There's a good reason the 2016 freshman class has already generated much excitement for its talent and depth. If the season plays out as expected, most, if not all of the top 10 freshmen from the 2016 ESPN 100 list will have a realistic chance to be first-round picks in the NBA draft.
Which NBA players, past or current, do the stars of the 2016 class most closely resemble?
1. Duke's Harry Giles -- Chris Webber
At his best, Giles is like a mixture of Webber and Kevin Garnett. Giles runs the floor extremely well for a big man, and that translates to his lateral quickness on defense, too. He has a quick first step and is hard to contain when he faces the basket, but he can also bully his way up if needed. The question is, as Giles works his way back from a torn ACL, will we ever see him at his best this season?
2. Kansas' Josh Jackson -- Indiana Pacers' Paul George
Jackson's smoothness will conjure thoughts of George. Jackson is good at getting to the rim off the bounce, but he's just as crafty positioning himself for scoring opportunities moving without the ball. He could eventually be an elite defender with his length and athleticism. Although he has worked on improving his shot in the offseason, he still has more work to do to remove the hitch from his stroke.
3. Duke's Jayson Tatum -- Grant Hill
No need to leave Duke's campus to see whom Tatum's game resembles on the floor. Athletic and versatile, the St. Louis native is like Hill, a former Blue Devil. Tatum has a smooth midrange game. While Hill was a better rebounder, Tatum is a better pure scorer. But make no mistake, Tatum's skill set will allow Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski plenty of lineup flexibility as Tatum could be used as a point-forward.
4. UCLA's Lonzo Ball -- Jason Kidd
Ball excels with court vision and passing as he's able to anticipate plays and deliver with precision just like a taller Kidd. Ball will be a triple-double waiting to happen for the Bruins. He can rebound at a high rate, and he'll rarely miss getting the ball to an open teammate. As he develops physically and continues to work on his shot, Ball might eventually become the most well-rounded player in this class.
5. Kentucky's Edrice "Bam" Adebayo -- Amar'e Stoudemire
Adebayo is like a man-child on the court, similar to a young Stoudemire. Adebayo is ahead of the curve physically. His frame and strength will allow him to compensate while the rest of his game is still in development. He's still very much raw in terms of skills, but from the start he'll be a solid rebounder and finisher at the rim for Kentucky.
6. Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox -- Washington Wizards' John Wall
Fox is fast. Like Wall-level fast with the ball in his hands from baseline to baseline. And similar to Brandon Jennings, Fox is adept at changing gears to attack the rim. Simply put, Fox can get anywhere he wants on the court to get his shot. He can also be a shutdown defender for the Wildcats thanks to his quickness, but he'll inevitably need to get stronger to reach his potential.
7. Washington's Markelle Fultz -- Steve Francis
Fultz is hard to compare to just one player. Folks around the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia), might see the Upper Marlboro, Maryland native as a taller version of Francis, a Takoma Park, Maryland, native. Fultz has a knack for scoring and can turn it on when needed, but at times it seems he'd rather just be a distributor. That's also why he's likely to remind observers of a smaller version of Penny Hardaway, especially because of the way he can finish.
8. Michigan State's Miles Bridges -- Charles Barkley
Bridges is a left-handed version of Barkley -- albeit a slimmer, less talkative version, too. That's not implying he'll ever be considered a "round mound of rebound." Bridges runs the floor, finishes on breaks with authority, is comfortable stepping back behind the 3-point line and rebounds at a high rate. The Spartans' thin frontcourt will force him to defend bigger players, but he's strong enough to do it.
9. Kentucky's Malik Monk -- Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook
In a word, Monk can be described as explosive. And who currently in the NBA embodies that better than Westbrook? In a way, it's an unfair comparison as Westbrook has positioned himself on the short list of the league's best players. But Monk has a similar attacking disposition. He's relentless like that. It can sometimes get him into trouble, as his aggressive nature can lead to poor shot selection and decision-making.
10. Duke's Frank Jackson -- Dallas Mavericks' Deron Williams
Jackson embodies a lot of what Williams used to, before age and injuries slowed him down. But Jackson is more explosive athletically. He plays with poise beyond his years. With Giles and Tatum sidelined, Jackson's skill set is on full display. He probably won't end the season as the Blue Devils' No. 2 scorer, but he's capable of that kind of production if the team needs it.