The 2021-22 college basketball season will bring with it a fresh wave of young talent. The freshman class is full of star power spread out from the west coast to the east coast and many others in between. This piece looks at the rookie talents ranking the top-rated newcomers to the sport. The names mentioned here are likely to feature prominently in the best Basketball league in the world - the NBA. The league that attracts fans from all over the world and even far away countries like Vietnam can enjoy watching and betting on the NBA with websites like bongdalu, because these prospects are expected to play a significant role in their teams. Let's dig in!
Paolo Banchero (Duke, PF)
Success in basketball is determined by fit and situation. For Banchero, the fit is excellent at Duke, and the situation is even better. The program needed frontcourt talent to revamp its roster after losing its top three scorers a season ago.
Banchero steps in as the clear alpha on the team. Pundits expect him to dominate inside and out because of his offensive game's versatility, enabling him to create and score from anywhere.
Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga, C)
Holmgren, Gonzaga's number one recruit, will not be the star of the preseason because Drew Timme, a preseason player of the year candidate, will return. However, that does not mean that he won't be a key player at all. Together with Timme in the frontcourt, Holmgren's sinewy arms and shot-blocking prowess coupled with his guard-like skills are enough to make him one of the players to watch in the game.
Patrick Baldwin Jr.(Milwaukee, PF)
Baldwin had already ranked as the number one high school prospect several times in the country before he entered college as the 7th overall prospect. However, there is understandably less buzz around him because he is coming from a season-ending ankle injury. Nevertheless, you cannot ignore the fact that he is a 6-9 sharpshooter having the talent and savoir-faire of a wing prepared to step in as the number one option on a Milwaukee team that has the goods to win the Horizon.
Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee, PG)
Chandler was an important player of the USA's under 19 team that grabbed the gold medal at the World Cup in the summer. The emerging star averaged 7.7 points and 3.4 assists per game. Additionally, he shot almost 40% from 3-point range and should carry on this momentum into a starring role for Tennessee. Now that the team's leading scorers from last season are gone, Chandler is ready to step up and become an integral part of the team's long-term potential.
Emoni Bates (Memphis, SF)
Emoni is an interesting addition to this list as he will turn 18 years in his second college semester. He also has impressive credentials, including being a former number one recruit who reclassified late to join the tigers. The impressive youngster aims to step in as a bucket-getter early for his team. In fact, Penny Hardaway has revealed he would be playing the 6-8 wing on the ball.
Jabari Smith (Auburn, PF)
Auburn was ranked among the top three last season, along with SEC teams in rebounding. He later went out and added star UNC big man transfer Walker Kessler and Smith to create one of the most talented frontcourts in the league. Smith's smooth shooting and strong frame will allow him to space the floor and cause problems on the interior also.
