Growing Pains: Kaminsky Compiled Lowest Freshman Scoring Mark for POY

March 28th, 2015 - 20:33

Wisconsin center-forward Frank Kaminsky, making incredible strides since an inauspicious freshman season three years ago, appears be the consensus choice as national player of the year. Kaminsky, a native of Lisle, Ill., was anything but the country's most dominant player in 2011-12 when he averaged an anemic 1.8 points per game with the Badgers. If Kaminsky emerges as national player of the year, he will have posted the lowest first-year scoring average for any such honoree since the initial POY award by UPI in 1955.

Kaminsky is a textbook example why fans shouldn't put too much stock in freshman statistics. But Kaminsky is in plenty of good company among players who endured growing pains before blossoming into stars. He would be on the low end of the following list of first 10 national players of the year averaging fewer than eight points per game in their first varsity campaign:

Shane Battier, F, Duke (7.6 ppg as freshman in 1997-98)
David Robinson, C, Navy (7.6 ppg as freshman in 1983-84)
*Sidney Wicks, F-C, UCLA (7.5 ppg as sophomore in 1968-69)
Marques Johnson, F, UCLA (7.2 ppg as freshman in 1973-74)
Jimmer Fredette, G, Brigham Young (7 ppg as freshman in 2007-08)
Danny Ferry, F-C, Duke (5.9 ppg as freshman in 1985-86)
Gary Bradds, C, Ohio State (4.7 ppg as sophomore in 1961-62)
Ed O'Bannon, F, UCLA (3.6 ppg as freshman in 1991-92)
Draymond Green, F, Michigan State (3.3 ppg as freshman in 2008-09)
Kenyon Martin, C, Cincinnati (2.8 ppg as freshman in 1996-97)

  • Junior college recruit.