Freshman year is hard for everyone, with new classes, friends and a whole new place to live. If you play Division I college basketball, the year is a lot harder.
Add to those problems a new system to learn, new teammates and a whole new style of play. Because of those challenges, it is hard for even top first-year players to make an immediate impact.
This year's Penn team will feature four freshmen: Brian Grandieri, David Whitehurst, Joe Gill and Michael Kach.
"It's not easy to predict how these freshmen will fit in this season," Penn head coach Fran Dunphy said. "But each will be given the opportunity to make an impact."
Dunphy added that their performances in game situations will ultimately determine how much playing time they receive.
With the Quakers' first game approaching, however, it certainly seems like at least one or two of them could have a big impact on Penn's success this year.
The class is led by Kach, a 6-foot-4, 195 pound guard who played last year at The Winchendon School, a prep school in Massachusetts.
"I think Kach, with his experience in prep school, could help on a more immediate basis," Dunphy said.
Kach's team at Winchendon featured 11 players who will be playing Division I basketball this year.
"That made the biggest difference in the world," Kach said. "It was a step up from high school, and it definitely taught me what it takes to be a good player in college."
That experience, combined with Kach's incredible athletic ability, makes the Carmel, N.Y., native poised to make an impact for the Quakers.
"Mike is one of the most athletic kids I've ever seen in my life," Gill said of his new teammate. "His jumping ability is just ridiculous."
As for the other freshmen, none is as likely to log as much playing time this year, but all three will certainly make major contributions in the future.
One freshman whom Penn fans almost certainly will not see this year is Grandieri.
The 6-4 guard is sidelined for the season because of an anterior cruciate ligament tear. Grandieri is a smart point guard who will make his presence felt when he returns next year.
Whitehurst is an athletic guard from Lawrenceville Academy who was an All-American track star as well as a first-team all-prep basketball player.
But an injury put Whitehurst out for the first few practices.
As a result, his strength and offensive skills are not quite at the level they need to be to get playing time.
"My offense isn't there yet," Whitehurst said.
But he added that "Penn fans can look forward to my defense and being unselfish with the ball."
If he can give the Quakers that every day, Whitehurst will find a place in the rotation as his offensive game develops.
"David's a very good athlete," Dunphy said. "He's very quick and he shoots it well. His best days are in front of him."
Gill, a wiry freshman from Germantown Academy, is not quite at the level where he can make a big impact physically.
"Joe Gill knows how to play the game," Dunphy said.
"His is more of a 'getting stronger' issue."
