This article is part of our Freshman Haze series.
Last week I decided not to write about Marvin Bagley III because he barely played in the Blue Devils' win over Michigan State. If I am going to write about freshmen, then I have to write about him this week. He willed Duke to wins over Texas and Florida in the PK80 Tournament, and in doing so pushed himself into the early top spot for Player of the Year. One general note on freshmen in the early going: usually there are players from the lower tiers that bubble up to compete with the most highly touted players at least statistically. This year, it hasn't happened yet. The top players are all from the schools you might expect. Let's look at Bagley and some other top producing players.
Marvin Bagley III (F) 
Phil Knight should just sign Bagley up now after he put on a clinic in the PK80 Tournament to celebrate the Nike creator's birthday. The 6-foot-11 forward is able to stand out among many top recruits and was unstoppable around the basket just when Duke needed him most. His stats are skewed down because of his 10-minute game against the Spartans in which he was poked in the eye by his teammate, but over his last five games, Bagley is averaging 25.0 points and 12.8 rebounds. Bagley is judicious with his 3-point shot and has only taken 13 (making four), which is wise because he is incredible around the tin. It is hard to imagine that he won't be
Last week I decided not to write about Marvin Bagley III because he barely played in the Blue Devils' win over Michigan State. If I am going to write about freshmen, then I have to write about him this week. He willed Duke to wins over Texas and Florida in the PK80 Tournament, and in doing so pushed himself into the early top spot for Player of the Year. One general note on freshmen in the early going: usually there are players from the lower tiers that bubble up to compete with the most highly touted players at least statistically. This year, it hasn't happened yet. The top players are all from the schools you might expect. Let's look at Bagley and some other top producing players.
Marvin Bagley III (F)
Phil Knight should just sign Bagley up now after he put on a clinic in the PK80 Tournament to celebrate the Nike creator's birthday. The 6-foot-11 forward is able to stand out among many top recruits and was unstoppable around the basket just when Duke needed him most. His stats are skewed down because of his 10-minute game against the Spartans in which he was poked in the eye by his teammate, but over his last five games, Bagley is averaging 25.0 points and 12.8 rebounds. Bagley is judicious with his 3-point shot and has only taken 13 (making four), which is wise because he is incredible around the tin. It is hard to imagine that he won't be the top pick in the 2018 NBA draft.
Trae Young (G) 
If Bagley had any competition for best player at PK80, it was from Young. The Sooner guard put up an eye-popping 43 points against the home team Oregon Ducks. Young can score from all over the court. He is hitting 38.6 percent of his 3-pointers and is taking 9.4 free throws per game. Against the Ducks, he went to the line 18 times (making 17). The 6-2 guard is not just a scorer. He adds 8.6 assists and 2.2 steals to his statistical platter. Young has scored more points in each successive game, so North Texas had better beware on Nov. 30.
Collin Sexton (G) 
It wasn't Young but Sexton who came into the season as the most highly touted guard in his class. After sitting out the opener because of possible recruiting issues, he has done little to prove the hype wrong. Sexton is coming off his own 40-point game in the loss to Minnesota in which the Crimson Tide famously had to make due with three players (of which he was one) because of injuries and ejections at the end of the game. Sexton has converted 47.8 percent of his 3-pointers and also gets to the line often (9.8 times per game). Although he is listed at 190 pounds, Sexton looks bigger and should continue to dominate as the schedule turns toward SEC foes.
Tremont Waters (G) 
One of those SEC opponents will be Waters, who broke out for 39 points in the loss to Marquette last Wednesday. Unlike Young and Sexton, the Tiger freshman has been inconsistent. He has alternated games of 21 points or more with scoring of eight points or fewer. After his big performance against the Golden Eagles, you can expect to Waters to be the centerpiece of coach Will Wade's offense more often. There is no one else on the team that has the 5-11 guard's scoring potential. Waters also has a pair of 5-steal games, so he can be a defensive pest despite his small stature.
Brandon McCoy (F) 
I had the good fortune to draft McCoy in the first round of one of my leagues. However, my team needed a center-eligible player, so I dealt him for Tyler Davis prior to the season. In other words, every time McCoy goes for a double-double -- as he has five times in six games -- I feel sick. It is apparent that the 7-1 Rebel is going to give me indigestion often. He has led UNLV to six straight wins against middling competition with 20.2 points on 59.5 percent from the field, 13.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. McCoy had his best game against the toughest competition with 26 points and 17 rebounds against Utah last Thursday. I'd rather not write any more about him.
Teyvion Kirk (G) 
After Jaaron Simmons transferred to Michigan, the point guard spot for the Bobcats was thrown into the unknown. Kirk was expected to compete with fellow freshman Zach Butler for the role. That competition is now closed. The 6-3 Kirk has taken over and is coming off a pair of 20-point games. He played an incredible 50 minutes in the quadruple overtime win over Indiana State on Nov. 19 and finished with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He has only taken five 3-pointers, but made two of them. Kirk chips on the boards with 4.8 per game to go along with 15.6 points and 4.0 assists. If and when forward Jason Carter comes back from a foot injury, the Bobcats should have more space for Kirk to operate.
Terry Taylor (G) 
In high school, the 6-5 Taylor played power forward. Although he is listed as a guard by the Governors, Taylor plays more like a forward who is averaging 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. His numbers were boosted by 29 points and 10 rebounds in an overtime loss to UNC-Asheville, but it was his second straight double-double. Taylor has showed some stretchiness by hitting four of his nine 3-point attempts, but his bread and butter appears to be around the basket. He should be able to continue to make hay for Governors in Ohio Valley play.
