College basketball fans, we are so back. But you already knew that — you’re reading Hoops HQ, after all. Smart.
To get you ready for the season, I’ve ranked my top five Player of the Year candidates and top five transfers. Here, I break down the five newcomers I’ve got in the running to be named Freshman of the Year. Headlined by a particular six-foot-nine stud at Duke, this class has a chance to be really special.
I’ll continue updating this list as the season rolls along.
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
Surprise! In an exceptionally talented freshman class, one player stands above the rest. As a high school senior, Flagg won Naismith Player of the Year leading Montverde Academy to a 33-0 record, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 blocks. The numbers tell the story of a complete player, perhaps the best in college basketball regardless of class. Flagg is in the perfect position to thrive, with a stacked Blue Devils roster around him that includes returners Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster, transfers Sion James, Maliq Brown and Mason Gillis, and fellow five-star freshmen Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel.
2. Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Bailey made a strong impression on his new teammates and coaches at Rutgers right away, wowing them with jaw-dropping dunks during summer session. The six-foot-ten wing out of McEachern is easily one of the best athletes in the freshman class. Both of Bailey’s parents played college basketball and his aunt, Venus Lacy, won a gold medal with Team USA at the 1996 Olympics. With his rare combination of size, length and speed, Bailey can play multiple positions for head coach Steve Pikiell. He will fill the stat sheet from day one.
Inside the ACC: SMU Is an Early Surprise
PLUS: UNC gets off the mat and Cooper Flagg grows up3. V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor
Keyonte George won Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2023. Ja’Kobe Walter won it in 2024. Now it’s this Baylor guard’s turn. Edgecombe moved to the U.S. from the Bahamas as a ninth grader and blossomed into a top five prospect in his class, winning back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year awards in New York. The six-foot-five guard can score from all three levels, but he is most effective attacking the rim. One word to sum up his game: explosive.
4. Dylan Harper, Rutgers
The one-two freshman punch of Harper and Bailey makes this the most-anticipated season in the history of Rutgers basketball. Harper, a six-foot-six combo guard and the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, is the second in his family to suit up for the Scarlet Knights, following his older brother Ron Harper Jr. Few freshmen will have as big an opportunity to shine as Harper—head coach Steve Pikiell will hand him the keys to the offense immediately. A skilled playmaker and floor general, Harper is equipped to handle the responsibility.
5. Tre Johnson, Texas
We’ve been hearing about a dominant scorer out of Dallas named Tre Johnson for a while now. As a 15-year-old in 2022, he dropped 39 points against Richardson High School’s backcourt duo of Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Rylan Griffen (Kansas). Johnson is a knockdown shooter who moves well without the ball, curling around screens to free himself for open looks and spotting up behind the arc. At six-foot-six with a seven-foot wingspan, he can also finish strong at the rim. The Longhorns are loaded with high-level scorers this year, including experienced guards Jordan Pope and Tramon Mark, but Johnson will get plenty of touches.
