College basketball preview: 5 freshmen phenoms who will exceed the hype

FORT MYERS, FL - DECEMBER 21: Isaac Okoro #35 of McEachern High School attempts a layup against Mountain Brook High School during the City Of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 21, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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FORT MYERS, FL – DECEMBER 18: Isaac Okoro #35 of McEachern High School dunks against Miami Christian School during the City of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 18, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

This freshmen quintet will exceed their expectations and have a hype train following them during the 2019-2020 college basketball season.

Every season a new crop of freshmen enter the NCAA. The ones that draw the preseason hype and headlines are usually those that rank highest on recruiting lists or the ones that go to the more prestigious programs. Still, each year there are some first-year players that seemingly come out of nowhere to and make an impression on the college basketball world.

2019 will be no different. There are 351 schools that compromise Division 1 and each brings in their own set of recruits. Most of those recruiting services rank around 150-300 kids which leaves out hundreds more who will also suit up at universities across the country.

Once the games begin and the action means something, we will find players who weren’t considered future lottery picks step up in big ways for their team. Trying to figure out who these breakout players are going to be is a tricky task. Sometimes an opportunity presents itself due to injury or suspension. Other times, it could be a particular coach who has a knack for developing under-recruited players. It’s hardly ever the same reason for each player.

The beauty of college basketball is the win-or-go-home nature of the postseason tournaments. A player doesn’t necessarily need to explode for the entire season to get noticed but some strategically placed big games can place someone on the radar that they might not have been on previously. A big game at the right time is all that’s needed to become a breakout performer.

In the end, the fit is much more important than talent. Despite all of the McDonald’s All-Americans, Jordan Brand Classic, and Team USA participants that are about to flood into the collegiate game, there will be players who weren’t deemed as good who will naturally become the more heralded names in college. No two players are created the same and in that same vein, no two players develop at the same rate. Just because someone was ranked lower coming out of high school doesn’t mean they will always be worse than those placed above them.