The 2024-25 freshman class was truly special, accounting for nine of the top 10 picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Duke superstar Cooper Flagg became just the fourth freshman in college basketball history to win National Player of the Year; Texas sharpshooter Tre Johnson led a historically good SEC in scoring; and Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe, Maryland’s Derik Queen, Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis and the Rutgers duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey all made their respective All-Conference teams.
And yet, the 2025-26 freshman class has a chance to be even better. The new crop of rookies is loaded with talent, from do-it-all wings like BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa to dynamic lead guards like Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and dominant big men like Duke’s Cameron Boozer.
We rank the top 10 freshmen to keep an eye on next season:
1. AJ Dybantsa, 6-foot-9 wing, BYU
The top-ranked player in the 2025 recruiting class, Dybantsa is a versatile, athletic wing who excels on both ends of the floor. With his size and shotmaking ability, he has drawn comparisons to NBA superstars like Tracy McGrady and Paul George.
Dybantsa became the first five-star prospect to sign with the Cougars, joining a stacked 2025-26 roster that includes reigning Big 12 Most Improved Player Richie Saunders and Baylor transfer Robert Wright III. Playing with U19 USA Basketball this summer, Dybantsa caught the eye of many NBA reps. “He was so damn good this week, it’s ridiculous,” one NBA scout told Hoops HQ’s Krysten Peek during USA training camp in June. “I’ll be surprised if he’s not the No. 1 pick next year.”
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Dybantsa went on to win MVP of the FIBA U19 World Cup, averaging 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists as USA cruised to the gold medal. Expect him to fill the stat sheet from day one for coach Kevin Young.
2. Darryn Peterson, 6-foot-6 guard, Kansas
A big, combo guard with effortless scoring ability, Peterson was the 2025 Naismith High School Player of the Year. Hoops HQ draft expert Jonathan Wasserman currently projects him to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. As a senior at Napa Christian, Peterson averaged 30.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He scores at all three levels, using his elite handles and change of pace to create separation. While not a point guard, he’s a skilled playmaker with great court vision.
At Kansas, Peterson will pair with 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Flory Bidunga to form one of the best one-two punches in the country. The Jayhawks lost all of their key guards from last season, so Peterson will assume complete control of the offense and should have the ball in his hands more than any other guard on this list. Along with Dybantsa, he should be considered a contender for the Wooden Award.
3. Cameron Boozer, 6-foot-10 forward, Duke
Boozer, the son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, arrives at Duke as arguably the most accomplished high school basketball player ever. A five-star prospect out of Columbus High School, Boozer is a two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year, four-time state champion and three-time Peach Jam champion. He won a national title at 2025 Chipotle Nationals and earned two gold medals with USA Basketball.
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Boozer is a dominant force on the low block, relying on an impressive combination of footwork, strength and touch to punish defenders. His skill set is incredibly polished and he has all the physical tools to thrive at the next level. He will be joined at Duke by his twin brother Cayden, a 6-foot-4 guard who was also a five-star prospect. The two should have the Blue Devils contending for a national championship once again.
4. Nate Ament, 6-foot-9 wing, Tennessee
Ament was the last five-star in the class to commit, choosing Tennessee over finalists Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisville. The versatile wing is the highest-rated recruit in Vols’ history and is coming off a season in which he led Highland School to a 42-8 record and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I state title with averages of 19.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists. With Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey, Tennessee’s top three scores from last season, all graduating, Ament gives the 2025-26 roster a much-needed offensive boost.
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“What you love about (Ament’s) game is, yeah, he can shoot, but he’s going to be in situations where he’s going to draw double teams and things like that and he’s such a good passer too,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes told Hoops HQ. “He makes the right play. He has the ability to do it in a lot of different ways. He’s got a variety of shots in his game. I think he’s a really good finisher, he shoots it, he handles it, but I think he’s a guy who loves playmaking as much as he likes to do anything else.” Barnes is also intrigued by Ament’s defensive potential, considering the 18-year-old’s size, length and mobility.
5. Mikel Brown Jr., 6-foot-2 point guard, Louisville
A highly-skilled floor general out of DME Academy, Brown is in the perfect spot to thrive next year. The Cardinals run a fast-paced offense under coach Pat Kelsey and are loaded with talented shooters, which should give Brown plenty of freedom and space to operate. The five-star is electric with the ball in his hands, capable of breaking down defenses with ease. He scores it well (29.6 points per game at DME) and is one of the premier passers in the class.
At the FIBA U19 World Cup, Brown was arguably Team USA’s best player. He led the squad in points (14.9) and assists (6.1) as it rolled through the tournament en route to gold. He’ll be the engine of a Louisville team that should be ranked in the preseason top 10.
6. Tounde Yessoufou, 6-foot-5 guard, Baylor
Yessoufou broke the California high school state record for most points (3,659), but he is so much more than just a scorer. The athletic and physical guard has improved his skill set each year since he moved to the U.S. from Benin to join St. Joseph High School. Through four seasons, he averaged 28.8 points (on 57 percent shooting), 10.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals.
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Baylor coach Scott Drew is excited about Yessoufou’s motor, competitiveness and ability to impact the game in a variety of ways, just like former standout guard VJ Edgecombe, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. “I think he has some similarities to VJ in that he’s a stat sheet stuffer and somebody who can be a lockdown defender,” Drew told Hoops HQ about Yessoufou. “So not necessarily, 30-point scorer with three rebounds and three assists. But more, can he be a double-double, triple-double guy every night and impact both ends of the court?”
7. Koa Peat, 6-foot-8 forward, Arizona
Peat got a head start working with Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd this summer during the FIBA U19 World Cup. The imposing forward had an outstanding tournament, averaging 12.6 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds. “I’m just learning how good of a coach he is,” Peat told Hoops HQ’s Krysten Peek about Lloyd. “He sees all the little things and he knows where to get me open and knows how to run good offense and good defense. Just talking to him off the court and building that trust has been great. I’m just happy to be getting coached by Coach Lloyd, and I think I made the right decision at Arizona, for sure.”
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In four years at Perry High School, Peat led the program to four straight state titles and was named Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year three times. As a senior, he averaged 18.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. With tremendous strength, footwork and touch around the basket, Peat will be a double-double threat every night for the Wildcats, who also added five-star guard Brayden Burries. “I’m super excited for the season, and I think me and Brayden are going to be really good for each other,” Peat said. “We’ll both feed off each other. And then also having the vets already there … our ceiling is super high and we just have to put the work in.”
8. Caleb Wilson, 6-foot-9 forward, North Carolina
North Carolina struggled defensively last season in large part because it lacked size and rim protection. Enter Caleb Wilson, an athletic and mobile forward with a seven-foot wingspan. The five-star should be a major difference maker for the Tar Heels right away. He holds his own against guards on the perimeter, disrupts passing lanes and blocks a ton of shots. With 7-foot junior center Henri Veesar transferring in from Arizona, UNC should be much-improved in the frontcourt.
Wilson runs the floor well and is a big-time lob threat. He has shown flashes of wing-like scoring potential as he continues to develop as a perimeter shooter. Teaming up with the Boozer twins, Wilson helped lead Nightrydas Elite to a 2024 Peach Jam title, averaging 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 62 percent from the field.
9. Chris Cenac Jr., 6-foot-10 center, Houston
Cenac, a big man out of powerhouse Link Academy, headlines Houston’s No. 2-ranked recruiting class (per 247Sports), which also features five-star guard Isiah Harwell and four-star guard Kingston Flemings. Like Caleb Wilson, Cenac moves extraordinarily well for his size and projects to be a stellar finisher and shot-blocker at the college level. He’ll slide into the Cougars’ starting frontcourt alongside 6-foot-8 junior forward Joseph “JoJo” Tugler, forming the foundation of another stout Kelvin Sampson defense.
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There’s no question about Cenac’s rim protection and rebounding potential, but, as Hoops HQ draft expert Jonathan Wasserman writes, “he’ll stretch (NBA) scouts’ imaginations with the flashes of shotmaking versatility and shooting range.” While he’s still growing in that regard, Cenac is already comfortable launching threes and putting the ball on the floor.
10. Darius Acuff, 6-foot-2 guard, Arkansas
Arkansas may have lost Boogie Fland to SEC rival Florida, but it has a promising replacement on the way in Acuff. The former IMG Academy star, who was named 2024-25 EYBL Scholastic Player of the Year, uses a unique blend of speed, strength and craftiness to create offense — both for himself and his teammates. He’s an advanced pick-and-roll player who should work well with the Razorbacks’ solid frontcourt duo of Trevon Brazile and Nick Pringle.
John Calipari’s squad has an abundance of quality guards, including returners D.J. Wagner, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III, and another five-star freshman in Meleek Thomas. But it will be Acuff running the show, and the ceiling of the team will largely depend on how well he fares in what is expected to be his only season of college basketball.
