The 2024 high school class carried some expectations with them into college. Fast-forward to the start of January and conference play of the 2024-25 college basketball season and we are seeing a lot of players from that class making big impacts early in their freshman years.
The freshman class has been so good so far, that players like Ohio State’s Juni Mobley (11.9 ppg), Arizona State’s Joson Sanon (13.5 ppg), or Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe (11.7 ppg), who have all shown some major flashes, did not make the top fifteen at this point. There are also some freshmen who started off strong, like Duke’s Kon Knueppel and BYU’s Egor Demin who are not currently in the top 15 freshmen of the season list at this point. Also a freshman like UNC’s Ian Jackson (14.9) who has been on fire of late.
The freshman class in college basketball is deep, and needless to say, numerous players not listed have had seasons good enough to earn their way into the discussion. As we start week 10, let’s talk about how things shook out after playing for nine weeks of the season with college basketball’s Top 15 freshman performers.
1. SF Cooper Flagg, Duke
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 17.4 points. 8.4 rebounds. 3.6 assists. 1.6 steals. 1.3 blocks. 44.7% FG. 30.0% 3P.
Cooper Flagg’s effect on the game has been undeniable. A player who certainly raises the floor for his program, the 6-foot-8 forward is also leading On3’s No. 4 ranked Duke in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks on the season.
2. G Dylan Harper, Rutgers
2024-25 Stats: 13 games. 22.8 points. 5.3 rebounds. 4.8 assists. 1.2 steals. 0.5 blocks. 52.5% FG. 37.3% 3P
While the freshmen at Rutgers came into the season with lofty expectations, Dylan Harper has exceeded any preconceived notion. As the team’s primary initiator, he is leading the way in points and assists, while shooting efficiently from the field.
3. G Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 16.4 points. 5.6 rebounds. 5.4 assists. 1.3 steals. 0.1 blocks. 49.6% FG. 41.4% 3P.
Kasparas Jakucionis has been on a tear over his last nine contests, going for more than 20 points six times and five assists five times. The 6-foot-6 guard is also shooting over 41 percent from three on the season.
4. C Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 15.4 points. 8.1 rebounds. 2.5 assists. 1.3 steals. 2.1 blocks. 55.0% FG. 16.7% 3P.
Thomas Sorber has been a load on the block and a major reason why Georgetown is out to a 12-2 start on the season. The 6-foot-10 center has four double-double games and has collected multiple blocks in each of his last five outings.
5. SG Tre Johnson, Texas
2024-25 Stats: 12 games. 19.0 points. 2.7 rebounds. 2.3 assists. 0.8 steals. 0.4 blocks. 46.6% FG. 41.1% 3P.
Tre Johnson has proven his ability to score the ball. With that ability has come some ups and downs throughout his first 12 games. The ups have outweighed the downs as the 6-foot-6 shooting guard is also averaging 19.0 points and shooting over 41 percent from three.
6. PG Boogie Fland, Arkansas
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 15.6 points. 3.4 rebounds. 5.9 assists. 1.8 steals. 0.0 blocks. 43.6% FG. 38.2% 3P.
Boogie Fland stepped into John Calipari’s system and it seems as if On3’s No. 1 ranked PG in the 2024 recruiting cycle has not skipped a beat. The 6-foot-2 Fland has had seven games where he has dished seven or more assists this season and he has been in double figures 12 times, and gone over 20 in four.
7. C Derik Queen, Maryland
2024-25 Stats: 15 games. 16.0 points. 8.0 rebounds. 2.0 assists. 1.3 steals. 1.1 blocks. 56.2% FG. 11.1% 3P.
Derik Queen started the season, and his college basketball career, with a 22-point, 20-rebound outing. The 6-foot-9 forward has had five double-double games this season while also dishing three or more assists in six games. He is shooting efficiently from the field while getting to the line almost five times per game.
8. G Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 17.9 points. 3.6 rebounds. 4.4 assists. 2.2 steals. 0.1 blocks. 48.8% FG. 29.6% 3P.
Jeremiah Fears hot start to the season has been a central catalyst for Oklahoma beginning their year with 13 straight wins. The 6-foot-4 guard has scored in double figures every game, on a steady shot diet while also leading the Sooners in assists and steals.
9. PG Labaron Philon, Alabama
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 12.6 points. 3.8 rebounds. 4.0 assists. 1.4 steals. 0.4 blocks. 53.5% FG. 28.3% 3P.
While others’ numbers might be sexier, it has been Labaron Philon’s steady on-ball play that has been a major piece to keeping Alabama on track. The 6-foot-4 point guard has not turned the ball over in his last four games while playing 24.8 minutes each contest. He is spreading the ball around while also scoring for himself in an efficient manner.
10. PF Asa Newell, Georgia
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 15.4 points. 6.9 rebounds. 1.1 assists. 1.2 steals. 1.1 blocks. 58.8% FG. 26.9% 3P.
Steady wins the race, and Asa Newell has been steady all season. The 6-foot-10 power forward is leading the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding after finishing 13 of his 14 games in double figures and collecting two double-double games along the way. Georgia now sits at 12-2 to start the college basketball season.
11. F Ace Bailey, Rutgers
2024-25 Stats: 12 games. 19.9 points. 7.7 rebounds. 0.7 assists. 1.0 steals. 1.3 blocks. 48.5% FG. 35.2% 3P.
Ace Bailey’s season has been a mixed bag. While there is no denying the counting stats, the long spells of limited production and difficult shot diet have been hard to ignore. While he has one of the more impressive highlight reels for any freshman and his flash plays are eye-opening, they have not necessarily led to wins. He has finished in double figures in 11 of his 12 games and has finished with seven or more rebounds in each of his last eight played.
12. PF Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State
2024-25 Stats: 13 games. 9.4 points. 8.2 rebounds. 1.9 assists. 3.2 blocks. 1.6 steals. 51.2% FG. 18.8% 3P
You read that right, Jayden Quaintance, the youngest player in D1 college basketball, is averaging 4.8 STOCKS per game this season. Still just 17 years old, The 6-foot-9 forward has struggled finishing at times this season but has been in double figures in five of his last six games and has four double-double games. He is currently second overall in NCAA D1 in blocked shots.
13. PF Donnie Freeman, Syracuse
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 13.4 points. 7.9 rebounds. 1.4 assists. 0.4 steals. 0.4 blocks. 50.4% FG. 33.3% 3P
Donnie Freeman’s six double-doubles this season lead all freshmen in NCAA D1. The former top-10 recruit is continuing to find his way defensively, and while his offensive flashes have not necessarily led to wins, they have been impressive. Over his last seven games, Freeman is shooting 56.7 percent from the field with three double-doubles.
14. F Liam McNeeley, UConn
2024-25 Stats: 14 games. 13.6 points. 5.8 rebounds. 2.6 assists. 0.4 steals. 0.4 blocks. 42.9% FG. 37.9% 3P.
Liam McNeeley came into this college basketball season with a reputation as one of the cycle’s best shooters. Through his first 14 games, he has knocked down almost 38 percent of his threes on 4.7 attempts per game. While he is not super-dynamic, McNeely is physical, has a high basketball IQ, and he rebounds his position. The 6-foot-7 wing is currently UConn’s second-leading scorer and rebounder.
Plus two Mid-Majors
15a. F Blake Harper, Howard
2024-25 Stats: 15 games. 18.5 points. 6.6 rebounds. 3.1 assists. 1.2 steals. 0.1 blocks. 46.3% FG. 40.0% 3P
Blake Harper has done a little bit of everything for his Howard team this season. he started his college career off with 16 points on 6-10 shooting, at Kansas, and he has gone for 20 or more five times this season, three times over 30. The 6-8 lefty added 23 on 8-16 from the field at Cincinnati.
15b. PG Layne Taylor, Central Arkansas
2024-25 Stats: 15 games. 18.3 points. 4.1 rebounds. 3.9 assists. 2.0 steals. 0.1 blocks. 40.7% FG. 34.7% 3P.
In Central Arkansas’ five high major games, Layne Taylor has gone for 16 (Oklahoma), 13 (Arkansas), 20 (Georgia Tech), 5 (BYU), and 15 (Utah). Since scoring five in his first college game, BYU, the 5-foot-11 point guard has been in double figures every game.
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