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All-American Okafor leads list of impact freshmen

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Basketball Writer

Kentucky got to the national championship game last season with five freshman starters.

Kansas and Duke were also bolstered by players who made smooth transitions from high school to college, and now are in the NBA.

No longer is it a surprise to see freshmen having an immediate impact in college basketball. Here are a few of the many expected to do so this season:

JAHLIL OKAFOR, Duke: The 6-foot-11, 270-pound forward from Chicago has already made a big impression, getting selected as a preseason AP All-American before his first game for the Blue Devils. Okafor got to Duke with a wide wingspan, good footwork and an NBA-ready body after averaging 24 points and 11.3 rebounds as a senior. The MVP of the McDonald’s All-American game could become the first Blue Devils center since Elton Brand to lead the team in scoring. Coach Mike Krzyzewski calls Okafor “a dominant player.”

STANLEY JOHNSON, Arizona: Johnson is the only player in California history to be part of four consecutive upper-division high school state titles, and last season averaged 25 points and nine rebounds a game to become California’s Mr. Basketball. The 6-7 forward took a polished game and incredible athleticism to Arizona, and appears ready to play at a high level right away like athletic freshman and now-NBA forward Aaron Gordon did last season for the Wildcats.

KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS and TREY LYLES, Kentucky: Three of the freshmen who started the national championship seven months ago returned for another season, but new freshmen Towns and Lyles provide more length and depth in the middle with a pair of 7-footers already in place (Willie Cauley-Stein and Dakari Johnson). The 6-11 Towns, a three-time All-State player in New Jersey, and 6-10 Lyles, whose made the game-winning free throw in his final prep game to clinch an Indiana state title, both averaged more than 20 points and about 13 rebounds a game as high school seniors.

MYLES TURNER, Texas: An elite shot-blocker who can also step out and shoot 3-pointers, the 6-11 Turner is expected to be a huge boost to an experienced lineup that returns all five starters from a 24-win team that made it to an NCAA tournament but hasn’t been to the Final Four since 2003. He averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and nearly seven blocks a game as a prep senior. Turner and Kansas forward Cliff Alexander shared the Big 12 preseason nod as the league’s freshmen of the year.

RASHAD VAUGHN, UNLV: Shooting guard Vaughn is a high-scoring player with skills and work ethic that steps onto a team with no returning starters. The 6-6 guard from Golden Valley, Minnesota, is actually staying local since he had moved to attend a Nevada prep school his senior season. Runnin’ Rebels coach Dave Rice believes Vaughn has a chance to be a special player at UNLV. Vaughn averaged 19.9 points, 4.5 rebounds. 4.9 assists and 2.2 steals a game as a prep senior.

ISAIAH WHITEHEAD, Seton Hall: The 6-4 shooting guard from Brooklyn stayed closed to home to play collegiately, and was tabbed the preseason Big East rookie of the year. Whitehead, named Mr. New York Basketball last season, brings a swagger back to a Seton Hall program that has been to the NCAA tournament only three times since P.J. Carlesimo led the Pirates to six appearances from 1988-94, including a one-point loss to Michigan in the 1989 national championship game.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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