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Sixteen freshmen who will make the biggest impact this season

Duke's Frank Jackson (left) and Kansas' Josh Jackson (right) are among this season's top freshmen.
Duke’s Frank Jackson (left) and Kansas’ Josh Jackson (right) are among this season’s top freshmen.

Our 2016-17 season preview continues with a look at the freshmen most likely to make an immediate impact next season. Check back the next five weeks for more college hoops preview content.

1. Josh Jackson, G, Kansas: Some guys have ideal physical tools. Others have a motor that never quits. Jackson has both. The ultra-athletic, fiercely competitive 6-foot-7 wing was Rivals.com’s top prospect in the 2016 class. He should start right away for Kansas and make an immediate impact with his ability to defend multiple positions, create off the dribble and finish in transition.

2. Markelle Fultz, G, Washington: The early departures of Dejounte Murray and Marquese Chriss last spring left no doubt that Washington will be Fultz’s team this season. The late-blooming McDonald’s All-American point guard showed he was ready during the Huskies’ tour of Australia and New Zealand this summer when he averaged 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

3. Jayson Tatum, F, Duke: Maybe the most polished offensive player in the 2016 class, Tatum is a smooth, versatile wing who can score from all three levels on the floor. The 6-foot-8 Saint Louis native projects as a small forward at the next level, but he could spend some time as an undersized power forward this season if classmate Harry Giles is slow to recover from his latest knee surgery.

4. Bam Adebayo, F, Kentucky: If the Wildcats’ Kryptonite last season was their lack of toughness and physicality in the paint, then Adebayo could be a one-man solution to that problem. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound bruiser is a strong, hard-working big man who scores efficiently around the rim and competes relentlessly for rebounds, blocks and loose balls.

5. Dennis Smith, G, NC State: Mark Gottfried did nothing to quash the hype surrounding his young point guard when chatting with reporters in Raleigh last week. “I think Dennis Smith is the best guard in the country, period, hands down,” Gottfried said. Smith tore an ACL 14 months ago but has since regained his explosiveness. It will also help him hit the ground running that he has been enrolled at NC State since last January.

6. DeAaron Fox, G, Kentucky: While Fox is neither a knock-down shooter nor adept at finishing in traffic off the dribble, he makes up for it with his other skills. The 6-foot-4 point guard is a capable distributor and a ferocious defender. Quick hands and feet and keen instincts help him disrupt pick and rolls, force turnovers and create transition opportunities for his teammates.

7. Lonzo Ball, G, UCLA: No other prospect in the 2016 class has better court vision or passing ability than Ball. He played exclusively at a breakneck tempo in high school and AAU, but if he can adjust to Steve Alford’s more structured style, he should spearhead UCLA’s return to prominence after a 14-win season last year.

8. Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State: Of the four top 50 prospects Michigan State signed in the 2016 class, Bridges may play the biggest role for the Spartans this season. The 6-foot-7 McDonald’s All-American should start immediately and can mask Michigan State’s lack of frontcourt depth if he can excel as an undersized power forward.

9. Malik Monk, G, Kentucky: Of the five members of Kentucky’s latest star-studded freshman class, Monk is the most accomplished scorer. The athletic, slashing 6-foot-3 scoring guard possesses a streaky jump shot, an explosive first step to the basket and the ability to finish above the rim. If he displays shrewd shot selection rather than settling for contested jumpers, Monk should be among the SEC’s leading scorers this season.

10. Lauri Markkanen, F, Arizona: In retrospect, losing highly touted forward T.J. Leaf to UCLA didn’t turn out to be such a bad thing for Arizona. It freed up a spot for Markkanen, a highly skilled 6-foot-11 stretch forward from Finland who could have the biggest immediate impact of any member of the Wildcats’ decorated incoming class. Markkanen averaged 24.9 points and 8.6 rebounds at the FIBA U-20 World Championships.

11. Harry Giles, F, Duke: Giles might be college basketball’s top prospect at full strength, but his health remains a major concern. A third knee surgery in the past three-plus years will delay his Duke debut and the Blue Devils have the frontcourt depth to be very cautious with him even after he’s healthy enough to play. For that reason, the 6-foot-10 forward is lower on this list than he’d otherwise have been.

12. Tyus Battle, G, Syracuse: With Malachi Richardson entering the draft last spring and Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney both graduating, Syracuse won’t be able to ease Battle into the lineup. The 6-foot-6 wing could start from day one and will be counted on to defend multiple positions and knock down 3-pointers and pull-up jumpers off the dribble.

13. Jarrett Allen, F, Texas: An athletic big man who runs the floor well and has soft touch around the rim, Allen is likely to start right away and emerge as the focal point of the Texas frontcourt. He could play power forward alongside veteran Shaquille Cleare or freshman James Banks when Shaka Smart wants to go big. Or he could play center alongside forward Tevin Mack when Smart wants to go small.

14. Alterique Gilbert, G, Connecticut: From Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier, to Napier and Ryan Boatright, some of the best recent UConn teams have been powered by two point guard attacks. The duo of Gilbert and Jalen Adams could be the next one. Adams is an exceptional athlete who’s at his best attacking off the dribble and creating for himself or his teammates.

15. Frank Jackson, G, Duke: While Jackson isn’t Duke’s most heralded freshman, he may be the most important. Jackson became the lone point guard on the Blue Devils’ roster when Derryck Thornton transferred to USC last spring. He’ll have an opportunity to win the starting job, but if he can’t handle it, Grayson Allen will likely have to play heavy minutes out of position.

16. Mustapha Heron, G, Auburn: The most highly touted recruit to sign with Auburn coach Bruce Pearl will be the centerpiece of the Tigers’ rebuilding process. Heron, a high-scoring left-handed wing, boasts a streaky but improved outside shot that complements his knack for bullying his way to the rim and finishing through contact. He should start immediately and become a focal point as the season goes along.

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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!