Big 12: Myles Turner National Freshman Of The Year?

As every college basketball season draws nearer, there’s the usual slew of elite freshman who are thrown into the category of contenders for the NCAA Freshman of the Year award. For the 2014-14 season and its loaded class of star caliber freshman, the names that have been tossed around include Jahlil Okafor, Cliff Alexander, Stanley Johnson and Karl Towns Jr. But unlikely as it is for a guy who was rated as the No. 2 overall recruit by ESPN, Texas Longhorns’ 5-star center, Myles Turner hasn’t been mentioned much as a possible candidate to be crowned as the nation’s top freshman.

For those who aren’t familiar with Turner’s game, his unique combination of size and versatility makes for a skill set that allows the 7’0” center to potentially become a star inside or outside of the paint. This comes in addition to his well-known defensive prowess as a shot blocker. With the ability to hold his ground as a center on both ends of the court, stretch the floor as a power forward and overmatch the majority of other forwards, Turner could make a case for the NCAA Freshman of the alone on his post play.

But there’s something Turner has that no other player in college basketball does and that’s the versatility to flourish from any of the frontcourt positions, which becomes an especially notable feat considering he has the maturity, discipline and sheer talent to come in and have this sort of impact from day one.

With a shooting touch that extends out beyond the three-point line and everything in between the arc and the rim, Turner will be much more than just an asset around the rim. He’ll stretch the floor vastly, attack the basket and crash the boards from the wing as well, which, with his size will cause huge mismatches regardless of who attempts to guard him on the perimeter, which is where he will ultimately find his starts at Texas. Guards and small forwards will have no way of preventing Turner from imposing his will with his size or shooting over them, while most power forwards and centers aren’t comfortable with being forced to play defense out to the perimeter and don’t have the quickness Turner does to beat them to the rim.

Point being, Turner is by far the most versatile player in his class. He could be an elite center, power forward and small forward and with show do so as he plays both forward roles throughout the season.

But even greater than simply stating how impactful he can and will be as an individual is the effect he will have on the Texas program looking to compete for a conference and even national championship. Turner stated after his commitment to Rick Barnes and the Longhorns that he chose Texas because he felt needed. This wasn’t something that was just a blowing smoke method by Barnes to get Turner to Texas, but he really is needed for Texas to go from being a good team to becoming a great team. When the season draws to a close and Texas is one of college basketball’s elite teams, a huge part of this success will be credited to the efforts of Turner and how much he has done to help carry Texas to prominence.

There’s no possible way the ones making the decision as to who will be the next NCAA Freshman of the Year will be able to overlook the overall versatility, heart and impact Myles Turner will have during his first, and likely only, season at Texas, which is why he’s more than a great option to become the best freshman in college basketball next season.