Growing Pains

CLEMSON -- McDonald's is based on instant gratification. But for the most part this season, the ACC's rookie McDonald's All-Americans have been slow to deliver on their preseason hype.

As the No. 17 Tigers travel to No. 19 Georgia Tech tonight, Milton Jennings, Clemson's first McDonald's All-American in nearly 20 years, is averaging 3.9 points per game. The former Pinewood Prep star is also averaging 2.6 rebounds.

Of the conference's nine McDonald's All-Americans, only Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors is averaging more than 10 points per game.

"If you look at the so-called McDonald's All-Americans in our league, other than one or two of them, none are making a huge impact in the first semester of their freshman year," Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said. "I think it is pretty standard … Particularly in high- echelon leagues where it takes a while to establish yourself."

Favors, a consensus top-five national prospect, is averaging nearly a double-double (11.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game) thanks to his 6-10, 250-pound frame and pogo-stick legs.

While Purnell calls Favors an exception this season, in general, McDonald's All-Americans have had success upon entering the ACC.

Since the NBA's collective bargaining agreement forced high school seniors to wait at least a year before entering the NBA in 2006, 11 of 20 ACC freshman McDonald's All-Americans reached double figures in scoring.

Last season, three McDonald's all-star freshmen cracked double figures in scoring in the ACC: Virginia's Sylven Landesberg, Georgia Tech's Iman Shumpert and Wake's Al-Farouq Aminu.

Still, Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt says he isn't surprised by the struggles of the conference's prized freshmen this season.

"Any coach wouldn't be surprised," Hewitt said. "Freshmen are freshmen … speed of the game, so many different things.

"Unfortunately, our voices are drowned out by experts who say these kids are supposed to be getting 20 and 20."

Purnell said freshmen typically enjoy significant jumps in production between their first and second seasons.

Of the 17 ACC-bound McDonald's All-Americans who remained in college for their sophomore seasons since 2006, 12 reached double figures in scoring.

Clemson freshman Noel Johnson, who has shown glimpses of stardom along with Devin Booker, said the struggles spawn from two aspects: the speed and the physical nature of the game.

Purnell was talking about Duke's Nolan Smith, saying his early-career struggles were attributed to "tentativeness" preventing "talent from flowing out," but he could have also been talking about Jennings.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams is not surprised by highly decorated forward John Henson's struggles. Henson has shifted from power to small forward because of his weight, carrying only 185 pounds on his 6-10 frame.

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Williams said incoming freshmen are typically ranked for their long-term potential, not immediate college impact.

"It's such a physical game," Williams said. "At 6-10, 185 you can't (play inside) against (Georgia Tech's) Gani Lawal … People said John would be one-and-done, the greatest thing since sliced bread. That's not fair to him. That just wasn't going to happen.

"I still think John is going to be a big-time player. But it's hard to be successful in the ACC as a freshman unless you are really exceptional."

Stitt doubtful

Clemson point guard Demontez Stitt is doubtful tonight after suffering a mid-foot sprain against N.C. State. There is no timetable for Stitt's return.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.om/blogs/tiger_tracks.