With the college season now upon us and before the ball gets thrown up, why not investigate some of the impact freshman heading into their first year on a college campus? No, we won’t be talking about Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown, or Skal Labissiere. Those are all names that you have heard more than enough by now and can be seen throughout various 2016 NBA mock drafts. However, what we will be discussing are some of those under the radar names that can’t be found within most top-100 2015 high school rankings, but can bust out and make a major mark on this year’s college basketball season.

KERRY BLACKSHEAR – 6-FOOT-10 – CENTER– VIRGINIA TECH

The cupboard actually isn’t all that bare in Blacksburg as Buzz Williams and his staff put together quite the roster since taking over March, 2014. Transfers have also played into things and the backcourt at the ACC program is looking chalk full of talented guards and wings that should be able to give quality time on the playing floor. Seth Allen, Justin Bibbs, Devin Wilson, Ahmed Hill, and Jalen Hudson should all play vital parts for the Hokies this season and throw in two, top-100 recruits in Justin Robinson and Chris Clarke and the future looks bright for a change at Virginia Tech. However, there is still a massive need on the interior and that is why Kerry Blackshear will be such a giant presence on the playing floor and on the stat sheet from the get-go.

Having grown over an inch since getting on campus this past June, Blackshear is just beginning to learn who good he is and how great he can be. He is a phenomenal high-low center who can knock down the mid-range jumper, has a quality hook over his left shoulder, shows off a great feel and passing acumen to him, and actually developed pick-and-pop abilities out to beyond the 3-point arc. Talk out of the Blacksburg camp is that the Sunshine State native may start from day one and with more than opportune playing time and chances ahead, expect for Blackshear to outperform many ranked above him from day one on campus at Virginia Tech.

DEAN WADE – 6-FOOT-8 – POWER FORWARD – KANSAS STATE

There has been some talk these past few months about the large dismissal of talent headed out of Manhattan, Kansas. From last year’s team, the Wildcats have graduated or lost Marcus Foster, Nino Williams, Thomas Gipson, Jevon Thomas, Tre Harris, and Malek Harris. Thus, there will definitely be a lot of chances to earn under Bruce Weber’s watch this winter. The Big 12 bunch welcomes in seven newcomers and while guys like Kamau Stokes and Barry Brown will provide immediate energy and production in the backcourt, it is an in-state recruit and a 6-foot-8 forward that will make things go down low from the start.

Dean Wade, a native of St. John, Kansas, with a population just barely exceeding 1,000, Wade played for a lesser known travel program and was hardly ever seen on both the high school and grassroots circuits. Wade comes to Kansas State with a ready-made skillset and the ability to score the ball facing his man up and scoring from off the perimeter, and on hard attacks and bouncy finishes at the basket. Throw in his playmaking skills and added passing abilities off the deck and the Wildcats may have reeled in the sleeper of the year with the freshman forward. Wade does have to develop his physique much further but word out of Kansas State is that Wade may be a starter from the beginning of the year and whichever role he is placed in, he will exceed any of the minimal expectations that have been placed onto his plate.

MIKE WATKINS – 6-FOOT-9 – CENTER – PENN STATE

There is a lot of talk about how good of a recruiting class that Pat Chambers and his staff have put together in Happy Valley for next year. Sure, Tone Carr, Lamar Stevens, and Joe Hampton are all quality coups in their own right, but the guy that might get things going this season for the Nittany Lions is Mike Watkins. Many were unable to see Watkins during his uprising on both the high school and travel circuits, but whenever I was able to get chance to get a glimpse of the big fella, all that he did was dominate.

With a college ready body, a killer mean streak, and deceptive skills from 15-feet and in, one thing you can’t teach is a motor and if Watkins was a car, he would be a Lamborghini. The Philly native produces each time out on the floor and with so many quality big men within the Big 10, Watkins will have a seat at the table as one of the premier centers within the conference once the season finishes up. With the departure of Ross Travis from last season’s squad, there will be a chance for Watkins to man the middle for prolonged periods and if all goes right, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the freshman center lead the team in rebounds and become the team’s go to threat on the block for years to come.

DJERY BAPTISTE – 6-FOOT-10 – CENTER – VANDERBILT

The talk surrounding Vanderbilt heading into the new season is about the loaded crop of shooters that the Commodores boast on the perimeter along with soon to be NBA center Damian Jones. Sure, Kevin Stallings is a genius on the offensive side of the ball and the talent that Jones possesses as an interior scorer and enforcer is hard to touch, but if the SEC bunch is going to compete with the likes of Kentucky, LSU, and Texas A&M this season, defense will definitely be something needed.

More than capable of getting stops but showing the want and desire is a must but the freshman that has gone under the radar within the SEC heading into the new season is Djery Baptiste. The Haitian born center is built with a Herculean physique and will provide immediate minutes in the middle. Sure, Jones will be quite the potent producer down low but Baptiste allows for Vanderbilt to throw different lineups out on the floor and even play Jones at the power forward spot, which is if they want to go super big, or spell minutes for the all-conference junior in keeping Jones’ legs strong. Baptiste is far from a finished product on the offensive end but is a vacuum rebounder on the glass and a guy that should surpass the low rankings that were placed onto him coming out of high school.

ED MORROW – 6-FOOT-8 – POWER FORWARD – NEBRASKA

Nebraska came into last season riding the waves of its run to the NCAA Tournament but failed to cash in on its two-headed monster that was Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields. With Petteway now out the door, the need for further production on the hardwood is a desperate need in order for the Huskers to stay afloat within the gauntlet that is the Big 10. While there will be tons of role changes and chances for many to step up their games during the new season, and with the entrance of top-100 recruit and quality lead guard Glynn Watson, it may be Ed Morrow who surprises many throughout the conference and just like Mike Watkins at Penn State.

Morrow is a bit undersized where he is 6-foot-8 on a good day, but all he did during his high school career was produce. He travelled on the Nike circuit with the Mac Irvin Fire crew and was consistently a figurehead for the program’s success the past few years. On the high school circuit, Morrow added to his winning pedigree at Simeon Career Academy where he was a force from 15-feet and in. A double-double wasn’t enough for him sometimes where the Windy City native was able to put together a few 20-plus rebound outings throughout the calendar year. With a need for an enforcer, energy giver down low and someone who will take pressure off of Shavon Shields, Morrow might just have what it takes to not only surprise many within the conference, but also those nationally during his freshman campaign.