Note #049: Labaron Philon (Freshman & Sophomore Study)
Alabama guard Labaron Philon entered the 2026 NBA Draft, and was chosen 22nd overall, after his sophomore 2025-26 season with the SEC's Crimson Tide.
In 2025-26, Philon was a photon cannon with 22.0 PPG and 5.0 APG in 33 GP (30.9 MP/G).
Since 1947-48, just five NCAA Division I sophomores besides Philon averaged 22+ PPG and 5+ APG:
22-24 PPG
1. Skip Brown (1974-75) - 22.7 PPG, 6.8 APG (26 GP, 37.6 MP/G)
24-25 PPG
2. Bimbo Coles (1987-88) - 24.2 PPG, 5.9 APG (29 GP, 34.1 MP/G)
3. Ja Morant (2018-19) - 24.5 PPG, 10.0 APG! (33 GP, 36.6 MP/G)
4. Rodney Stuckey (2006-07) - 24.6 PPG, 5.5 APG (29 GP, 33.3 MP/G)
25+ PPG
5. Kenny Anderson (1990-91) - 25.9 PPG, 5.6 APG (30 GP, 38.9 MP/G)
For fun I, the four freshmen since 1947-48 to hit those PPG and APG thresholds:
1. Markelle Fultz (2016-17) - 23.2 PPG, 5.9 APG (25 GP, 35.7 MP/G)
2. Darius Acuff Jr. (2025-26) - 23.5 PPG, 6.4 APG (36 GP, 35.1 MP/G)
3. R.J. Cole (2017-18) - 23.7 PPG, 6.1 APG (33 GP, 37.9 MP/G)
4. Trae Young (2017-18) - 27.4 PPG, 8.7 APG (32 GP, 35.4 MP/G)
The only player to meet the per game measureables above in 31 MP/G or less (min. 25 GP), besides Philon, is:
Curtis McCants (1995-96) - 22.0 PPG, 8.3 APG (27 GP, 31.0 MP/G)
McCants was a junior in the season above.
Stuckey is here to stay:
Note #026 (Nolan Minessale) / Note #036 (Koa Peat) / Note #040 (Ebuka Okorie)
Cole caught fire in Note #003 on Keaton Wagler, and the Okorie Note.
Okay, Philon's sophomore shooting on deck:
- 162/282 2P/2PA (57.4 2P%)
- 81/203 3P/3PA (39.9 3P%)
- 158/198 FT/FTA (79.8 FT%)
Philon is the only NCAA DI men's player, since 1980-81, to shoot 57+ 2P% (min. 280 2PA), 39.5+ 3P% (min. 200 3PA), and 79.5+ FT% (min. 195 FTA) in a single season!
If we remove 3P entirely, only one sophomore besides Philon, since 1953-54, has reached the above 2P and FT benchmarks in a single season:
Chris Mullin (1982-83) - 228/395 2P/2PA (57.7%), 173/197 FT/FTA (87.8%)
Yep. Now, let's swap the FT criteria for the 3P: just two others (since 1980-81) met the above 2P and 3P qualifiers in a single season:
1. Kerry Kittles (1994-95) - 178/295 2P/2PA (60.3%), 86/209 3P/3PA (41.1%)
2. Jalen Brunson (2017-18) - 184/307 2P/2PA (59.9%), 86/211 3P/3PA (40.8%)
Kittles and Brunson were both juniors in the seasons listed above.
Alright, another swap incoming: let's flip 2P for FT.
There are three sophomores since 1980-81, besides Philon, to eclipse the 3P and FT baselines above:
1. Nik Stauskas (2013-14) - 92/208 3P/3PA (44.2%), 168/204 FT/FTA (82.4%)
2. Grayson Allen (2015-16) - 90/216 3P/3PA (41.7%), 211/252 FT/FTA (83.7%)
3. Allan Houston (1990-91) - 99/231 3P/3PA (42.9%), 177/205 FT/FTA (86.3%)
For fun II, those three freshmen to hit the 3P and FT numbs:
1. Kevin Durant (2006-07) - 82/203 3P/3PA (40.4%), 209/256 FT/FTA (81.6%)
2. Darius Acuff Jr. (2025-26) - 91/207 3P/3PA (44.0%), 178/220 FT/FTA (80.9%)
3. Keaton Wagler (2025-26) - 87/219 3P/3PA (39.7%), 172/216 FT/FTA (79.6%)
Acuff Jr. (7th overall) and Wagler (5th) were both selected in the 2026 NBA Draft lottery pick.
The Allen arrival was Note #005, on Tennessee transfer Juke Harris.
Durantula is crawling all over:
Note #039 (Kingston Flemings) / Note #040 (Okorie) / Note #047 (Brayden Burries)
Houston, we have a reference: Note #041, Meleek Thomas.