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Top Of The Class: Ranking The Top Incoming Freshmen Players

By Ian Flickinger-Galeza

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Mar 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All American athlete Caleb Swanigan (50) poses for pictures during portrait day at the Westin Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All American athlete Caleb Swanigan (50) poses for pictures during portrait day at the Westin Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Up-and-Comers: Caleb Swanigan and Diamond Stone

Swanigan and Stone are a lot alike: both have seen their stock rise over the last year as they continue to improve their games; both are going to schools where they’ll be featured in a prominent role immediately; both teams will have a solid supporting cast to guide them throughout the season; both of them are versatile players for their size.

Neither of them is ready to be the center of attention yet: they’re raw and growing into their game, as is the case with most young big men. Yet the potential to be a top player is there.

Swanigan: 6-8, 250-pounds, C, Michigan State

Swanigan is a traditional low-post player, a strong and physical player who thrives on banging on the lower blocks. The MSU-signee averaged 23.0 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists for Homestead High School (Indiana).

He’s gotten himself into tremendous condition over the course of  his high school years, shedding 100 pounds since he was a 6-5, 350-pound 8th grader (sorry, I can’t get the image of Lil Terrio out of my mind now). Caleb has also expanded his game to include a steady jump shot, which makes him that much tougher to guard.

I watched all of these guys live at the McDonald’s All-American Game this year, and let me tell you a personal scouting report on Swanigan: 

I went to practice and watched him on four-on-four– he shot the ball every time he touched it. Literally every time. To the point I was getting tired of watching him. From the block; from the foul line; from three …  shot. Then after an intermission, something changed. He started dumping it into Stephen Zimmerman (fellow big man) for easy assists. He hit wings for open threes.

It was like watching a player develop into another player.

The point is, Swanigan is raw, and he’s still going to play like a young big man: forcing a few shots, drawing a few dumb fouls down low. But if he gets it … he can be outstanding. Tom Izzo has a long history of developing big men (from Adreian Payne to Draymond Green), and will no doubt get the most out of Swanigan’s potential.

Stone: 6-10, 250-pounds, C, Maryland

Stone’s signing might make Maryland might be the front-runner to win the 2016 NCAA title right now. The Dominican High product averaged 23.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks his senior year, and is a tremendous low-post prospect. Stone is most effective on the boards, and has a developing post game, including a strong drop step and hook shot.

If last weekend is any sign of things to come, Stone might have more than just budding three-point shot– he might be downright lethal: according to 247Sports.com, Stone finished second in the three-point contest at the Kentucky Derby Festival. He’s a strong defensive presence as well, a player capable of sending back weak shots and altering a few more.

Teaming up with a returning star Melo Trimble could make for a deadly pick-and-roll, where opposing teams are stuck playing “pick your poison” between the two. Expect Stone to be a great compliment to Trimble, and a player capable of breaking out on his own. Plus, his Twitter name is All Eyes On Me, an assumed ode to the one and only Pac.