Last season was the first season in over 12 years where all freshman went to college. Not because it was the wise thing to do, rather because the NBA mandated they do so. At first glance, fans seemed to think that was a good idea. After a little thought, they came to realize, “Who is benefiting most from this rule?” Turns out, it’s the NBA who is benefiting most. That one year of college turned out to be an aquarium where the NBA can see how a particular athlete compares to better competition. The NBA said the rule was for the student-athlete, but it was really so their scouts could have a better prospective on a player. We didn’t totally lose out, though. We got to see players like Kevin Durant, Greg Oden and Spencer Hawes play our nation’s favorite sport for at least one season. Maybe one of these years, a big time college basketball player will say something like this; “The NBA? Why would I want to go to the NBA right now? I’m having the best time of my life, playing a sport that is the country’s favorite. My dream growing up was to play in college, not the NBA.” No Confinement doesn’t see that day coming for quite some time, so we’re going to bring you some information on this year’s incoming freshmen. Too bad we’ll only get to see them play “our” game for only one season.

OJ Mayo (University of Southern California)= Mayo is coming in as the most hyped of all the freshmen. His younger days were a journey to showcase his talents to any state that would allow him to play. He was held back a grade somewhere along the lines, so in the 7th grade he transferred from West Virginia to Ashland, Kentucky to play with high schoolers. He dominated juniors and seniors as a 7th grader for that year, then transferred to Cincinnati after 8th grade to play with his childhood friend, Bill Walker. Together they won a pair of Ohio Division III state titles before he transferred back to Huntington, West Virginia and helped them win their 3rd straight W.V. state title.
In January, 2007, Mayo was suspended for 3 games for his infamous bump to a referee. Video showed the referee had taken some acting classes, but damage to Mayo’s reputation was done. A couple months later, Mayo and 3 other men were given tickets for marijuana possession. Hard to see him taking this path given his upbringing.
Well, coming to USC under the tutelage of Tim Floyd can help repair some of Mayo’s rep if he so chooses. The team took an early season trip to Mexico and word coming in is that Mayo is as good as advertised. No Confinement is hoping the worst is behind him and we’re rooting for him to maximize his God-given talents for goodness.

Michael Beasley (Kansas State University)= Similar to OJ Mayo’s background, Michael Beasley attended numerous high schools: Bowie High School, National Christian Academy and Riverdale Baptist School in Maryland, The Pendleton School in Florida, Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, and Notre Dame Preparatory School in Massachusetts.
Beasley is a 6′10″ lefty with a lot of game. He can beat you down low or shoot for distance. He was named the MVP of the McDonald’s Game and was voted the #1 prospect by Rivals. Beasley is attending Kansas State and rumor has it that he has been better than advertised. Dick Vitale picks him as his first “diaper dandy of the week”. In an exhibition game with Marquette, he was whispered to be, by far, the best player on the court. Given that Marquette has Jerel McNeal and Dominic James, that’s pretty impressive. This season will be exciting for Wildcat fans as Beasley teams with Mayo’s old running partner, Bill Walker to be, perhaps, the most exciting team in the nation. Don’t blink because he will be a top 3 pick just 8 months from now.
Kevin Love (UCLA)= At 6′10″, Kevin Love is a big presence in the paint. Before enrolling at UCLA, he Led Lake Oswego High School in Oregon to 3 state championship games, winning it all his junior season. Along the way he broke the 50 year old state scoring record, even while missing half of his sophomore season.
Despite those impressive stats, what might be the most interesting tidbit on Love is the fact that he is the cousin to The Beach Boys’, Wilson brothers and the nephew to the lead singer Mike Love.
This season, Love joins an already impressive UCLA squad that will battle for the National Championship. Along with a big body, he will bring great fundamentals, good footwork and strong hands to Westwood. Depending on his enjoyment of college, Love could do what the rest of the players on our list will do, and bolt for the NBA after one season.
Kyle Singler (Duke)= Singler is also from Oregon and battled Kevin Love to win a state championship his senior season. They battled in the championship game their junior season, but Love won that matchup. Singler is the best all around player of the group. At 6′9″, 220 lbs, he is a poor man’s mixture of Dirk Nowitzki and Larry Bird. He has a pure shot, decent athleticism and an excellent basketball IQ. He is attending Duke University and will be the key cog in revitalizing their program for as long as he stays. Singler would be a top 20 pick in the 2008 Draft if he so chooses, but the longer he stays in college, the more good weight he will put on, thus maximizing his initial payout.
Eric Gordon (Indiana University)= Like Kevin Love before him, Eric Gordon has a bit of Hollywood in him. He played Michael Jordan’s son in Space Jam. Little did anyone know, some of MJ’s shooting touch rubbed off on Gordon as he is the premier shooting guard in his freshman class.
Originally committing to Illinois, Gordon renegged on that verbal and attended homestate Indiana. He will take his deadly shooting to Hoosierland for speed-dialer Kelvin Sampson, but will be around for only one year. Look for a February 7th matchup in Champaign to be the talk of ESPN for weeks leading up.
Derrick Rose (Memphis)= “Pooh”, as is Rose’s nickname, is the nations nastiest point guard. At 6′4″ of kinetic athleticism, he can penetrate nearly every defense, and if the bigs aren’t there early enough, will be happy to posterize them. Coming out of Chicago, Rose spurned The Illini to fall in line as the next great guard for John Calipari’s Memphis Tigers. He will battle Gordon to be the 1st guard taken in the 2008 Draft.