The 2016-17 college basketball season will be the Year of the Freshmen, featuring what could be the best class weve ever seen. During the next two weeks we will get familiar with the best of the best, examining who they are and where each of the top 10 prospects in the 2016 ESPN 100 came from.Read more: No. 10 Dukes Frank Jackson | No. 9 Kentuckys Malik Monk No. 8 Michigan States Miles Bridges | No. 7 Washingtons Markelle Fultz No. 6 Kentuckys DeAaron Fox | No. 5 Kentuckys Bam Adebayo No. 4 UCLAs Lonzo Ball | No. 3 Dukes Jayson Tatum No. 2 Kansas Josh Jackson | No. 1 Dukes Harry GilesBrandy Coles phone was plugged into an outlet across the room of the medical center. A nurse tended to her father, who was set to undergo cataract surgery, and gave Cole specifics on the procedure.?Fifteen minutes worth of texts and missed calls awaited Cole when she retrieved the device. Texts and missed calls regarding the health of her only child: Dukes prized freshman Jayson Tatum.I cant remember which I read first, Cole said of the messages. But it was crazy. I called [Duke assistants Jon] Scheyer and [Jeff] Capel. No one answered because they were still at practice.I really need one of yall to call me back, Cole pleaded down the line. Is my baby OK?Finally, Scheyer returned her call, but was unable to provide clarity on the foot injury Tatum had suffered before more than 50 NBA executives and other onlookers during Dukes second and final pro day on Oct. 25. All Cole knew was that Tatum had to be helped off the court, as the college basketball world wondered whether her son suffered a serious injury.Scheyers response when Cole pushed him for info: I really dont know.Cole, a single mom who basically raised Tatum by herself while working multiple jobs and attending school, didnt hesitate.You can tell me face-to-face when I get there, Cole said. Tonight.Within minutes of the phone call, Cole booked a seat on a flight from St. Louis to Raleigh, North Carolina.Before boarding, she texted her son: Ill be there tonight, baby. Just pray. We are all here praying.After a series of tests, Tatums injury turned out to be something close to the best-case scenario: a sprained left foot that will sideline him just a couple of weeks. Still, whatever the news, there was no chance Cole was going to miss being there when the prognosis was delivered to Tatum.If they were going to tell him he couldnt play, I knew I had to be there to catch him when he falls, Cole said. Luckily, it all worked out.Cole discovered she was pregnant on July 4, 1997, just weeks after her high school graduation. She delivered Tatum on March 3, 1998 -- an 18-year-old single mother who was not about to let her status as a teenage parent be a barrier to her goal of getting an education. In fact, the birth of a baby boy only motivated Cole more, she said.She enrolled at University of Missouri-St. Louis while also working a part-time job at Cingular Wireless -- gift-wrapping at the concierge desk -- to help pay for school, car insurance and day care. Four hours was considered a quality nights sleep for Cole.There were many nights Id come home and hed already be sleeping, Cole said of Tatum. Id hold him all night.It was really tough, but it was what I felt like I had to do for both of us, she added. I remember one day my mom called and told me Jayson crawled for the first time. I just broke down and cried.Cole worked her way up at Cingular and was promoted to management, and she worked on reconciling contracts. At the same time, she continued to pursue her bachelors degree, turning heads when she brought her toddler to class with her.I remember one teacher said something to me about it, Cole recalled. I said, I pay tuition like everyone else. Hes not disrupting the class. As long as I was holding him, Jayson was fine.Now, after nearly 13 years of higher education, Cole is the proud owner of three degrees -- one in communications, another in political science and a law degree she earned in 2010. Tatum was a constant companion for his mom on the journey, sitting in the lounge playing with a Game Boy while Cole attended law school classes.I was bored, Tatum admits. She used to give me games to play and snacks to eat, but just sitting there next to her while she was taking notes, it was pretty awful.At just 10 years old, Tatum was recruited by his moms classmates to play on the Black Law Students Association softball team -- where he hardly looked out of place. But Tatums sport was basketball, and that was clear at an early age. Cole is nearly 6 feet tall, so some of Tatums size comes from moms side. But the unavoidable comparison was to Tatums father, Justin Tatum, a 6-foot-6 former college basketball player at Saint Louis University. The pressure of that familial link would become even greater than expected.Jayson Tatums coming-out party came early in his high school basketball career. He was just a freshman at Chaminade Prep -- one of the top private schools in the area -- when he put up a triple-double against a Christian Brothers College High School team that featured eventual Golden State Warriors guard?Patrick McCaw?as well as fellow Division I players Jordan Barnett (Missouri) and Jordan Barnes (Indiana State). Coaches from Michigan State and Indiana were represented in the gym that night, the start of a recruiting process that would ultimately result in Tatum choosing Duke.Before all that, Tatum would have to consider the prospect of joining the opponent that had yielded that breakout performance. CBC, where Justin Tatum had starred in the 1990s alongside eventual NBA lottery pick Larry Hughes, hired the elder Tatum as head coach just after the completion of Jaysons freshman season.The rumors spread quickly. Most assumed Jayson would transfer and play for his dad. Cole said it was a rough summer for Jayson.Hes always known him and been in his life, but Jayson has never lived with him, Cole said. Justin came back from playing overseas when Jayson was about 7 or 8.The whole talk all summer was about what was Jayson going to do? Chaminade coach Frank Bennett said. Im thinking, Hes gone for sure.Father and son had a relationship, but that didnt make the decision easy.It was tough because obviously I wanted to play for him, Jayson said. And he wanted to coach me.Jayson says the conversation in which he informed his father hed stay at Chaminade wasnt easy, but he definitely understood that it was best for me to stay.?He was thriving at Chaminade, both in a basketball sense and academically, and felt a strong bond to his teammates.Despite moving into the No. 1 overall spot in the ESPN rankings as a sophomore -- passing current Duke teammate Harry Giles, who had suffered a season-ending knee injury -- it was a bittersweet season for Tatum, who literally watched his father and CBC win the state title from the sidelines, while standing next to his mother. Tatum and Chaminade came up short again during his junior season before they finally won the Class 5A state title in 2016.By then, Tatum had ended the suspense over his college choice. He was headed to Duke, which would make him one of the linchpins in one of the top recruiting classes in college basketball history.The text messages between Tatum and Cole will continue throughout this season, the ones in which the son always replies to his moms suggestions -- about topics both on and off the court -- with yes, maam.Thats all I say, Tatum said with a laugh. Yes, maam.Cole was tough on Tatum throughout his childhood, but has succeeded in balancing being his mother and also his best friend. One aspect in which there has been little to no wiggle room is academics -- and Cole says thats one of the reasons she was so ecstatic he chose to attend Duke.Coach K wont retire your jersey until you graduate, Cole said. Thats a big thing for me. A lot of Duke kids come back and get their degree. I told him, It doesnt matter how long it takes. Hes seen how hard Ive worked.She was always hard on me, said Tatum, who had a 3.5 GPA in high school. She never lets me have any excuses.Its unlikely that Tatum, barring an injury, will return to Durham for his sophomore season. Most NBA executives who have seen him tell ESPN that the skilled, smooth and versatile 6-foot-8 forward is a lock to be taken in the lottery, and he remains in contention for the No. 1 overall pick when the NBA draft rolls around in June.Cole has made certain that her son wont take anything for granted.We have a unique relationship. Theres no B.S. Cole said.?There is no shortage of support, either. Cole has been with Tatum every step of the way, and its not lost on either mother or son that shell be alongside him for his college journey, just as he was there, Game Boy and all, for hers.Shes my best friend, Tatum said. Im the biggest mamas boy ever, and Im proud to say it. Kevin Mchale Jersey Large . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Custom Danny Ainge Jersey .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.customcelticsjersey.com/custom-danny-ainge-jersey-large-197e.html . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Authentic Custom Celtics Jersey . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Authentic Custom Celtics Jersey . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. BEREA, Ohio -- Amid this season of depression and despair, the Browns havent lost hope.And as he and his teammates prepare for a much-needed bye week following 12 straight losses, rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman looked to the future and offered a shred of optimism.Ive been winning my whole life, he said. But the tables are going to turn. It cant get any worse.Sadly, theres still another level of misery for the Browns (0-12), now four losses from joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams in NFL history to complete a 16-game schedule without a win. They can avoid that notoriety with a victory that has remained so elusive so far.This is new territory for Coleman and Clevelands 17 other rookies, who in addition to adjusting to life as paid professionals, are getting their first real taste of failure as athletes.Its tough around here, Coleman said Monday, a day after the Browns fell 27-13 to the New York Giants, Clevelands 15th straight loss dating to last season. But were going to continue to keep on working. Im going to continue to keep on working. Nobodys given up, and thats whats really good about this locker room and the older guys leading us and stuff, nobodys showing any signs of quitting.Browns coach Hue Jackson wont let them.Jackson, who became emotional while discussing the agony of his first season in Cleveland following Sundays game, said hes determined to get win No. 1 before the 2016 season ends. The Browns will take some time off, but Jackson has no plans to decompress.I honestly do not know how to, he said. I need to teach myself how to do it. I know my kids would like for me to do it. I just think what is important is to just keep searching. I owe our fan base and our organization and these players an opportunity to win a game. The next one up is Cincinnati. We are going to do whatever it takes to get ourselves in that `W column.Jackson has spent the season shuffling quarterbacks and another switch could be on the horizon.Robert Griffin III, out since breaking a bone in his left shoulder in thee opener, returned to practice last week and could play in Clevelands final four games.ddddddddddddHe still has to undergo a medical test before he can be cleared for contact, and Jackson said the team is in the process of getting that done.Jackson acknowledged that Griffin, who has made just one start since the end of the 2014 season, might be able to jump-start the Browns offense, which has scored just 39 points in the past four games.We have to find a way to get the ball in the end zone better than what we have, and if somebody can do that better, then we are going to play him, Jackson said.The Browns want to get another look at Griffin before heading into an offseason when theyll need to make major personnel decisions, none more important than at quarterback. They have two first-round draft picks, and its possible theyll use one on their next QB.Thats down the road. Of more immediate concern for Jackson is getting his team to finish this dreadful season on a positive note.Jackson extracted some positives from Sunday, but he wont be satisfied until the Browns win and thats why he briefly choked up Sunday. He received numerous sympathetic texts, but joked that he deleted them all.The losing has hurt, but hasnt changed him.I am what I am, Jackson said. What you guys see in me is what you are going to get. I am not a phony and I am human like everybody else, so that is just part of it. You might see more of it than that over the course of time here.Game notes Rookie QB Cody Kessler cleared concussion protocol and returned to practice. He sustained his second head injury in 29 days on Nov. 20 against Pittsburgh. ... RG John Greco was placed on injured reserve with a mid-foot injury. The Browns lost starting left guard Joel Bitonio on Oct. 9 to a similar injury. ... TE Randall Telfer underwent thumb surgery.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '