A year ago at this time, all of college basketball was focused on the freshmen. Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Cameron Reddish at Duke; the emergence of Coby White; the question as to which of Kentucky's freshmen would break out; the recent injury to Darius Garland. This season, the storylines have focused more on the upperclassmen and the massive upsets we're seeing near the top of the rankings.
That's not to say college hoops is without elite freshmen this season; the first six college players in ESPN's NBA draft rankings are all freshmen. So, a month into the season, which freshmen have lived up to the hype, which have not had a chance to flash and which have surprised?
As good as anticipated
The top of the 2019 recruiting rankings has worked out pretty well through one month. For the most part, every five-star prospect is contributing at a high clip. There are also a couple of players ranked outside five-star range that were expected to make a monster impact due to their destination and projected college situation. Those players are making an impact too. This list doesn't include James Wiseman, the No. 1 recruit who played just three games before being hit with a 12-game NCAA suspension. Wiseman was dominant in those three games, however.
Cole Anthony, North Carolina: Anthony has been every bit as productive as expected through seven games, averaging 20.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He opened his career with 34 points, 11 rebounds and five assists against Notre Dame and hasn't looked back.
Anthony Edwards, Georgia: Edwards has been making his case to be the No. 1 pick in June, scoring 37 points in an outrageous offensive effort against Michigan State and following it up with the game-winning 3-pointer to beat Chaminade. He needs to do it more consistently, but averages of 20.6 points, 5.9 boards and 3.0 assists are impressive.
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke: It took Carey a few games to get going, but he has become Duke's go-to guy on the offensive end while tallying six straight double-doubles. He got rolling in New York, when he totaled 51 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks in two games against California and Georgetown. He is averaging 18.4 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Nico Mannion, Arizona: One of the most entertaining players to watch in college basketball, Mannion had 23 points and nine assists against Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu in his second career game, and he has been rolling ever since. Mannion is averaging 15.3 points and 5.8 assists.
Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels, Washington: Stewart and McDaniels entered college as top-10 prospects, and they've carried the Huskies at times in the first month of the season. Stewart has scored in double figures in every game thus far, including a 25-point, seven-rebound effort against San Diego, while McDaniels has back-to-back 20-point games. Stewart is averaging 17.1 points and 7.9 boards; McDaniels is at 14.7 points and 5.4 boards.
Jahmi'us Ramsey, Texas Tech: Ramsey missed Tech's most recent game with a leg issue, but he has been highly productive for a Red Raiders team still coming together. He has two 25-plus-point efforts and is averaging 17.3 points and 6.0 rebounds on the season.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova: The Wildcats are a different-looking team from recent years, with Jay Wright focusing more on the frontcourt than the perimeter. And Robinson-Earl is at the forefront of that transition, tallying three double-doubles and averaging 13.0 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Onyeka Okongwu, Southern California: Okongwu has been absolutely dominant on the interior for the Trojans this season, especially at the defensive end. He is averaging 9.0 rebounds and 2.9 blocks and already has notched three 20-10 double-doubles. He is averaging 17.9 points too.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana: The Hoosiers' schedule gets tougher this week, but Jackson-Davis has been taking advantage of the inferior competition thus far. He has four double-doubles in his past six games, including a 19-point, 14-rebound, four-block performance against South Dakota State over the weekend. He is averaging 15.6 points and 9.6 boards.
Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia: Not as highly ranked as the other guys in this category, Tshiebwe still was expected to make a massive impact due to his rebounding and shot-blocking ability. He is averaging 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, and he just had 19 points and 18 rebounds in a win over Wichita State. Tshiebwe needs to stay out of foul trouble, however.
Better than expected
These players -- aside from Stanford's Tyrell Terry -- were all ranked inside the top 100 coming out of high school, but each of them is exceeding expectations. We knew they would contribute immediately, but this much this quickly?
Landers Nolley, Virginia Tech: Nolley has been one of the breakout stars of the season after redshirting his first year out of high school. Nolley is averaging 20.0 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 50.9% from 3-point range. He hit a pair of huge shots late in the win over Michigan State, finishing with 22 points against the Spartans.
Precious Achiuwa, Memphis: Achiuwa was a five-star prospect, but the way he has stepped up in Wiseman's absence has been nothing short of eye-opening. Over the past four games, Achiuwa is averaging 19.0 points and 10.5 rebounds -- including 40 points and 22 rebounds in wins over NC State and Ole Miss.
Zeke Nnaji, Arizona: There was strong buzz throughout the offseason about Nnaji, and he has shown why through nine games. He came out of the gate with four straight games of at least 19 points, and he hit double figures in his first eight games. Nnaji is averaging 17.1 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois: Cockburn's physical presence has been a major asset for Brad Underwood's Illini on the interior. He has five double-doubles and is one of the top rebounders in the country. He is averaging 16.3 points and 11.0 rebounds thus far.
James Bouknight, UConn: After missing the first three games of the season due to suspension, Bouknight has provided much-needed scoring pop for the Huskies. He had 19 points, including several clutch baskets, in a double-overtime loss to Xavier, and he has totaled 28 points over his past two outings. Bouknight is averaging 13.8 points thus far.
Tyrell Terry, Stanford: A guard from Minneapolis, Terry truly broke out in a three-game stretch in late November. He totaled 62 points, 25 rebounds and seven assists against William & Mary, Oklahoma and Butler. Terry also is shooting 41.5% from 3-point range.
Waiting their turn
Not every top-50 freshman has hit the ground running, for a variety of reasons. Some, including Villanova's Bryan Antoine, have been hampered by injuries. Others have been stuck behind veterans at the same position or are just experiencing some of the typical freshman mistakes through the first month. Will situations change for these top-50 prospects?
Tre Mann and Omar Payne, Florida: Mann received high praise in the preseason and was expected to provide some playmaking in the backcourt. But after starting the first four games of the season, he missed a couple of tilts due to a concussion and played 18 minutes total in the Gators' past two. Expect Mann to play a key role once he regains his confidence. Payne should see a bigger role next season once Kerry Blackshear Jr. is gone, and Payne will provide depth the rest of the season.
Kahlil Whitney, Keion Brooks Jr. and Johnny Juzang, Kentucky: The Wildcats have relied far more heavily on their three guards and Nick Richards than anyone else, and that has left Whitney and Brooks to split time up front and Juzang to get spot minutes. Whitney still has started every game this season, averaging 5.6 points, while Brooks has had a role off the bench behind Whitney. Juzang hasn't gotten his outside shot going just yet, but that could be an asset later in the season.
CJ Walker, Oregon: Walker has really come on strong over the past three contests, averaging 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds at the Battle 4 Atlantis. He also has contributed on the defensive end with his athleticism and versatility. He didn't have much of a role in the first five games, but he seems to be a mainstay in the rotation now.
Will Baker, Texas: A top-40 prospect coming out of high school, Baker has seen minutes in all seven games -- but double figures only in the season opener against Northern Colorado. He has totaled four points and nine rebounds. Shaka Smart has used Gerald Liddell and Jericho Sims as his main options down low, with freshman Kai Jones seeing an increased role lately and Baker and Royce Hamm Jr. getting the rest of the minutes.
Alonzo Gaffney, Ohio State: This isn't too much of a surprise, as Chris Holtmann brought back much of last year's rotation and then added Florida State transfer CJ Walker and freshman D.J. Carton in the backcourt. Gaffney brings size to the wing, and he certainly will have his moments this season, but his best days in Columbus are ahead of him.
Under-the-radar stars
These are guys who are having stellar freshman seasons through one month but weren't ranked in any top-100 lists and don't attend one of the Power 5 conference schools.
Jordan Dingle, Penn: Dingle has had his biggest games against Penn's toughest competition -- and he is a primary reason for the Quakers' strong start. He had 24 points in a win at Alabama, tallied 19 points and four assists in a win at Providence and dropped 27 points and seven 3-pointers in a loss to Arizona. He is averaging 17.3 points and 4.1 rebounds this season.
T.J. Weeks, UMass: Classmate Tre Mitchell, an ESPN 100 prospect, was the more hyped freshman entering the program, but Weeks has been terrific off the bench through eight games. Weeks is shooting 54.2% from 3-point range on six attempts per game, while averaging 15.5 points and 4.1 rebounds. He has only played 30 minutes once this season -- and he went for 19 points, seven rebounds and four 3-pointers against Rutgers.
Jarred Hyder, Fresno State: Hyder has been inconsistent through five games: He opened the season with two points, had just seven points in the Bulldogs' more recent game and also missed a game with a hip flexor. But he was terrific in a three-game stretch against Winthrop, San Diego and Saint Mary's, averaging 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 55% from behind the arc.
Amari Davis, Green Bay: Not only has Davis been very solid to start the season, the 6-foot-3 guard also has done it in a unique way: He only has taken one 3-pointer all season. Despite that, Davis is averaging 15.9 points for the Phoenix and is coming off a 28-point performance against Montana State over the weekend. He is shooting 61% from the field.
Rob Perry, Stetson: Perry opened his season with a massive performance, scoring 34 points and grabbing seven rebounds in his first game against Division I competition. He then hit double figures in scoring over the next six games, capped by 24 points and eight rebounds -- on 24 shots -- against Florida College. Perry is getting the green light -- and taking advantage.