "Year of the Freshmen," featuring what could be the best class we've ever seen. Over the next two weeks, we will get familiar with the best of the best, examining who they are and where each of the top 10 prospects in the 2016 ESPN 100 came from.
Read more: No. 10 Duke's Frank Jackson
| No. 9 Kentucky's Malik Monk
No. 8 Michigan State's Miles Bridges | No. 7 Washington's Markelle Fultz
No. 6 Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox | No. 5 Kentucky's Bam Adebayo
No. 4 UCLA's Lonzo Ball | No. 3 Duke's Jayson Tatum
No. 2 Kansas' Josh Jackson | No. 1 Duke's Harry Giles
Lonzo Ball is one of the most intriguing prospects in a long time, and not just because of his talent. He didn't play on one of the major AAU circuits for more than an event or two, and he didn't transfer to a nationally-known high school. He played with his two younger brothers and committed to UCLA very early in the process. A lot of eyes will be on him during his time with the Bruins.
Passing ability
Simply put, Ball is one of the best passers to enter the college game in years. He can make any pass, from baseball passes off of rebounds to no-look 30-foot bounce passes in the half court. At 6-foot-5, Ball has the size to see over defenses and pick them apart, whether it's man-to-man or zone.
"He's a Jason Kidd-type to me. Good feel. Great, elite passer," one scout said. "He just knows how to play the game. I know that's funny because they just threw the ball down the court in high school. He's a better Michael Carter-Williams. Big size, not really a shot-maker, knows how to play the game. He'll get a triple-double, and it won't surprise you."
Ball tied a McDonald's All American Game record with 13 assists and averaged a triple-double during his senior season -- including 11.7 assists.
"When you're a super talented kid that can't shoot, you have to find way to make an impact," said one coach. "You have to be a Jason Kidd, dominate the game without making shots. And he does."
Playing in a system
Ball's Chino Hills (California) team was the most entertaining group to watch in the country. They went for steals and 3-point shots and didn't mind allowing easy layups if it meant they would have a fast break at the other end.
Of course, UCLA won't play that way -- and there's some thought that Ball could struggle to adjust.
"I think he's going to be fine," one Pac-12 coach said. "His stuff is a skill set. He has an unbelievable ability to affect the game, whether he's scoring or not. And he was doing it with inferior talent to what he has at UCLA. And that will make his game that much better. His passing ability is unbelievable, and now his outlets are going to Isaac Hamilton, Bryce Alford, TJ Leaf. Natural scorers."
We've seen Ball make outside shots with deep range and block shots by the rim, but there remain questions about his shooting ability and his consistency when it comes to guarding in the half court.
"In high school, he didn't have to defend," one coach said. "Everybody has guards that can go. He'll have to cover 94 feet."
"When you're not a shot-maker, how are you going to play against teams that zone you or play off of you?" another coach added. "He has to develop his jump shot. I think he's going to be fine in time. He just has to make people respect him so they're closing out. The form is broken, but the rotation looks pretty good. He just shoots it lower, and it looks terrible."
Chemistry in the backcourt
Then there's the elephant in the room. Ball is stepping into a backcourt with two returning starters, including one that happens to be the head coach's son and who has started at point guard over the last couple of years. How Ball interacts with Bryce Alford, Hamilton and Aaron Holiday will dictate how good a wildly talented UCLA team will be this season.
"You have the coach's son who's had the ball in his hands; is that gonna change as a senior?" one coach asked.
"The locker room is going to be the determining factor," said one Pac-12 coach. "There's Holiday, whose brother is an alum and is a really good player. Then there's 'Daddy Ball.' How do you handle that situation? The media has already anointed him to be the savior. It's much more than Alford. How does he handle and manage that locker room? That pressure."
Some people think Ball's arrival help everyone find their role.
"He doesn't hurt Alford," one coach said. "Alford's not a point guard; he's a shooter. I would argue that he's going to make Alford better. Lonzo Ball just allows [Bryce Alford] to score, like Isaac Hamilton."
"He's the best playmaker in their program, and they have really good offense players, so he's going to making plays for those guys," another coach added. "They have offensive firepower, and he's generous, so he should thrive."