Who is Taylor Hendricks? Is he the best freshman in AAC right now? All you need to know

UCF freshman Taylor Hendricks has started to turn some heads around the NCAA. Not bad for a player who was ranked 66th nationally out of high school.

The UCF Knights (7-2) visit Ole Miss (7-2) on Wednesday night.

One of the brightest spots for the Knights this year has been freshman forward Taylor Hendricks. Listed at 6-foot-9, 210 pounds, Hendricks has been one of the pleasant surprises of college basketball. Hendricks is averaging 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 52.6%, including 50.0% from 3-point range.

With that type of production, the spotlight has started to shine brightly around the talented freshman. Hendricks has been one of the American Athletic Conference's top freshmen. According to college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein, Hendricks has been as impressive as Houston Cougars freshman Jarace Walker.

---

UCF freshman Taylor Hendricks making noise in NCAA

UCF freshman forward Taylor Hendricks has been impressive

UCF Knights forward Taylor Hendricks continues to impress with his play this season. Hendricks' play has started to generate some buzz among NBA draft circles.

In his last two games (against Samford and Tarleton), Hendricks has averaged 18.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg while shooting an eye-opening 87.5% from 3-point range. The sample size has been impressive.

If Hendricks can continue to put up the type of numbers he has as of late, it will cement him as a legit prospect for the next level. Coming into the year, Hendricks was viewed as an intriguing talent for down the road. With his impressive stretch of performances, the NBA may want his services earlier than expected.

Hendricks, the highest-rated recruit in school history, has already been named the AAC Freshman of the Week four times. The four-star recruit had offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, LSU and Iowa State.

For Hendricks and the Knights, they will soon begin conference play. UCF faces two Southeastern Conference foes, Ole Miss and Missouri, before taking on Stetson in its last nonconference tuneup. The Knights host Wichita State (6-4) on Dec. 28 to open AAC play.

After that, the team will return home for a game on Saturday against Missouri. One of the most notable games on the upcoming schedule will feature UCF facing the fifth-ranked Houston Cougars (10-1) on the road on Dec. 31.

For Hendricks, it will present an opportunity for himself to go toe-to-toe with Jarace Walker. That could be a showdown against two of the AAC's top freshmen.