Ah, to be a college freshman again. Partying with the hottest coeds on campus; going to the best off-campus parties; and did I mention all the Natty Light you can possibly drink? That's the college experience I wish I had. Instead, I spent my weekends covering college basketball and football, while also wasting away in the campus newsroom being someone else's bitch.
I'm sure the group below will how no problem fitting in at their respective institution. After all, they'll need to make the most of their time before they start making millions in the professional ranks in the next couple of years.
With Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley leading the list, the Big 12 can now make a case for housing some of the best young talent in college basketball over the last couple of years. This year isn't any different, with Avery Bradley and a host of other young players leading the way.
With that in mind, here are five of the best freshman the Big 12 has to offer.
Avery Bradley (University of Texas)
Bradley was the Longhorns' biggest signing -- and that says a lot given Rick Barnes' recruiting haul this year. Forget John Wall at Kentucky, many consider the Tacoma, Washington, product to be the best player college freshman in the land.
Aside from his affinity for dunking on the opposition, Bradley has a great mid-range game that should make him a lock to start at shooting guard this season. He was already pegged as the preseason pick for Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors, so putting him on this list shouldn't be a shocker.
Xavier Henry (University of Kansas)
Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins may be the biggest name on the Jayhawks' roster this year, but if there's one name that should probably be added to the list, it's Xavier Henry.
The 6'6" guard was one of the biggest stories this summer, after he decided to pull out of his LOI with Memphis when John Calipari took the job at Kentucky. Bill Self moved in and added one of the best recruits in the country.
The only knock on Henry's game is that he's got a far-from-polished mid-range jumper. Other than that, he's about as good as they come. He'll fit in nicely in the Jayhawks' backcourt.
Jordan Hamilton (University of Texas)
Attention Longhorns fans: You are now looking at the second coming of Damion James. It's not hard to see why Rick Barnes bent over backwards to sign the Los Angeles, CA, swingman when you look at his game film.
Hamilton will get immediate playing time on the wing with James and Justin Mason based on his skill set. However, if there's one thing that's going to get him in Barnes' doghouse, it's going to be his inability to guard anyone on the other end of the floor. I'm pretty sure I could go around this guy in a game of five-on-five (ok...maybe not).
You've got to give Barnes and his staff a lot of credit for signing both Hamilton and Bradley. Next to John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins at Kentucky, I'm not sure there's a better freshman duo out there.
Wally Judge (Kansas State University)
Someone needs to check Mr. Judge's shoes for rocket boosters, because all the video I've seen of him has him jumping out of the building. Literally.
But like most high-flying freshman, they usually come in with a really raw set of skills. At 6'8", Judge has all the tools to be a great player in the future. But if there's one thing he needs to work on, it's polishing his overall game. He'll learn quickly that a good jumper is critical at the next level. For now, he's considered a great talent with a lot of upside.
Tiny Gallon (Oklahoma University)
By far the best name in the Big 12 conference, Tiny Gallon has a game that's anything but small. At 6'9" 290 lbs is a spitting image of Texas forward Dexter Pittman. Both players were pushing the scales at well over 350 lbs in high school before they got their weight under control. While it took Pittman a while to get acclimated to the college game, I wouldn't expect those same issues with Gallon.
The big forward possesses a great inside game that's really accentuated by his large frame. Seriously, this guy is like a Mack Truck on the inside. His big issue will be conditioning and working on his footwork in the post, but even still, I wouldn't be surprised to see Gallon play a big role in the Sooners' offense this year.
Am I missing anyone in the top five? I honestly think these are the best of the bunch, but maybe you don't agree. Let me know if who else should be on the list in the comments section.