This old, grizzled version of college basketball has been a poisonous pit of vicious vipers for freshmen. Just under 60 true freshmen averaged double figures last season. It was the fourth year in a row where 70 or fewer freshmen cracked double figures.
Reed Sheppard‘s rapid emergence from a four-star prospect into the No. 3 overall pick was a revelation, but some of the most successful first-year players picked destinations that wouldn’t be considered traditional powerhouses.
Josh Hubbard dominated at Mississippi State. Collin Murray-Boyles crushed it at South Carolina. Dedan Thomas Jr. dazzled at UNLV. JT Toppin took a blowtorch to the Mountain West at New Mexico. Cam Christie skyrocketed into an NBA Draft pick after balling for Minnesota. Like Sheppard, they were all ranked as four-star prospects.
But they were outliers and finding those situations where a freshman can produce is not easy. Especially in a power conference where only 21 true freshmen topped 10 points per game.
Maybe the Class of 2024 can buck the trend. Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey headline a batch of five-star freshmen that enter the college basketball scene ready to dominate.
Let’s dive into a baker’s dozen under-the-radar freshmen outside the five-star ranks who have the talent mixed with the opportunity to be productive from the jump.
