Yags’ Point Forward - Class of 2016 Update

by Mike Yagmin | Saturday, February 11th, 2017

As a way to remind players, coaches and scouts of how difficult the transition from the high school ranks to major college basketball can be, we’ll take our second look at how the prospects from New England’s Class of 2016 are faring at the collegiate level.

The class of 2016 was viewed as a banner crop at both the local and national level. While injuries have played a role in the production of some members from the top of both groups, the national class as a whole has been even better as advertised and is likely to produce the top-10 picks in the 2017 NBA Draft with the likes of Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, Dennis Smith, and more.

As far as New England’s Class of 2016 is concerned, there have been an equal amount of prospects in the top-25 that can call their freshman season a success or a disappointment, based on the expectations that were set heading into their campaign. Here’s a look at the top-10 individual game performances by New England freshman this season, followed by the season averages for the top-25 prospects and other notables from the class.

TOP-10 PERFORMANCES BY NEW ENGLAND FRESHMAN DURING ’16-’17 SEASON

1. Bruce Brown, Miami - 30 points (8-11 FG/4-6 3pt/10-13 FT) 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals in 77-62 win over #9 North Carolina on January 28th

2. Bruce Brown, Miami - 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists for Miami’s first triple-double since 2004 in 82-46 win over South Carolina St on December 6th
     
3. Wenyen Gabriel, Kentucky - 23 points (7-11 FG/3-6 3pt/6-7 FT) 8 rebounds, 2 assists in 92-85 win over LSU on February 7th
     
4. AJ Brodeur, Penn - 35 points (14-19 FG/3-4 3pt/4-6 FT) 6 rebounds, 3 blocks in 77-74 win over LaSalle on January 25th
    
5. Tyrique Jones, Xavier - 16 points (8-8 FG) 4 rebounds, 1 block in 18 minutes in 82-80 win over #22 Creighton on February 4th
    
6. Mustapha Heron, Auburn - 15 points (5-10 FG/2-4 3pt/3-4 FT) 12 rebounds, 4 steals in 74-70 win over Oklahoma on December 21st
    
7. Will Rayman, Colgate - 34 points (11-20 FG/5-11 3pt/7-8 FT) 5 rebounds in 85-75 win over Lafayette on December 30th
     
8. Miye Oni, Yale – 24 points (9-14 FG/4-6 3pt/2-3 FT) 6 rebounds, 3 assists in 98-90 win over Washington and future top-5 NBA Draft pick Markelle Fultz, during both players’ college debut on November 13th
9.Taurean Thompson, Syracuse - 22 points (10-13 FG/1-2 3pt/1-2 FT) 7 rebounds, 2 blocks in 19 minutes in 99-77 win over Boston University on December 10th
    
10. Mustapha Heron, Auburn -  24 points (8-8 FG/1-1 3pt/7-13 FT) 10 rebounds, 2 steals in 23 minutes in 85-64 win over Eastern Kentucky on November 17th

CLASS OF 2016 FRESHMAN SEASON AVERAGES (in order of final NERR ranking)

1. Wenyen Gabriel, Kentucky – 21 mins 6.4 points/6.1 rebounds/1.1 block/1 assist

2. Omari Spellman, Villanova – Ruled ineligible prior to season

3. Mustapha Heron, Auburn – 28 mins 15.3pts/5.7reb/1.3ast w/ 42% FG/43% 3pt/77% FT
     Has reached double figures in points in all 24 games this season

4. Bruce Brown, Miami – 31 mins 12.1pts/6.1reb/3.3ast/1.6stl w/ 48% FG/41%3pt/71% FT

5. Matthew Moyer, Syracuse – Has not played due to injury and will redshirt

6. Taurean Thompson, Syracuse – 16.8 mins 8.6pts/3.2reb/55% FG

7. Mamadou Diarra, Uconn – Has not played due to injury and will redshirt

8. Tyrique Jones, Xavier – 9.7 min 3.3pts/3.1reb/52% FG

9. Alpha Diallo    , Providence – 18.4 mins 4.5pts/2.5reb/1ast/79% FT
     Scored 18 points w/ 3 steals, 2 assists in loss vs #4 Villanova on February 1st

10. Tyrn Flowers, UMass – 12.8 mins 4.8pts/2.8reb  
      20pts/9 rebs in loss to UCF on December 3rd

11. Chris Baldwin, UMass – 7 mins 1.9pts/2.2reb

12. Kevin Marfo, George Washington – 9 mins 2.8pts/2.7reb

13. Christian Vital, Uconn – 26.8 mins 8.1pts/3.3reb/1.7ast
       Has averaged 13pts/6reb/3ast over Uconn’s last four games

14. A.J. Brodeur, Penn – 30.2 mins 14.3pts/6.5reb/2.3blk/1.8ast 52% FG
       Leads team in Points, Rebounds, Blocks, Field Goal % and is 3rd in Assists

15. Jordy Tshimanga, Nebraska – 11.4 mins 4.5pts/3.4reb
      Scored 15 points (5-9 FG/5-6 FT) 9 rebounds vs Michigan State on February 2nd
16. Elijah Hughes, East Carolina – 21.6 mins 8.3pts/2.8reb/1.4ast
       Scored 14 points w/ 6 rebounds, 4 assists vs UConn on Jnauary 22nd

17. Vitaliy Shibel, Arizona State – Has not played due to a knee injury and will redshirt

18. C.J. Keyser, Wichita State – 5.5 mins 2.4pts/86% FT on 21-4 Shockers team

19. Deleon Brown, Colorado – 12.4 mins 3.5pts/34% 3pt

20. Eli Pemberton, Hofstra – 30.2 mins 13.3pts/3.4reb/2ast w/ 46% FG/43% 3pt/83% FT
       Scored 26 points (10-17 FG/5-8 3pt) w/ 5 rebounds, 3 steals vs Towson on January 19th

21. David Dileo, Central Michigan – 25.3 mins 9.5pts/5.1reb/ w/ 38% 3pt/84% FT
      Scored 22 points (5-11 3pt) w/ 6 rebounds, 2 steals vs Northern Illinois on January 7th

22. Malik Fitts, South Florida – 24.6mins 7.9pts/4.9reb/1.4ast
      Scored 28 points (9-14 FG/3-6 3pt) w/ 11 rebounds, 3 steals vs Memphis on February 2nd

23. Dimencio Vaughn, Rider – Tore ACL 9 games into ’16-’17 campaign, will look to redshirt

24. Travis Atson, Tulsa – 6.5 mins 1.8pts/1reb

25. Rapolas Ivanauskas, Northwestern – Has not played due to shoulder injury, will redshirt\

26. EJ Crawford, Iona – 25.3 mins 9.8pts/3.2reb/1.3ast w/ 43% FG/43% 3pt/79% FT
      Scored 20 points (5-9 FG/3-6 3pt/7-7 FT) w/ 8 rebounds vs Quinnipiac on January 23rd

27. Charles Brown, St Joseph’s – 33.2 mins 12.3pts/5.1reb/1ast w/ 39% 3pt/87% FT

29. Will Rayman, Colgate – 29 mins 14.3pts/4.4reb/1.1ast w/ 43% FG/36% 3pt
      Leads team in Points, 2nd in Minutes Played

31. Nathan Knight, William & Mary – 17 mins 7.5pts/4.4reb/1.6blk
      Scored 15 points w/ 5 rebounds, 5 blocks vs Towson on February 4th

34. Mark Gasperini, American – 26.8 mins 11.7pts/4.5reb/1.6ast

39. Miye Oni, Yale – 31 mins 13.2pts/7.2rebs/2.6ast/1.2blk w/ 45% FG/43% 3pt/80% FT
     Leads team in Points, Rebounds and 3pt %

40. Maxime Boursiquot, Northeastern – 19 mins 5.3pts/4.2reb w/ 49% FG/44% 3pt

42. Tyere Marshall, Rider – 13.6 mins 3.7pts/4.3reb

45. Ian Sistare, Dartmouth – 17.2 mins 4.4pts/2.9reb/1.3ast

50. Ikenna Ndugba, Bryant – 28.4 mins 5.4pts/4.2ast/3.1reb
     Scored 18 points w/ 6 rebounds, 7 assists vs Dartmouth on December 22nd

62. Andrew Fleming, Maine – 27.4 mins 10pts/6.4reb/50% FG
     Averaged 16.3 points, 12.3 rebounds in 3-game span vs Providence, Brown, & Buffalo
     in late-December

90. Spencer Foley, Canisius – 10.5 mins 4.8pts/39% 3pt/92% FT
      Scored 14 points (5-8 FG/4-7 3pt) w/ 5 rebounds vs St Boneventure on December 22nd