Most freshmen, however, contribute like freshmen, and expecting more is setting yourself up for disappointment.
Always stated that there will be recruits who don't match their rating (at least from the onset) and those who will surpass them, but that each class needs at least 1 player who can contribute - if not a starter (and not by default) than an impact player off the bench.
There have been a decent # of frosh who were impact players as starters or significant contributors off the bench.
TJ Parker - 11.4 ppg (.452)
Coble - 13.4 ppg (.494)
Juice - 11.6 ppg (.434)
Shurna - 7.3 ppg (.466)
Crawford - 10 ppg (.447)
Cobb - 7.4 ppg (.389)
Sobo - 8.3 ppg (.399)
BMac - 11.4 ppg (.421)
Law - 7 ppg (.387)
Pardon - 6.7 ppg (.646)
Falzon - 8.4 ppg (.383)
Kopp - 5.1 ppg (.427)
The probkem for BC was that he was just pretty much replacing a good player who was graduating, and thus was never able to build depth (esp. hurt when the injury bug arose).
For CC, after the 2014 class which led to 3 starters and an important role player/part-time starter and the 2015 class which brought a key starter (and a possible starter hampered by injuries) - which w./ Lumpkin and Tap created enough talent/depth for the Tourney team, there have been too many classes which haven't been able to replace the departing talent (would be even worse if Law didn't get a medical RS).
Due to injury issues and whatnot, the 2015 class has 1 contributor (Pardon).
The 2016 didn't bring about any impact players (if BB isn't showing it by now, not sure if he will ever do so).
The 2017 has Gaines, who, right now, is a decent role player off the bench.
2018 class - right now, Kopp has shown the most out of the frosh, but really shouldn't be starting and would be a role player off the bench.
So out of 4 recruiting classes - 1 legit starter and 2 role players at this time.
Shurna was ok as a frosh, his breakout was as a soph where he got national attention. That said even Shurna was not a guy who broke down defenses off the dribble and created consistently. We have almost never had those guys since I’ve been watching I’m the 90s and that hurts us in close games.
Johnny was more than
OK as a frosh; he was the
4th leading scorer on the team.
Shurna would have avg'd
13.1 ppg on a per 40 min basis (avg'd 18.5 mins of playing time as a frosh).
Law avg'd 6 more minutes per game as a frosh and scored about the same as Shurna w/ a considerably lower FG% (granted, Law was better on the defensive end).
A frosh Shurna would be the starting 4 and not Kopp.
I get the frustration with this team, but re: guys who could create their own shot we've had some good ones. Off the top of my head: Jitim, Tre Demps, Juice, Reggie Hearn. They were all on teams that lacked other parts (like a Coble)
Don't forget about Cobb (when healthy).