ESPN the Magazine’s NEXT issue is set to hit newsstands later this month and Kentucky forward Anthony Davis is front and center.Davis is one of five basketball finalists in the NEXT issue and Fans can vote for him until Dec. 18. Here is what ESPN has to say about the star freshman:

For Anthony Davis, basketball is all about being like Kevin. “Kevin Durant on offense, Kevin Garnett on defense,” Davis says when asked to describe the game he’s building. The Kentucky frosh, the top-rated prospect in his class, isn’t being hyperbolic. An NBA Eastern Conference executive also brought up KG’s name in describing the 6’10” forward, and the comparison didn’t just end at their skill sets. “He has ‘it,'” the exec says. “He has Garnett’s demeanor. When you watch him, you know he’s going to be special. He has a fluidity and grace that is unusual. He is probably the first pick in the draft.” But that same exec also says it wouldn’t surprise him if Davis were to spend another year at Kentucky, a la Jared Sullinger at Ohio State. Because as skilled as Davis is — blocking shots with either hand, attacking the rim, nailing face-up jumpers — he is obsessed with getting better. The Chicago native landed at Kentucky in part because of John Calipari’s willingness to push him, and he’s already trying to add a more refined post game to his repertoire. If that happens? The possibilities are downright scary.

At last check, Davis was receiving over 80 percent of fans’ votes.The top-rated player in the 2011 high school class, Davis has made an instant impact in his first eight games at the college level, leading the No. 1 Wildcats with 9.1 rebounds per game. He has also registered 4.5 blocks per game, second in the nation, including a game-saving swat of John Henson in UK’s 73-72 win over No. 5 North Carolina.