Five Incoming Freshman That Could Make an Immediate Impact in the WCC Next Season

March 6, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Loyola Marymount Lions mascot performs against the Portland Pilots during the first half of the WCC Basketball Championships at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Freshman, at times, make you want to pull every one of your hairs out one strand at a time. Other times, you start day dreaming about how good they will be in a couple of years after they do something good. Here are some players that most likely will do the latter rather than the former, or in a more realistic sense, some early candidates for WCC Newcomer of the Year. 

SF Brett Bailey-San Diego

The Spokane native has the type of game that will translate perfectly to the WCC. He is a wing that has a sweet stroke from outside. With Ken Rancifer graduated, their is a huge void at the small forward position for the Torero’s. Bailey will be getting big minutes by default, and could likely serve as the team’s sniper from three-point range. He looks like he might be a little limited athletically, which could hurt him in the near future.

PF Luke Worthington-BYU

Worthington is work horse post player that loves to do the dirty work. He is very active on the glass, and is fantastic at finishing around the rim. He is a good leaper, but is not necessarily going to jump right out of the gym. His turn around hook shot is very effective, and could give defenders in the WCC fits. He often will use his imposing strength and size to get to the rim at the AAU level. However, he rarely will be able to do that at the division one college basketball level. Worthington is the type of player that could bring some hustle and intensity off the bench for a BYU team that is destined to have a great season.

SF Calvin Hermanson-Saint Mary’s

The 6’6″ forward out of Lake Oswego is a long and lanky wing that rapidly developed during his junior and senior seasons. He is an all around great player; he can shoot the three, as well as a 19 footer inside the arc, he can rebound, dish it out, and drive to the hole. Although Beau Levesque and Eividas Petrulis are coming back next season, Hermanson could still compete for minutes at the 3 position for the Gaels next season.

PG Nino Jackson-LMU

Jackson had to reclassify to the 2013 class after he went through a great deal of off the court issues. He held offers from schools such as Missouri, Kansas, Baylor, and Oklahoma State while apart of the 2012 class, but lost those when he had to reclassify. Needless to say, this kid has got some talent. He is extremely explosive, and can finish around the rim in a myriad of different ways. He is dynamic in transition, as a result of his quickness and explosiveness. He also has a decent jump shot that he can pull out if a defense sags off on him too much. Jackson, along with returning star Anthony Ireland, should combine to make a ferocious backcourt next season.

C-Eric Mika

According to ESPN and Scout.com, the third best center in the country will be playing in the West Coast Conference next season. This is the crowning jewel of the BYU recruiting class, because he is regarded as one of the most dominant high school players throughout the nation. Mika is a bruising, tough, skilled big man that can score and rebound at a high level. For being 6’9″, he is a fantastic athlete and rarely looks overmatched in that aspect. He possesses fantastic hands around the basket and has an innate ability to finish with authority around the rim. Eric Mika played for Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah, who’s men’s basketball team was named the national champions of the 2013 season.

It should be noted that there is a possibility that a player on this list could redshirt next season, making them exempt from having an immediate impact. However, these five player are probably not the best candidates for sitting out next season. Watch out for these guys next year, they could all be the next stars of the WCC.