Last season in college basketball was known as the Year of the Freshman. Not only did almost all of the five-star prospects out of high school play up to or above expectations, but there were a number of players outside of the top 30 who played a huge role on their respective teams.
The Class of 2026 may not have the same kind of impact, but several teams are set up to be led by their freshmen. The following is a ranking of freshmen most likely to lead their high-major teams in scoring this upcoming season.
1. Tyran Stokes, 6-foot-7 freshman forward, Kansas
There’s plenty of hype and expectations regarding Stokes, the No. 1 incoming freshman and the consensus way-too-early No. 1 prospect in the 2027 NBA Draft class. The Jayhawks, who lost their top eight scorers from last year, don’t have a player on their roster with the scoring potential of Stokes, setting him up to be the clear focal point of the offense.
2. Caleb Holt, 6-foot-5 freshman guard, Arizona
The top-five guard prospect didn’t shoot as efficiently as he would’ve wanted during Arizona’s foreign exhibition tour, but he was still the clear lead guard, averaging nearly a double-double. His biggest competition is 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Ivan Kharchenkov, but Holt will clearly get a big role in the offense.
3. Miles Sadler, 5-foot-11 freshman guard, West Virginia
If Sadler weren’t under 6-foot, he would’ve been a top-10 incoming freshman prospect. He’s an outstanding pure scorer and the projected starting point guard for the Mountaineers. His biggest threat for playing time will come from 6-foot-4 senior guard Finley Bizjack, who led Butler with 17.1 points per game last season.
4. Dylan Mingo, 6-foot-5 freshman guard, Baylor
With eight of Baylor’s top nine scorers from last season gone, it’s wide open for someone to come in and be the focal point. It’ll likely be a Mingo brother, with Dylan being a strong candidate. He’s a do-it-all playmaker who’ll have the ball in his hands a ton. It could also be his brother, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Kayden Mingo, who averaged 13.7 points per game last year at Penn State.
5. Jason Crowe, 6-foot-3 freshman guard, Missouri
Crowe is one of the best pure scorers in the incoming freshman class and a quality perimeter shooter. Missouri will field one of the younger rosters in the SEC next season, led by Crowe and another top-30 overall prospect in 6-foot-9 freshman forward Toni Bryant. It’s possible Bryant or any of the sophomore transfers dominates the scoring category, but Crowe, a potential future lottery pick, has the early edge.
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6. Bruce Branch III, 6-foot-7 freshman forward, BYU
We know coach Kevin Young is comfortable with a freshman running the offense, as 6-foot-9 forward AJ Dybantsa led BYU and the nation with 25.5 points per game last season. Branch, a former No. 1 Class of 2027 prospect before reclassifying, has a real shot at leading the Cougars in scoring. He’ll likely need to put up over 20 points per game, as BYU does bring back 6-foot-1 junior guard Robert Wright III, who averaged 18.1 points per game for them last year.
7. Anthony Thompson, 6-foot-8 freshman forward, Ohio State
Thompson is a prolific frontcourt scorer who can stretch the floor and make three-pointers. With 6-foot-6 junior forward Devin Royal (13.7 points per game) gone, the athletic forward is now the clear focal point in the frontcourt. But can he overcome returning 6-foot-1 junior guard John Mobley Jr. (15.7 points) to lead the Buckeyes in scoring next season?
8. Jordan Smith Jr., 6-foot-2 freshman guard, Arkansas
Smith is ranked No. 2 overall in the 2026 class per 247Sports Composite, and is the top freshman guard. He’ll fill up the box score, with an NBA-ready body that will let him score inside with ease. The biggest obstacle to Smith leading Arkansas in scoring is 6-foot-1 junior guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, a proven SEC scorer coming off an average of 17.4 points per game at Georgia (good for ninth in the conference).
9. Cameron Williams, 6-foot-11 freshman forward, Duke
Duke has had historically good success with its five-star power forwards, including the last two National Player of the Year winners: 6-foot-9 forward Cooper Flagg (19.2 points per game) and 6-foot-9 forward Cameron Boozer (22.5 points). While Williams is a top-five prospect in his own right, he doesn’t have the same level of hype as the previous two. Plus, the Blue Devils landed 6-foot-4 senior guard John Blackwell, who averaged 19.1 points per game at Wisconsin and will be the lead guard this season.
10. Luke Ertel, 6-foot-1 freshman guard, Purdue
A wildcard option to consider could be Ertel, a top-40 incoming freshman who was highly impressive in Purdue’s foreign exhibition tour. Purdue lost its top four scorers from last season, and the offensive hierarchy is fully up for grabs. Returning 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Omer Mayer (5.5 points per game) may get the early nod to start at point, but by March, Ertel could have emerged as the lead scorer.
Meet your guide
