Growing Pains: Ascending All-Americans Started Slow But Finished Fast

April 13th, 2014 - 20:16

In a microwave atmosphere of instant expectations, Louisville's Russ Smith (2.2 points per game in 2010-11) and Florida's Scottie Wilbekin (2.4 ppg in 2010-11) failed to generate national headlines in their freshman seasons before blossoming into All-Americans. They are classic examples why fans shouldn't put too much stock in freshman statistics.

Smith and Wilbekin aren't the only All-Americans who endured growing pains. They joined the following alphabetical list of players who averaged fewer than three points per game as a freshman before eventually earning All-American acclaim:

Eventual All-American Pos. School Freshman Scoring Average
Cole Aldrich C Kansas 2.8 ppg in 2007-08
Lorenzo Charles F North Carolina State 2.2 ppg in 1981-82
Keith Edmonson G Purdue 1.3 ppg in 1978-79
Aaron Gray C Pittsburgh 1.7 ppg in 2003-04
Erick Green G Virginia Tech 2.6 ppg in 2009-10
Tom Gugliotta F North Carolina State 2.7 ppg in 1988-89
Roy Hamilton G UCLA 1.2 ppg in 1975-76
Jeff Jonas G Utah 2.8 ppg in 1973-74
Ted Kitchel F Indiana 1.7 ppg in 1979-80
Bob Kurland C Oklahoma A&M 2.5 ppg in 1942-43
Tom LaGarde C North Carolina 2.2 ppg in 1973-74
Kenyon Martin C Cincinnati 2.8 ppg in 1996-97
John Pilch G Wyoming 2.4 ppg in 1946-47
Thomas Robinson F Kansas 2.5 ppg in 2009-10
Steve Scheffler C Purdue 1.5 ppg in 1986-87
Russ Smith G Louisville 2.2 ppg in 2010-11
Earl Tatum G-F Marquette 1.5 ppg in 1972-73
Kurt Thomas F-C Texas Christian 0.8 ppg in 1990-91
Al Thornton F Florida State 2.8 ppg in 2003-04
B.J. Tyler G DePaul 2.9 ppg in 1989-90
Scottie Wilbekin G Florida 2.4 ppg in 2010-11
Jeff Withey C Kansas 1.3 ppg in 2009-10

NOTES: Oregon's Wally Borrevik (1.8 ppg in 1940-41), Wisconsin's Gene Englund (2.3 ppg in 1938-39), California's Darrall Imhoff (0.9 ppg in 1957-58), Kansas' Dean Kelley (0.8 in 1950-51), Purdue's Bob Kessler (2.3 ppg in 1933-34), Notre Dame's Leo Klier (2.7 in 1942-43), Oklahoma A&M's Gale McArthur (2.96 ppg in 1948-49), Notre Dame's Bob Rensberger (1.5 ppg in 1940-41) and Stanford's George Yardley (2.9 ppg in 1947-48) averaged fewer than three points per game as sophomores when freshmen weren't eligible to play varsity basketball before becoming All-Americans. . . . Tyler became an All-American with Texas after transferring to his home state. . . . Withey originally attended Arizona.