College basketball wouldn’t be what it is without its elite true freshman players. Just one year out of high school, the highest-rated players enter college basketball with high levels of anticipation. Some live up to it; some don’t.
The best freshman can drive their teams to NCAA Tournament appearances and success; we’ve seen it in recent years by the likes of the Duke Blue Devils’ Paolo Banchero, UCLA Bruins’ Lonzo Ball, and Oklahoma Sooners’ Trae Young. What follows is success at the next level — but all began their success at the college basketball level.
Who are those names going to be this year? Find out who makes our list of the top 10 freshmen in college basketball.
Best Freshman in College Basketball in 2025
This years freshman class is absolutely loaded — and due to that, there were some tough cuts. Baylor Bears star freshman V.J. Edgecombe, projected to be a high-lottery selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, didn’t make the list. It’s not an indictment on Edgecombe — who may have the most potential of all — but rather an illustration of how stacked the class is as a whole.
On that note, let’s get started with Edgecombe and four others who would deserve to be on the list any other year, but just missed the cut this time around before getting into the top 10.
Just Missed
- Donnie Freeman, Syracuse Orange
- Kon Knueppel, Duke Blue Devils
- Ian Jackson, North Carolina Tar Heels
- Thomas Sorber, Georgetown Hoyas
- V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor Bears
10) Liam McNeely, UConn Huskies
It’s not easy to crack the rotation of a two-time defending national champion as a freshman — much less the starting lineup. But that’s exactly what 6’7″ forward McNeely has done. He plays an extremely mature game, often playing off two-feet in the paint and making the right decision with the ball, evidenced by his solid assists numbers for an off-ball wing.
McNeely isn’t afraid to mix it up down low; his rebounding is above-average and he has an innate ability to draw fouls. The Huskies sorely missed his aggressiveness against the Villanova Wildcats when McNeely was absent from the lineup. They only managed to shoot four free throws on the night, losing by two points. McNeely averages 4.3 free throw attempts per game on 85% shooting.
He’s currently battling a high-ankle sprain that’s kept him out of the lineup for multiple weeks. He should be back in time, at the very least, for March. A three-peat is the goal for the Huskies; if they’re able to pull it off, expect McNeely to have played a huge role.
9) Blake Harper, Howard Bison
The young guard from Howard has burst onto the scene as a freshman. Unranked out of high school, Harper joined the Bison and has simply been the best player on the team by a wide margin. He leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and is second in assists and steals.
The lefty can score in a multitude of ways. He’s comfortable behind the three-point line, shooting at a 39.7% clip on 3.5 attempts per game. His ability to post-up and rise above the contest is incredible to see from a true freshman with no expectations. The moves he pulls off are true pro moves.
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Harper is attentive off the ball, cutting for easy ones and coming off screens. He has no problem in isolation either — his pull-up jumper can only be compared to a left-handed DeMar DeRozan. He dropped 16 points on the #1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks to begin the season before scoring 23 points on the #14 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats in early December. Following the game against Cinncinnati, Harper had a 30-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. He’s had multiple 34-point performances.
Currently not on any NBA radars, Harper better be soon. He’s unequivocally one of the best freshman in the nation.
8) Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma Sooners
This Oklahoma Sooners guard can hoop. An excellent athlete with the ability to make things happen in the open court, he’s the primary ball handler for the Sooners, who began the season with 13 straight victories — a rare feat with a freshman guard at the helm.
Fears’ best skill is his scoring prowess. His signature game so far this season came against the #24 Michigan Wolverines in mid-December. He had a near flawless performance, showcasing his entire repertoire of skills. He scored 30 points eight of 12 from the field, consistently getting into the teeth of the Wolverines defense and pulling up for a short jumper or showing his physicality and finishing at the rim.
He shot 13 free-throws as well, showing no fear against Michigan’s duo of 7-footers. A developing shooter at only 28.1% from three this season, he didn’t lack confident from behind the line either, nailing three of four attempts — including what ended up being a game-winning four-point play with 11 seconds remaining.
Fears and the Sooners have struggled in SEC play to date, but make no mistake; he’s not someone to be taken lightly, and he’ll be at the top of the scouting report moving forward.
7) Asa Newell, Georgia Bulldogs
While Newell has a slight frame at 6’11” and only 220-pounds, he’s been the anchor of the Bulldogs’ defense since the season began, recording 10 blocks in the first three games of the season. He’s also adept at using his length and getting in the passing lanes with an average of 1.1 steals per game. With only two fouls per game, Newell’s maturity is on display on that end of the court as well.
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But he’s not just a defensive player. Newell is a fantastic finisher around the basket, elevating in ways other big men simply can’t. He scores well rolling out of pick-and-rolls and carving out space in post-ups before elevating and converting with his left hand. A developing shooter, Newell’s shown potential from behind the arc with a beautiful lefty stroke.
His scoring isn’t just hit-or-miss either — he’s scored in double-figures in all but one game this season. The excellent play of Newell has helped lead Georgia to their best start since the 2001-02 season.
6) Derik Queen, Maryland Terrapins
The Terrapins freshman center had a dominant debut: 22 points and 20 rebounds. He’s only gotten better from there, having his best performances come against some of the best teams: he scored 26-points and 12-rebounds against the #8 Purdue Boilermakers, 24-points and seven-rebounds against #15 Marquette Golden Eagles, and 22-points, 11-rebounds, and five-assists against the Villanova Wildcats.
He’s physicality imposing at 6’10” and 245-pounds with evident strength that allows him to finish through contact around the rim. He’s athletic as well, comfortable around the arc and putting the ball on the floor with multiple poster-dunks while driving downhill.
He’s a factor defensively as well, protecting the rim while averaging a block a game. At first glance, Queen isn’t a bulky big-man, but he makes up for it with his sneaky strength and athletic ability, rising up above the rim and finishing with sheer power — not something you see everyday in a 20-year-old.
5) Tre Johnson, Texas Longhorns
The first thing that jumps out about Johnson is his scoring talent. He moves like a veteran scorer putting in nearly 19 points a game. The 6’6″ freshman gets to his spots and is able to rise up, negating any contest.
Aside from his mid-range game, Johnson is a true three-level scorer for the Longhorns. He’s proven to be an excellent shooter, pouring in 10 threes in the first two games of the year and averaging 2.6 three-pointers a game on 41.1% on the season. The depth of the shot is not an issue — he’ll even launch from multiple feet behind the arc. Johnson’s also a crafty finisher around the basket, contorting his body and using his length to finish over and around bigger defenders.
Johnson has exceeded the high expectations expected from him this season, leading a potential NCAA Tournament team in scoring by nearly four points.
4) Ace Bailey, Rutgers Scarlett Knights
The talent of Bailey and his scoring ability at 6’10” is unmatched by anyone in college basketball. He’s more of a combo-guard than anything — a matchup-nightmare for opposing defenses. An excellent shooter from both behind the arc and in the mid-range, Bailey has had some highs and lows this season.
The high: a 39-point performance against the Indiana Hoosiers on 16 of 29 shooting, showcasing his shot-making incredible shot-making ability while grabbing eight rebounds, looking like anything but a freshman. His shot-selection can also get him into trouble at times, evidenced by going three of 16 in a game and continuing to jack up long-jumpers.
His defensive effort has been questioned at times, but talent shines through on that side of the ball as well, deflecting passes and blocking shots at a high rate. Bailey’s immense talent is unquestioned, looking unguardable at moments and jacking up tough shots the next. To be able to succeed in the NBA he’ll have to clean up his occasional inefficiency, but it hasn’t stopped him from performing at a high-level, terrorizing opposing defenses in college basketball.
3) Dylan Harper, Rutgers Scarlett Knights
The Scarlett Knights’ freshman duo includes Harper, who’s been excellent this season. Harper is one of the best scorers in the nation at over 20 points a night. Harper has performed well in a ball-handling role for Rutgers, finding his own shot while distributing to his teammates.
He’s especially effective coming off screens and attacking closeouts, where his quick first-step allows him to blow by defenders. At 6’6″, Harper has the ability to finish at the top shelf, while also possessing a myriad of creative, crafty finishes below the rim. The lefty needs to work on his shooting off the dribble — as the season’s progressed, teams have routinely gone under screens in an attempt to negate Harper’s lethal drives to the basket.
His 1.8 made threes per game isn’t bad, but it’s on only 34.9% shooting. Along with his capabilities at finishing at the rim, he also draws contact at an elite level. His foul drawing prowess was on full display against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas; Harper drilled 15 of 16 attempts from the line en route to a career-high 37 points. That came one night after scoring 36 points against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in which he made 10 free throws.
Though the Scarlett Knights are in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten, it’s not because of Harper or Bailey — they’ve proven themselves to be not only the best freshman duo, but one of the best duos in the country, period.
2) Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois Fighting Illini
After taking just 10 shots total in the first three games of the season, Jakucionis has come into his own as the season has progressed. The 6’6″ lead guard from Lithuania was always expected to have an impact — but he’s far exceeded previous expectations.
Jakucionis has quickly learned how to control the pace of the college game, looking to be in complete command at all times. He’s become extremely confident from deep, shooting 41.6% on 5.1 attempts per game. His shooting ability forces defenders to close out hard on the pick-and-roll, giving Jakucionis ample driving lanes.
His best trait may be his passing ability. When he gets in the lane, Jakucionis is excellent at reading the defense and finding the open man — whether that requires a no-look, a slick bounce-pass, or a cross-court reversal, he’ll make it happen. The Lithuanian guard is the engine behind a top-25 team in the nation, and he’s put himself in position to be a top-5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
1) Cooper Flagg, Duke Blue Devils
Entering the season with an immense amount of hype, Flagg has lived up to expectations and then some. He impacts the game in so many ways for the Blue Devils, leading them in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
Flagg has an excellent feel for the game offensively in addition to being the best athlete on the floor. He’s a great roller in the pick-and-roll, finishing strong over bigger defenders and finding open teammates when the defense closes in. Already 6’9″, Flagg is an explosive leaper, racking up multiple poster jams this season.
He recently dropped 42 points on the Fighting Irish on 14 shots from the field. He nailed four threes and 16 free throws in addition to grabbing six rebounds and seven assists. His brilliance on the offensive side of the ball has overshadowed one of his greatest, most impactful traits.
Flagg has been a force on the defensive side of the ball, exhibiting high IQ and versatility as well as his propensity for turning defense into offense in transition. He averages 1.2 blocks and 1.5 steals a game due to his athleticism and aggressiveness but also putting himself in the right place at the right time.
There’s a reason Flagg is the expected number one overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft — he’s a complete, two-way player with loads of potential he’s just starting to tap into.
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