ESPN: Washington among best freshmen, other 'Cats waiting their turn

ESPN college basketball analyst Jeff Borzello took a long, hard look at this year’s freshman class of talent to see who among the high school class of 2021 has done best among their peers at the college level.

To no surprise, Kentucky’s TyTy Washington made the list of standout rookies for his contributions as a Wildcats so far this season. Washington was in good company with familiar faces in Duke’s Paolo Banchero, Auburn’s Jabari Smith, and Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler, among a few others around the nation.

Read what Borzello had to say about Washington’s inclusion in the “Best of the Best.”

TyTy Washington Jr., Kentucky Wildcats

There were overreactions to Washington’s 3-for-14 shooting effort against Duke in the season opener, but he has rebounded to become one of the best freshman guards in the country — as was expected entering the campaign. Washington is averaging 13.6 points and 4.4 assists, numbers skewed by a game against Auburn, which he left after just nine minutes due to injury. Washington has had multiple huge games too, scoring 28 points against Tennessee and totaling 17 points and 17 assists in a win over Georgia earlier this month.

ESPN.com/Jeff Borzello

Washington wasn’t Kentucky’s only freshman in Borzello’s midyear analysis. His UK classmates, Bryce Hopkins and Daimion Collins, also earned a mention as “Top-100 Recruits Waiting Their Turn.”

Borzello wrote, “If Oscar Tshiebwe leaves early, expect Collins to have a breakout sophomore season.”

Can’t we have Oscar and Breakout Sophomore Daimion Collins?

Read more from Borzello on the NCAA’s freshman class.