Keldon Johnson not listed as one of the top five freshmen this season

Rivals says that six other freshmen have had a better start to their college careers than Kentucky’s Keldon Johnson. The 6-foot-6, 211-pound wing is averaging 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Johnson has scored double-digits in all but one game (nine points against VMI) and is shooting 50 percent from the floor.

The six players ranked ahead of Johnson have similar numbers and you can make the case that five players have better stats, but outside of the Duke freshmen no other freshman on the list is playing on loaded rosters like UK or Duke’s. Maybe an exception for UNC’s Coby White, but he’s taken 14 more shots on the season than Johnson and is shooting at a lower clip from the field.  Had Johnson picked Maryland, Texas or NC State (other schools in the running during his recruitment) it’s easy to assume Johnson’s numbers would be as good as any first year player in the country.

Rivals entire top 10:

1. Zion Williamson
2. R.J. Barrett
3. Luguentz Dort
4. Bol Bol
5. Romeo Langford
6. Coby White
7. Keldon Johnson
8. Ignas Brazdeikis
9. Xavier Johnson
10. Antoine Davis

No reason to get worked up over this list (or really any piece of journalism if we’re being honest) but there are several head-scratching omissions. No Charles Bassey, Moses Brown or Nassir Little in the top 10? I’m sure Rivals didn’t want to be too Duke heavy, but Cameron Reddish has been great for the Blue Devils. All those players that I just listed were included on the “Honorable Mention” list, which included 16 total players.

But no Tyler Herro, who’s averaging 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a team-high 1.7 steals per game.

I don’t think anyone is touching the top two players on the list, but I can’t wait to see Johnson progress. I wouldn’t be shocked if he finished as the third best first-year player in college basketball when it’s all said and done, although Little and Bol are freaks.

Read the entire article HERE.

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