Top 25 most impactful college basketball freshmen in 2017-18

Which freshmen can you not miss this season in college basketball?

There are plenty of talented freshmen that will be under the spotlight in college basketball this year once again. From guys who are academic sophomores to fresh 18-year-old kids, this freshmen crop is a good one.

We looked at the top 25 freshmen that will have the biggest impact in their first year on campus. We took into account their overall skill level, of course, though that is only a fraction of it. It was also crucial to look at their projected role within their respective teams. A top-15 player may be a third option on his team, meaning he’ll likely be less impactful than what he is truly capable of being.

25. Garrison Brooks – UNC

Garrison Brooks steps into Chapel Hill with almost ridiculous expectations on his shoulders. The rawest player we’ll see on this list, Brooks can contribute right away. Brooks stands at 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds with an athletic body type and solid overall athleticism. After losing their three best frontcourt players, UNC has a massive spot that needs to be filled.

Enter Brooks. Brooks is undersized for a center, but his athleticism and high IQ can help make up for that. He is pretty raw offensively, as he shows flashes of good post footwork and a decent mid-range stroke. Defensively, his mobility allows him to recover pretty well and disrupt shots and passing lanes at times. Though, with the bunches of experience that is returning to Chapel Hill, Brooks will be afforded a learning curve on both sides of the ball. When it comes to rebounding, though, Brooks will make his mark. Brooks is a smart guy who knows where to be to grab rebounds and always looks for a body to box out when the shots do go up.

When one of the best rebounding teams in the country loses its three most important players in that aspect, a rebounding specialist will certainly make an impact, even as a freshman.