We’re seven weeks deep into the 2022-23 school basketball season, six weeks deep into the Frosh Watch and right now saying our sixth separate winner of this week’s Freshman of the Week — Kentucky’s Cason Wallace. It is a  signal of simply how a lot nice younger expertise the game is having fun with this season.

Our weekly freshmen rankings have had numerous mainstays within the high 5 with Brandon Miller of Alabama and Gradey Dick of Kansas separating themselves because the clear high two within the early going this season, however we have had loads of turnover, too, with GG Jackson of South Carolina coming into his personal, Wallace flashing moments of stardom and loads of others pushing for inclusion.

The game is in nice form and getting higher as first-year gamers throughout the nation slowly and constantly develop into larger roles, which makes whittling our checklist down to only 5 each week a near-impossible process. However David Cobb and I’ve every solid our personal ballots and landed on a recent 5 for the week. So let’s dive into this week’s outcomes by introducing Wallace for his first weekly honor as Freshman of the Week.

Freshman of the Week: Cason Wallace, Kentucky

Welcome again to the Frosh Watch, our weekly rating of the 5 most spectacular freshmen in school basketball. CBS Sports activities has as soon as once more teamed up with the USA Basketball Writers Affiliation and its Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Yr Award to current this every-Tuesday function. Every week we’ll begin by saying the nationwide Freshman of the Week honoree. The cycle for FOTW runs Tuesday-Monday.

Kentucky’s offense this season has been painful and bordering on malpractice given the expertise on the roster, however Wallace has been one of many few brilliant spots. That continued this week as he poured in a career-high 27 factors in a 20-point win over Florida A&M. Wallace went 10-of-15 capturing from the sector, 5 of 6 from 3-point vary and tied a career-high with 9 assists as well.

“He made pictures,” stated UK coach John Calipari. “We have to maintain working with him as he performs level. Resolution-making, seeing the court docket higher. However what he did [vs. FAMU] was make pictures. He is a terrific participant.”

With out additional ado, let’s bounce into this week’s rankings. However first, here is a glance again on the earlier rankings so far this season and the winner of every Freshman of the Week.

Frosh Watch: Prime 5 freshmen rankings

1. Brandon Miller, Alabama

Stats: 19.3 PPG | 8.7 RPG | 2.0 APG | 44.2% 3PT

Miller is tied atop the SEC in factors per recreation with LSU’s Ok.J. Williams as league play begins, and he leads all freshmen nationally in scoring. The lanky wing is a deadly 3-point shooter with a deep bag of offensive expertise that make him a matchup nightmare and certain NBA lottery choose. Even in a comparatively quiet offensive efficiency towards Jackson State final week, Miller nonetheless completed with a double-double as he pulled down 14 rebounds to go along with his 10 factors.

2. Gradey Dick, Kansas

Stats: 15.4 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 1.7 APG | 48.6% 3PT

Dick could be the very best 3-point shooter within the nation, no matter class. What’s most encouraging about his outdoors capturing contact up to now is that it has translated towards high quality opposition. If he will get open even for a second, Dick will make you pay. He is additionally third in steals for Kansas and proving to be excess of only a shooter. By the season’s first two months, Dick has outperformed the excessive expectations he entered with as a five-star prospect ranked No. 21 within the class by 247Sports.

3. Kyle Filipowski, Duke

Stats: 14.4 PPG | 8.9 RPG | 1.3 APG

Filipowski’s streak of double-digit scoring performances to start his school profession lastly got here to an finish in a loss to Wake Forest final week when he completed with simply 9 factors. It was his worst recreation but, nevertheless it was under no circumstances indicative of how sturdy Filipowski has been for the Blue Devils. The 7-footer is proving to be one in every of school basketball’s premier “unicorn” gamers this season. Even at his top, he can defend a number of positions and function a playmaker offensively.

4. Keyonte George, Baylor  

Stats: 15.1 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 3.9 APG | 32.6% 3PT

George is proving to be an offensive dynamo for a Baylor staff that has no scarcity of scoring guards. Whereas his 3-point shot remains to be a piece in progress, his chops as a distributor have made him a dynamic addition to the Bears’ lineup. He’s second amongst all Huge 12 freshmen in assists per recreation and barely trailing Gradey Dick of Kansas for the highest scoring spot among the many league’s freshmen. His productiveness as a younger participant for a veteran-laden staff has been spectacular.

5. Jett Howard, Michigan

Stats: 15.6 PPG | 2.5 RPG | 2.5 APG | 40.3% 3PT

Michigan’s 7-4 report is disappointing, however Howard’s play has been a ray of sunshine amid the Wolverines’ robust begin. In a dropping effort towards North Carolina final week, he scored 17 factors on 6-of-12 capturing, together with a 3-of-7 mark from past the arc. At 6-foot-8, Howard’s versatility and playmaking are spectacular, and his outdoors shot has been a shot within the arm for Michigan’s offense. Howard appears like one of the crucial NBA-ready freshmen on this class.