10. Manny Harris ? Guard/Forward ? Michigan

Harris, a freshman, begins this list without the name value of other players that could have been included. The lack of attention around college hoops fans is largely due to playing on a Wolverine squad considered a middle-of-the-pack (pun intended) squad in the Big Ten conference. Middle might even be giving them too much credit, as the Wolverines do not have any ?stars? on their squad but rely on balance. Enter Harris, Michigan?s Mr. Basketball last year after averaging over 33 points in his senior year of high school in Detroit. He is a 6?5? wing player with incredible quickness and athletic ability, who gets it done by attacking the rim and peppering in some mid-range jumpers. Through the first four games, Harris is showing his versatility by not only leading the team in scoring (15.0 points per game), he leads the team in assists (3.3) and steals (1.8). As the season progresses, so too should Harris, as he proves to be one of the top freshmen in the conference.

9. Brian Butch ? Center ? Wisconsin

It?s almost impossible to write about Butch and not mention that grotesque elbow injury he suffered on February 25th last season. It put a premature end to a decent season for Butch. Though his minutes were down from his junior year in 05-06, his numbers were close the same, and he was showing more flashes of why he was highly recruited out of high school and a McDonalds All-American. Games such as his 18 point/10 rebound performance on November 21st, 27 and 11 on December 16th vs. Pitt where he was 2-for-3 from downtown, and his 13 and 14 game vs. Iowa on January 28th. He is a match-up nightmare in the college game; a 6?11? center who can shoot from anywhere on the floor (34% from beyond the arc last season) and stretch the defense away from the hoop. Through four games this season, he has yet to hit from long distance though, but is showing a more polished interior game as well as being more physical defensively. If early results are any indication (16.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1 block in only 25 minutes), this could be the year Butch shows everyone what all the hype was about back in 2003.

8. Jamar Butler ? Point Guard ? Ohio State

Talk all you want about the talent that the Buckeyes lost to the NBA from last year?s squad ? but don?t forget to mention the talent returning. The talk starts with senior point guard Jamar Butler. He was a starter as a junior, but with Mike Conley, Jr. on board last year, he took a sixth-man role and ran with it (8.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 turnovers, 1.0 steals and a team-leading 74 3-pointers). Most importantly, he was a leader who didn?t once make a fuss when he lost his starting job. He has it back this year, and big things are expected of him. As a starter in 05-06, he averaged 10.1/3.3/4.6 with only 1.8 turnovers and shot over 41% from long distance. With the team losing a lot of its scoring from last year, Butler is expected to take the lead and help the Buckeyes' pickup where they left off ? which was the NCAA championship game. He is off to a great start through the first three games, averaging 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.7 turnovers (that is a 3.6 assist-to-turnover ratio, talk about taking care of the basketball!).

7. D.J. White ? Center/Power Forward ? Indiana

There have always been questions about the passion and work ethic of White, but never any questions about his ability to play and, in particular, defend. Though shorter than a lot of pivots at 6?9?, he is very physically imposing at a shade over 250lbs. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 04-05 when he averaged 13.3 points on 57% shooting and 2.2 blocks. His rebounding was questioned, and he responded the next season, averaged 1.1 more per game despite playing, on average, 10 fewer minutes. Last season he came close to putting it all together, averaging 13.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in almost 32 minutes. He was even better in the NCAA tournament, averaging 13 points and 13.5 rebounds ? stats that many hope is a glimpse of things to come this season. To start the season this year, however, rebounding has been an issue (3.3 per game over 3 games) for someone as big and gifted as White is. He is scoring the same, but on better percentages (67%), but isn?t even blocking one per game. You have to believe it is just a slow start, and much too small of a sample size, and that White will return to his normal board and block production ? Indiana is actually hoping for more ? while captaining the club?s defense deep into March.

6. Trevon Hughes ? Guard ? Wisconsin

At the beginning of the summer, no one was really sure what the Badgers would get out of their point guard position, nor did they know who would start there. All indications were that Hughes had the inside edge because he was the quickest of the hopefuls and has a decent handle (despite his 11 assists to 19 turnovers last season). But the coaching staff wanted someone to play a lot of minutes there, so that senior Michael Flowers could spend more time off the ball and focus more on scoring. It has had the opposite effect, however, as Hughes has been the one dominating offensively in the team?s first four games. His 19.8 points lead the team (a far cry from the 1.1 he averaged as a freshman last year), as does his 3.3 assists and 2.8 steals (both tied with Flowers at this point), while adding a more-than-respectable 5.3 rebounds despite being one of the smaller guys on the court at 6?1?. Those aren?t the only impressive numbers he is putting up: how about a point guard that shoots 55.6% from the floor, 50% from three, and 82.6% from the line? Gaudy. This could very well be an early season hot streak, but Wisconsin would be wise to ride him while he?s hot, as he could be the steady offensive force that replaces the departed Alando Tucker.

5. Raymar Morgan ? Small Forward ? Michigan State

Morgan has the unfortunate task of trying to live up to huge standards placed on him by Coach Tom Izzo. Fortunately, he is living up to them so far this season. He had a good freshman year last year, averaging 11.7 points (2nd on the team), and 5.2 rebounds (3rd) while shooting 48.6% from the floor. At times, his dedication to the game, and dedication to improvement was questioned, and he looked to have responded positively early in the season, averaging 19 points and 14.5 rebounds in the team?s first two games. However the last two he is only averaging 14.5 and 3.5, proving that inconsistency is still lingering. Still, averages of 16.8, 9.0, 55% shooting and 2.3 assists are big improvements from last season, and if he can put some consistency together, there is no reason why someone with all of his talent shouldn?t be able to average that until late March. With a long range jump shot and dribble drive added to an already exceptional post game, Morgan could challenge teammate Drew Neitzel as the team?s go-to offensive option.

4. Kosta Koufos ? Power Forward/Center ? Ohio State

Koufos, a freshman, has the daunting task of filling the biggest shoes in the program?s history: those of Greg Oden. At 7? and 260lbs, he has the size to dominate a smaller-on-average conference, but it?s the fact that he is just as potent on the outside as inside that has opposing teams searching for answers. Koufos is a potential NBA lottery pick who is already making his mark across the nation through the team?s first three games. He is near the top of the conference leader boards in points (20.3), rebounds (8.0), blocks (2.0), field goal percentage (60.5%) and three-point percentage (66.7%, 4-for-6) while playing only 26.7 minutes per game (which is not due to foul trouble, he only averages 2 of those per game as well).  Those numbers give him an inside edge on the Freshman of the Year trophy, and a possible conference First-Team nod. He is sure to draw a lot of interest from NBA clubs as he chose to go to an American college rather than accept a 3-year/$5 million contract to play professionally in Greece. He is sure to draw just as much interest from other Big Ten coaches and opponents.

3. Geary Claxton ? Small Forward/Shooting Guard ? Penn State

It?s true that Penn State is not exactly at the top of the Big Ten class. But how much further into the nation?s basement would they be found if not for the production that Claxton brings. Claxton is one of the nation?s best rebounders, and has been since he stepped onto the court in his freshman year back in 04-05. His scoring has improved every season, from 12.7 that year to 16.3 last year, and his rebounds from 6.3 to 8.0. It should be noted, this swingman is only 6?5?, and has improved even more this season, averaging an eye-popping 21.5 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in each of his first two games this year. As impressive as those numbers are, this is also the first season he has averaged under 31 minutes per game, as he has only played 25 and 22 in his first two games respectively (both double digit wins for Penn State). If this production can be maintained, Claxton will be very exciting to follow this year and could very well challenge for multiple conference awards.

2. Drew Neitzel ? Guard ? Michigan State

At 6?0?, 180lbs, Neitzel has the physical makeup of a point guard, and that is what he entered the college ranks as during the 04-05 season. He was a pretty good point guard too, averaging 5.6 assists to only 1.9 turnovers as a sophomore the following season. He was always a good outside shooter, hitting 40.4% from downtown that year, but the Spartans were lacking big scorers and their best option was focusing more on passing the ball. So last year, Coach Izzo moved Neitzel off the ball, playing a pure point guard beside him to run the offence, and Neitzel thrived, failing to score in double figures only two times last year. Using screen after screen to get his shot off, he looked like the second coming of J.J. Redick, and became one of the most clutch shooters in the nation. He is a passionate leader and played a whole lot of minutes, averaging over 35 per game. Who can forget the epic moments of last season, like when he outscored the entire Ohio State team by himself (24-23) in the second half of a 2 point loss while playing every one of the 40 minutes in that game. He averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 assists and nailed 114 3-pointers (41.2%) last year, and is picking up right where he left off, starting this season very well (15.3 points, 4.3 assists, 50% from 3 in 27.8 minutes). Expect more clutch moments to come, as Neitzel plays the game with ice in his veins.

1. Eric Gordon ? Shooting Guard ? Indiana

?EJ? is a shooting guard in every sense of the term, and he has been filling it up early and often for the Hoosiers. He started his college shooting when he was still in high school, as he shot down Illinois after committing to them, and chose his home state Indiana where he was Mr. Basketball as a high school senior. His high school numbers indicated he was a fantastic scorer, averaging 29 points on 57% shooting and 46% from long range, while also contributing 6 rebounds and over 3 assists. Serious question: has there ever been a player average more points in college than high school? Through his first three college games, Gordon is almost there, averaging 28.0 points on an absurd 60% shooting and 58.3% from downtown. He is also contributing in other ways, chipping in 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists (to 2.3 turnovers, very respectable for a freshman with the ball on his hands virtually every possession), and 2.7 steals, while logging a team-high 31.7 minutes per game. Just as important, all three of those games were big time wins, beating opponents by an average of 31 points per game. Though he does have competition, he certainly has the inside track to Freshman of the Year voting, however Player of the Year could also be in his trophy case before long.