Over the next few weeks, I’ll be analyzing the five most underrated freshmen (redshirt freshmen are eligible) in the SEC heading into the 2018-19 season.
The players need to ranked lower than 75th in the 247Sports composite rankings to qualify. By including a player on the list, the thought process is that he will outperform his recruiting ranking and/or the national expectations that have seemingly been placed upon him.
In each profile, we’ll look at the player’s skillset, examine how he fits on his team in relation to the rest of the roster, and the reasoning for his inclusion on the list.
South Carolina power forward Alanzo Frink is the fourth player featured in our underrated SEC freshmen series.
Frink is the most under-the-radar recruit that I have previously written about since he is a sub 400 ranked prospect. These type of players are not typically on high major rosters, and those that do get the opportunity are usually glued to the bench.
However, this will not be the case with Frink as he has an extremely bright future with the Gamecocks.
He is a skilled power forward who can knock down jump shots and can compete in the paint. Frink has flashed an ability to attack off the dribble which is even more effective with his 265-pound frame. This mix of physicality with offensive skill is extremely rare and it will make it tough to keep him on the bench.
He first caught my eye in the U-18 tournament when the Dominican Republic played the US team, with Frink scoreing 16 points in a variety of ways while not backing down to the superior American team. The 6’6’’ forward finished the tournament with a fantastic 18.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
Frink impressed throughout the tournament, even though he was forcing it at times due to his role on the team. Hopefully, playing a smaller role in the South Carolina offense will reduce some of his over-aggressive tendencies.
Unfortunately, Frink is injured to start the season, and it is always concerning when a freshman misses invaluable preseason preparation before his first season.
Hopefully, this does not put him too far behind his competition in the frontcourt, but when he is healthy he should settle into a consistent reserve role.
Carving out a major role as a freshman will be difficult because of the deep and talented South Carolina frontcourt, which is undoubtedly the biggest strength of this team.
Chris Silva is one of the best big men in the country and averaged 14.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game as a junior. Maik Kotsar has started 66 of his 70 career games and posted 8.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season. Even reserve big man Felipe Haase earned nearly 20 minutes per game last season.
The only thing working against Frink is the depth of the Gamecocks’ frontcourt which is why I would consider him more of a long-term sleeper.
His skill set is extremely coveted and should get him on the court, but it may take a year or two for Frink to see enough playing time to truly break through.
South Carolina needs more offensive threats, and Frink certainly falls into that category. If he can defend at a level that is sufficient for Frank Martin, he will definitely earn playing time.
I predict that Frink plays 13-15 minutes per game and averages 5-6 points which would signify solid contributions.
He has immense potential as a college player and could break into the starting five as soon as next season when Silva graduates.
Keep your eye on this talented long-term prospect.