Rookies starting to make an impact around the league

	Brandon Roy (left) averaged 14.8 points in his first eight games of January. AP

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• Development League filling a need
• The next star from Argentina

Few members of this year's NBA rookie class have made a substantial impact so far this season. Some media members have even called this the worst rookie class since the 2000-01 season, when Mike Miller, then of the Orlando Magic, won Rookie of the Year honors with an underwhelming scoring average of 11.9 points.

Though this year's rookie group hasn't measured up to recent stellar classes headed by the likes of Chris Paul, Emeka Okafor and LeBron James, that doesn't mean some first-year players won't play key roles for their teams over the second half of the season.

Players like Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, Portland's Brandon Roy, Minnesota's Randy Foye and Memphis' Alexander Johnson have begun to make an imprint in just the past few weeks.

Bargnani's increased playing time has coincided with an upturn in the Raptors' fortunes. Toronto was only 5-10 in November when Bargnani was receiving spotty minutes. Since then, he has been Toronto's first big man off the bench, providing timely three-point shooting (he's made at least two three-pointers in six of his last eight games, averaging 13.5 points in that span). The Raptors are 12-11 since Bargnani cemented a spot in the playing rotation and have actually spent some time in first place in the Atlantic Division.

Charlotte's Adam Morrison, who has received by far the most playing time of any rookie, has been something of a disappointment, although he is averaging 13.7 points per game, tied for first among rookies with Roy. His shooting percentage (37.4 percent) is lower than many would have anticipated, but the Bobcats need his offensive production badly enough to allow for some inconsistent shooting.

Roy just recently returned from a heel injury that he suffered just four games into the season. His perimeter game isn't totally back in sync yet, but he scored in double figures in 10 straight games before being held to nine against Denver on Sunday. Roy is starting to look like the player most NBA observers tabbed as the early front-runner for Rookie of the Year.

Foye has taken some lumps this season, but his unshakable belief in himself has served him well during the rough spots. He's taken advantage of a recent injury to Marko Jaric to assert himself and gain more minutes. Though he isn't a true point guard, Foye may also take some minutes from incumbent Mike James if the veteran's streaky shooting continues.

Johnson, an afterthought who played only 20 minutes over the Grizzlies' first 21 games, recently recorded two double-doubles and has emerged as a legitimate rebounder and shot-blocker. The Florida State product started the last 15 games at power forward and gives the Grizzlies a dimension they badly need: a defensive presence in the lane.

Other rookies, like Minnesota's Craig Smith, Atlanta's Shelden Williams and Utah's Paul Millsap, are board bangers who have already established themselves as regulars in their team's rotations. And don't forget Memphis point guard Kyle Lowry, who had a very promising start before a fractured left wrist suffered Nov. 21 sidelined him for at least three months.