Freshman class primed to dominate the 2025-26 season with star power in headlines, depth on court

In an era where the narrative continues to build toward “get old, stay old” at the top of college basketball and the transfer portal provides ready-made products for coaches to slide into their rotation, the 2025-26 freshman class has broken the mold. Just weeks into their respective careers, newcomers from all categories are dominating results and storylines.

The message is clear early on, this season belongs to the 2025 recruiting class. It is a breathe of fresh air for some fans who look back at the “one-and-done era” with fondness, and a reminder that any rule has its caveat.

From the ready-made NBA Draft prospects who have been a known commodity for years now to the emerging class of instant-impact stars – and the influx of young international players bringing professional experience to the court – there is so much to unpack. Each category deserves a deep dive into their impact on the court and how they will shape the narrative.

Race for the No. 1 pick

In a nod to past NBA Draft classes filled with great talent, the hype has continued to build around the performance of Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa and Duke forward Cameron Boozer, sparking debates about the best classes in basketball history.

Peterson (21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3 assists) has already drawn Kobe Bryant comparisons from basketball talking heads, and his coach Bill Self has not shied away from high expectations either. He is a rare “sure-thing” guard prospect for some, fitting the mold of the modern guard who can operate on and off the ball.

Meanwhile, Dybantsa (20.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2 assists) is the prototype No. 1 pick at forward, bringing the frame and athleticism which provides limitless paths toward stardom. As he looks to keep pace by showcasing playmaking and versatility of his own, he keeps adding to the long list of pros.

Boozer (21.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists) has long been a production machine, and quickly brought those traits to the college game. The only thing left for him to prove is how his physical game translates against fellow top-tier prospects who provide the best approximation of the NBA level.

With all that said, this race to the No. 1 pick will span across the entirety of the college basketball season and into March Madness, providing fans with a spirited debate which has not existed in this way between multiple prospects over recent memory.

Party crashers

Refusing to be forgotten in the NBA Draft debate is the next tier of one-and-done hopefuls who are not satisfied with their spot in the projected lottery. They have each set their sights on a rise up the boards, looking to crash the party inside the Top Three.

Nate Ament (19.8 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists) has been the sleeper who NBA Draft analysts talk about most in the preseason, waiting to see how his smooth offensive game looks from a large frame which reminds some of Kevin Durant. Further, there is plenty intrigue in his growth under coach Rick Barnes, which adds to the prior whispers.

No player has risen his stock more early in the season than Caleb Wilson (20.6 points, 10 rebounds and 2.6 assists), who is stepping on the court every night with a fierce mentality. Not afraid to go head-to-head with anyone, the growth he has shown in his offensive game should not go overlooked either.

Koa Peat (16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists) made his own first impression to tip off the college basketball season, leading the way for Arizona to take down defending national champions Florida by attacking the daunted frontcourt. He is already one of the most accomplished youth players in this era, and his college returns show once again that he simply impacts winning.

The Mikel Brown (19.3 points, 2.5 rebound and 6.8 assists) hype began long before he stepped on the court for Louisville, as he lit the world on fire with his summer Team USA performance. Now he looks to carry momentum to the next level and carve out of big role on a contending team, leading from the point.

Chris Cenac (10.8 points, 9 rebounds and 1.1 stock) remains the ultimate wild card in NBA Draft conversations, showing flashes early of the unicorn production he can provide on defense. The offensive game continues to serve as a compass for where his stock will trend as he rounds out his game during his freshman season.

Instant impact

As more freshmen across the country look to establish themselves as instant stars, and eventually build NBA Draft stock along the way, there is no shortage of talented young players who fit the mold. Early in the season, several highly-recruited prospects outside of the NBA Draft’s Top Three conversation have reminded the world of the depth in this class.

Darius Acuff (18.2 points, 3 rebounds and 4.8 assists) and Meleek Thomas (19.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists) took no time establishing themselves as leading scorers for an Arkansas team filled with veteran role players ready to complement their punch. The duo have each had breakout performance which have them in the coveted conversation of “John Calipari guards” who have succeeded over the years.

There was no question what Tounde Yessoufou (16.3 points, 5 rebounds, 3.4 stocks) would do when he arrived at Baylor and he has delivered. The young wing scores the ball at a high level, and now looking to add elements to his game which can carry him to the next level.

Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler (17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists) became an overlooked part of the incoming talent between international prospects and transfer talent this summer, but quickly asserted himself as a force on the court. The tall guard turned heads immediately and will now have a runway to rise all season.

Kingston Flemings (17.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists) and Shon Abaev (11.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1 assist) are both highly-touted prospects who have achieved faster than most anticipated. Even with experienced stars around them, both players have worked their way into the rotation early and proven their worth on Top 25 rosters.

Ebuka Okorie (25.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3 assists) entered the college game with far less fanfare than the rest here, but has left no option but to include him with massive scoring bursts. Meanwhile, social media star Eli Ellis (13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists) has shown an early ability to take his highlight-rich game to the college level at South Carolina.

Meanwhile, Kiyan Anthony (14.8 points, 3 rebounds and 1.8 assists) and Jake Wilkins (12.6 points, 4 rebounds and 2.8 stocks) have both gotten off the fantastic starts, opening the door for fun family conversations as two Hall of Famers watch on. The freshman impact of both second-generation stars is worth monitoring for more than the name though, as both provide a needed lift to their roster.

International flair

The ability for international prospects who have played professionally overseas has become a hot topic in college basketball over recent months, with a lot of nuance needed. Regardless of how conversations play out on many older prospects, the class of “freshman-age” players deserve major credit.

After testing the waters of the NBA Draft, Neoklis Avdalas (16.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 6 assists) committed to working on his game in college. The Greek wing has amazed in his early Virginia Tech career, already building a large fanbase and drawing online chatter comparing his style to Luka Doncic and others.

Hannes Steinbach (14.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists) has gained plenty attention too, leading Washington early this season with his frontcourt production. The German forward’s stock is high with room to grow throughout the college season.

Georgia Tech’s Mouhamed Sylla (11.8 points, 11 rebounds and 3 stocks) and Arizona State’s Massamba Diop (14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 stocks) took different paths from Senegal to their freshman college season, but both centers have had an immediate impact which has fans dreaming about the dominance they could reach over time.

So much more

This list of highlighted players does not even scratch the surface of freshman impact already seen across college basketball this season. From mid-major stars already showing that they were either underrecruited or smart enough to take college basketball’s new path to the top, to rotation players on contending teams already seeing their minutes go up, the 2025 recruiting class has people across the sport talking about its spot in history.

The legacy of this class will ultimately be remembered by the winning impact it has in March, and beyond that what each player does for years to come. But, for now they serve as must-see TV for fans across the country, some who started to wonder if college basketball had become an old man’s game.