All-American Okafor leads list of impact freshmen

STANLEY JOHNSON, Arizona: Johnson is the only player in California history to be part of four consecutive upper-division high school state titles, and last season averaged 25 points and nine rebounds a game to become California’s Mr.

The 6-7 forward took a polished game and incredible athleticism to Arizona, and appears ready to play at a high level right away like athletic freshman and now-NBA forward Aaron Gordon did last season for the Wildcats.

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS and TREY LYLES, Kentucky: Three of the freshmen who started the national championship seven months ago returned for another season, but new freshmen Towns and Lyles provide more length and depth in the middle with a pair of 7-footers already in place (Willie Cauley-Stein and Dakari Johnson).

The 6-11 Towns, a three-time All-State player in New Jersey, and 6-10 Lyles, whose made the game-winning free throw in his final prep game to clinch an Indiana state title, both averaged more than 20 points and about 13 rebounds a game as high school seniors.

He averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and nearly seven blocks a game as a prep senior.