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Despite the instant stardom that players like Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, and Julius Randle gained in their first year, Big East newcomers didn't make quite as big a wave. DePaul's Billy Garrett Jr. got the blogger vote for Freshman of the Year, but at 12.4 points per game on the league's worst team Garrett isn't exactly on the national radar. Other freshmen like Rysheed Jordan (St. John's) and Josh Hart (Villanova) made an impact without averaging double-figures on the scoresheet.
With 2014 recruiting classes ranked 11th and 12th nationally by 247Sports, Georgetown and Seton Hall expect a bigger boost from their incoming freshmen next season. Georgetown has four four-stars in their class, all top 100 caliber talent that should help in the backcourt and on the wing. Seton Hall has more star power, but three of their five recruits look like bench fodder. Xavier, Marquette, and Providence also welcome top-25 classes.
Five-star shooting guard Isaiah Whitehead looks to make waves immediately with the Pirates. Offered by top schools like Arizona, Florida, and Kansas, Whitehead opted to stay close to home and play for Kevin Willard (and his high school coach). The 14th ranked recruit in the country, Whitehead adds a little star power that was lacking in the current crop of Big East freshmen. He can get to the basket with ease, but will need to develop a consistent jumper to play on the next level. He's also athletic enough to pull down rebounds at 6'4".
Whitehead will replace Big East Defensive Player of the Year Fuquan Edwin and provide some backcourt help for Sterling Gibbs. Seton Hall used its bench more than any other Big East team other than DePaul this season, which should help Whitehead ease into the college game, but expect to see minutes coalesce around the star freshman by conference play.
Neither Creighton nor Villanova will restock their lineup terribly well next season. 'Nova's class is 29th in the country, with two four-star recruits joining a team with only one senior in the starting lineup. Creighton will have to move on from the Doug McDermott years with just two three-star recruits in their 2014 class. The Bluejays' class ranks 57th nationally.
Of course, McDermott wasn't on anybody's radar four years ago. His other scholarship offers? Montana State and the Dakotas. Seems like that worked out just fine.