Figuring out who the best players in any sport is always up to much debate. Some will agree, some will disagree and others will ignore your argument completely and vent for the sake of venting. The last are trolls, but that’s besides the point.
Creating an argument for players is always interesting. Does the person rely on stats alone? Do they use the eye test? Is there bias involved? A lot of factors go into figuring this out, but all are crucial in determining the argument.
As we continue our preview for the 2014-15 college basketball season, we take a look at the preseason All-Americans. Three teams split up with five players per team, as per usual. However, this one is a bit unconventional compared to other All-American teams.
Much like with the conference player of the year projections, freshmen are not in consideration for this list. Some have tried to sway me to change my mind, but that has not worked out well for them so far.
Unlike high-ranking basketball pundits, I do not have the budget or the luxury to travel the country and scout the in-coming freshmen while they are still in high school. All I’m able to do is watch some highlight clips, a few random game segments here and there and go by word of mouth.
Because of this, I cannot logically call a freshman one of the best players in the country. I don’t go by hype from other people. I need at least a month to be able to say whether a freshman is good enough to be considered great. I’m not going to pretend like I know everything, because I don’t.
Freshmen are tricky, so I leave them off until at least Christmas time.
Also, this gives returning players, ones that have already accomplished something in the sport and I have been able to see, their own praise. Returning players should not be discredited because they are older and don’t have NBA dollar signs hanging around their heads every time they step onto the court.
Many can only dream to get to the NBA someday. Others are trying to state their case as to why they should, also, be considered a pro prospect. I respect that and respect those that want to refine their craft rather than cash in as soon as possible.
With that long-winded explanation of why the highly touted freshmen are left off the list, let’s get to it.
Next: College Basketball Rankings: Preseason Top 25 for 2014-15 Season