Compared to the historically good 2025 high school class, expectations for the current incoming class are understandably lower. That being said, there are still a number of quality first-year players already having an impact.
After a few days to open the 2026-27 campaign, here’s a top-10 of the early standout freshman performers.
1. Tyran Stokes, 6-foot-8 freshman forward, Kansas
Fordham came into the season with a quality frontcourt filled with size. But Stokes had no issue, scoring 15 points and pulling down 7 rebounds in Kansas’ 95-65 opening night win. The projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NBA Draft is the clear No. 1 option at Kansas and will have plenty of big individual games throughout the season.
2. Jordan Smith Jr., 6-foot-2 freshman guard, Arkansas
Arkansas won by 45 points over Arkansas-Pine Bluff to open the year, with the former five-star prospect scoring 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, along with 2 assists. Smith will join with 6-foot-1 junior guard Jeremiah Wilkinson (23 points) to form one of the best backcourt duos in the nation.
3. Miles Sadler, 6-foot freshman guard, West Virginia
Sadler came into the season with a scoring reputation but he also showed he can distribute, producing 16 points and 9 assists in a win over Niagara. Despite six players in double figures, Sadler remains the top scoring threat for the Mountaineers.
4. Jason Crowe, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Missouri
In Missouri’s 61-point victory over Cleveland State, Crowe led the way with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field. He’s similar to Sadler, a five-star freshman ball-handler who’s viewed as an elite scorer. The Tigers play a more difficult opponent in Saint Louis this weekend and will need Crowe to have just as big an outing for them to win.
5. Quentin Coleman, 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Illinois
In two games against Fairleigh Dickinson and Penn, Coleman put up 16 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He’s already a triple-double threat, coming up just four assists shy against FDU. With 6-foot-3 sophomore guard and Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks officially coming off the bench, Coleman is now the clear lead guard for the Illini.
6. Adonis Ratliff, 6-foot-11 freshman forward, USC
On a team with a pair of 15 point-per-game scoring guards, it was Ratliff who led the way for USC on opening night against Milwaukee. He scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, along with a notable 5-of-7 shooting performance from three-point range.
7. Chase Foster, 6-foot-9 freshman forward, Pitt
The former four-star prospect has been an early standout for the Panthers, producing 43 total points and 15 rebounds in two wins over Rider and Buffalo. Foster is currently Pitt’s leading scorer, which could raise the Panthers’ ceiling — and their chances of making the NCAA Tournament.
8. Jakub Szumert, 6-foot-9 freshman forward, SMU
It’s been a near perfect start for the Polish frontcourt player, who totaled 36 points in wins over Southern and VMI. Szumert shot 8 of 9 from the field and made all three three-point attempts to open the year. For a Mustangs team that lost all five double-digit scorers from last year, the early emergence of Szumert is important.
9. Aiden Derkack, 6-foot-6 freshman guard, Dayton
The four-star guard scored 21 on opening night while adding 11 rebounds in the win over NJIT. The former four-star prospect was a standout for the Flyers in the preseason and looks to be a focal point for the team. If Derkack continues to play well, Saint Louis and VCU could have competition at the top of the Atlantic 10.
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10. Marcis Ponder, 7-foot freshman center, Florida State
After a strong preseason campaign, Ponder continued right where he left off, producing 15 points and 11 rebounds in FSU’s 113-69 win over Florida A&M. Five of those boards came on the offensive end, solidifying Ponder as one of the better rebounding bigs in the nation. He’ll have the chance to showcase his skills on a national stage against No. 1 Florida.
Meet your guide
