Big East has hole-fillers
With NBA draft picks and graduates aplenty, freshmen have chances to lead.
top 5
By Adam Finkelstein | ESPN RecruitingNation
October 17, 2012
The good news is 2012 was another good recruiting year for the Big East, as the conference landed 15 ESPN 100 prospects. The bad news is that three of the programs making the biggest recruiting splashes of late -- Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame -- are moving to the ACC as part of the conference realignment that arguably has hurt the Big East more than any other conference in America.
Providence earned the highest-rated recruiting class in the Big East last year but isn't likely to feel the effects just yet, as Ricardo Ledo was ruled only a partial qualifier by the NCAA Eligibility Center, and McDonald's All-American Kris Dunn is sidelined with a shoulder injury. As always, opportunity will play a large role in determining exactly which freshmen go on to make the biggest impacts in the 2012-2013 season.
Top Five Incoming Freshmen
C Steven Adams
College: Pittsburgh
Hometown/High school: New Zealand/Notre Dame Prep
Notes: Arrived from New Zealand in January 2012 and finished the season at Notre Dame Prep; Jordan Brand All-American; ranked No. 6 overall in ESPN 100; fourth-best center
Jamie Dixon's club could have used the New Zealand Sensation last season. Khem Birch's mid-semester transfer left the Panthers undermanned in the middle, to say the least, and they've been anxiously awaiting Adams' arrival ever since. Although he won't be ready to play a starring role from day one, Adams will be ready to make contributions on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, he'll be a game-ready finisher right away and has the jump hook to become an increasingly dangerous threat on the block. Defensively, he'll replace the shot-blocking presence that Birch was supposed to be while also providing a dependable rebounding presence.
SG Omar Calhoun
College: Connecticut
Hometown/High school: Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King
Notes: Ranked No. 32 overall in ESPN 100; seventh-best SG
Calhoun was the fifth-highest rated recruit to commit to a Big East school last year, but there might not be another freshman in the conference with a greater opportunity to make an immediate impact. The rebuilding Huskies will be a perimeter-oriented team, and guards Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and Calhoun and going to be the primary playmakers. If Connecticut plays more of a drive-and-kick style this season, Calhoun will benefit because he's the type of guy who can make 3-pointers in bunches as well as get into the lane against running defenders.
C DaJuan Coleman
College: Syracuse
Hometown/High school: Dewitt, N.Y./Jamesville-Dewitt
Notes: Was the top-ranked player in the Class of 2012 as a sophomore but finished high school No. 14 in ESPN 100 and as sixth-best center; McDonald's All-American
Coach Jim Boeheim and his staff had been locked in on this local product since before he played his first high school game. Four years later, the timing of Coleman's arrival coincides perfectly with Fab Melo's departure to the NBA, giving the Orange's most recent prized recruit a clear-cut role to embrace. Whether Coleman will be ready to handle all of Melo's 25 minutes per game will depend primarily on his conditioning, but he'll provide the same wide body in the middle to anchor the team on both ends of the floor.
C - Christopher Obekpa
College: St. John's
Hometown/High school: Centereach, N.Y./Our Savior New America
Notes: Nigeria native; played only his senior season in United States; ranked No. 78 in ESPN 100 and 16th-best center
Obekpa was recruited by the better part of the Big East before he finally made a commitment to St. John's in mid-June. As is the case with Calhoun, his value will be magnified by the level of his opportunity. St. John's was a team that lacked a true big man last season, and Obekpa will have every chance to lock down the team's starting center position and establish himself as one of the league's best shot-blockers from day one of his freshman season.
PG Ryan Arcidiacono
College: Villanova
Hometown/High school: Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy
Notes: Ranked No. 46 in ESPN 100; sixth-best point guard; missed senior season with a back injury
From strictly a statistical stand point, Arcidiacono might not be one of the top five freshmen in the Big East this season. However, his impact will far exceed the points and assists he puts up in the next five months. Although he certainly has a chance to develop into the next great Villanova guard, he's going to need to work some of the rust off his game. More immediately, he's going to be a culture-changer, as his toughness, confidence and basketball IQ are off the charts and likely already spilling onto his teammates.
With NBA draft picks and graduates aplenty, freshmen have chances to lead.
top 5
By Adam Finkelstein | ESPN RecruitingNation
October 17, 2012
The good news is 2012 was another good recruiting year for the Big East, as the conference landed 15 ESPN 100 prospects. The bad news is that three of the programs making the biggest recruiting splashes of late -- Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame -- are moving to the ACC as part of the conference realignment that arguably has hurt the Big East more than any other conference in America.
Providence earned the highest-rated recruiting class in the Big East last year but isn't likely to feel the effects just yet, as Ricardo Ledo was ruled only a partial qualifier by the NCAA Eligibility Center, and McDonald's All-American Kris Dunn is sidelined with a shoulder injury. As always, opportunity will play a large role in determining exactly which freshmen go on to make the biggest impacts in the 2012-2013 season.
Top Five Incoming Freshmen
C Steven Adams
College: Pittsburgh
Hometown/High school: New Zealand/Notre Dame Prep
Notes: Arrived from New Zealand in January 2012 and finished the season at Notre Dame Prep; Jordan Brand All-American; ranked No. 6 overall in ESPN 100; fourth-best center
Jamie Dixon's club could have used the New Zealand Sensation last season. Khem Birch's mid-semester transfer left the Panthers undermanned in the middle, to say the least, and they've been anxiously awaiting Adams' arrival ever since. Although he won't be ready to play a starring role from day one, Adams will be ready to make contributions on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, he'll be a game-ready finisher right away and has the jump hook to become an increasingly dangerous threat on the block. Defensively, he'll replace the shot-blocking presence that Birch was supposed to be while also providing a dependable rebounding presence.
SG Omar Calhoun
College: Connecticut
Hometown/High school: Brooklyn, N.Y./Christ the King
Notes: Ranked No. 32 overall in ESPN 100; seventh-best SG
Calhoun was the fifth-highest rated recruit to commit to a Big East school last year, but there might not be another freshman in the conference with a greater opportunity to make an immediate impact. The rebuilding Huskies will be a perimeter-oriented team, and guards Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and Calhoun and going to be the primary playmakers. If Connecticut plays more of a drive-and-kick style this season, Calhoun will benefit because he's the type of guy who can make 3-pointers in bunches as well as get into the lane against running defenders.
C DaJuan Coleman
College: Syracuse
Hometown/High school: Dewitt, N.Y./Jamesville-Dewitt
Notes: Was the top-ranked player in the Class of 2012 as a sophomore but finished high school No. 14 in ESPN 100 and as sixth-best center; McDonald's All-American
Coach Jim Boeheim and his staff had been locked in on this local product since before he played his first high school game. Four years later, the timing of Coleman's arrival coincides perfectly with Fab Melo's departure to the NBA, giving the Orange's most recent prized recruit a clear-cut role to embrace. Whether Coleman will be ready to handle all of Melo's 25 minutes per game will depend primarily on his conditioning, but he'll provide the same wide body in the middle to anchor the team on both ends of the floor.
C - Christopher Obekpa
College: St. John's
Hometown/High school: Centereach, N.Y./Our Savior New America
Notes: Nigeria native; played only his senior season in United States; ranked No. 78 in ESPN 100 and 16th-best center
Obekpa was recruited by the better part of the Big East before he finally made a commitment to St. John's in mid-June. As is the case with Calhoun, his value will be magnified by the level of his opportunity. St. John's was a team that lacked a true big man last season, and Obekpa will have every chance to lock down the team's starting center position and establish himself as one of the league's best shot-blockers from day one of his freshman season.
PG Ryan Arcidiacono
College: Villanova
Hometown/High school: Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy
Notes: Ranked No. 46 in ESPN 100; sixth-best point guard; missed senior season with a back injury
From strictly a statistical stand point, Arcidiacono might not be one of the top five freshmen in the Big East this season. However, his impact will far exceed the points and assists he puts up in the next five months. Although he certainly has a chance to develop into the next great Villanova guard, he's going to need to work some of the rust off his game. More immediately, he's going to be a culture-changer, as his toughness, confidence and basketball IQ are off the charts and likely already spilling onto his teammates.
