Note #061: Nigel James Jr. (Pure Drive)
Marquette guard, and 2026 Big East Freshman of the Year, Nigel James Jr. is returning to the Golden Eagles for his sophomore 2026-27 season.
As a freshman in 2025-26, James Jr. was an immediate jolt (over 32 GP, 29.2 MP/G):
- 16.4 PPG
- 4.9 APG
- 3.4 RPG
- 1.9 SPG
Since 1947-48, only 24 NCAA Division I men's players (including James Jr.) have averaged at least 16 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG in their freshman season.
If we tighten the screws and use James Jr.'s exact PPG/APG/RPG/SPG numbers (above) as the minimum benchmarks, that 24 whittles down to six. The other five:
17-20 PPG
1. Shaheen Holloway (1996-97) - 17.3 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.8 RPG, 2.8 SPG
2. Dennis Smith Jr. (2016-17) - 18.1 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 SPG
20-21 PPG
3. Darrion Trammell (2020-21) - 20.5 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.8 RPG, 2.0 SPG
4. Kenny Anderson (1989-90) - 20.6 PPG, 8.1 APG, 5.5 RPG, 2.3 SPG
21+ PPG
5. Danny Ainge (1977-78) - 21.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, 5.8 RPG, 2.0 SPG
FWIW, all six were guards, and half were 6'0" or shorter: James Jr. (6'0"), Trammell (5'10"), Holloway (5'10").
Okay, if we go back to the originally-established per game baselines, these five players besides James Jr. met those thresholds in 29.5 MP/G or less (still min. 30 GP):
16-17 PPG
1. Andrew Moten (1986-87) - 16.0 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG (33 GP, 29.1 MP/G)
2. Michael Weathers (2016-17) - 16.7 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.9 SPG (32 GP, 28.3 MP/G)
17-19 PPG
3. Thomas Walkup (2015-16) - 18.1 PPG, 4.5 APG, 6.9 RPG, 2.1 SPG (34 GP, 29.5 MP/G)
4. Russ Smith (2013-14) - 18.2 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG (37 GP, 29.3 MP/G)
19+ PPG
5. Jawun Evans (2016-17) - 19.2 PPG, 6.4 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.8 SPG (32 GP, 29.3 MP/G)
Weathers and James Jr. were both freshmen, Evans the only sophomore, and Moten, Walkup, and Smith all seniors.
Holloway, Trammell, Walkup, Smith, and Evans all began their Lemmon Labs journey in Note #055 on Louisville one-season wonder Mikel Brown Jr.
The wind blows again for Weathers: Note #049 (Labaron Philon).