The transition from freshman year to sophomore year can be a tricky one for most college students, let alone a D2 men’s basketball player. After a player has a breakout freshman season, he’ll show up on opponents' radar the following season. For this reason their production often suffers. This is known as the "sophomore slump".

Out of the 25 players who won their respective conference’s freshman of the year honors in D2 men’s basketball, we focus in on six players who have not only avoided the “sophomore slump” that befalls mere mortal freshmen, but who’ve also helped their teams in significant ways.

(NOTE: All records as of Jan. 24; BennettRanks as of Jan. 26.)

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Detrek Browning, BR-214 Francis Marion

6’2” G, Columbia, (S.C.) Irmo High School

Francis Marion’s Detrek Browning is one of the most underrated point guards in D2 men’s basketball.

The reigning Peach Belt Conference freshman of the year appeared in all 28 games (19 starts) for the Patriots last season. Browning was the second-leading freshman scorer (17.4 ppg) while grabbing 5.1 rebounds per game, dishing out 3.7 assists per game and recording a school record 71 steals (2.1 per game).

Browning picked up where he left off last season, averaging 19.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 3.7 apg while recording 38 steals. In the Patriots’ 84-83 overtime win against BR-283 South Carolina-Aiken, Browning scored 19 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed five rebounds.

Francis Marion (11-7, 4-6 PBC East) is in a three-way tie for third place in the PBC’s Eastern Division entering this week’s action. Browning is sure to be a key figure in the Patriots’ potential postseason run.