Top 10 Newcomers in College Basketball
The college basketball season is months away, but it's never too early to talk about the early odds and how each top team fared with incoming freshmen. Kansas is the favorite at +1000 along with Duke, Alabama, and UConn. Those teams are extremely loaded in terms of transfers, returning players and superstar freshmen. Let's take a look at the top freshmen coming in and next time, we'll look at the top overall classes.
(odds from DraftKings)
1)Cooper Flagg, 6-8, 200, from Maine, small forward, Duke. He's the best player in this class, but he will have some competition. The super athletic wing from Maine still needs to add muscle, but he showed against the Olympic team that he should be ready to step on an NBA court next season. As for Duke, he might be their best prospect since Grant Hill or at least, Kyrie Irving. There are already Cooper specials at DraftKings for him winning the Wooden Award next season Yes: +800 and No: -1800.
2)Ace Bailey, 6-10, 195, from Georgia, power forward, Rutgers. Bailey is actually a wing. He also needs to put on muscle, but his skill level for that height is off the charts. He is going in the top three in the NBA Draft next season barring injury.
3)Dylan Harper, 6-6, 210, from New Jersey, wing, Rutgers. Another Harper brother at Rutgers, Dylan is fearless with a 6-10 wingspan with a very strong frame. Will remind some of James Harden since he's a big lefty combo guard.
4)VJ Edgecombe, 6-4, 180, from New York, guard, Baylor. Another potential top-five pick in 2025, Edgecombe is a high flyer who is a force going to the basket. Has an edge and will need to improve his jumper, but has great potential.
5)Ian Jackson, 6-5, 185, from The Bronx, guard, North Carolina. Jackson gives the Tar Heels another potential lottery pick. He's a great athlete and very good three-point shooter who can also beat his man with a very quick first step and a crossover.
6)Liam McNeeley, 6-7, 210, from Texas, wing, UConn. The Huskies got themselves a big-time shooter who played at prep Montverde Fla. He's one of the more elite and instinctive players in the class. Has a strong body, but a lack of elite athleticism might keep him in school for at least one more year, which is good for UConn.
7)Tre Johnson, 6-6, 190, from Dallas, wing, Texas. The Longhorns added a big-time scorer with a 6-10 wingspan. He can score anywhere on the floor and can get to the line. Just needs to get stronger.
8)Jalil Bethea, 6-4, 170, from Warminster, PA, guard, Miami-Fla. The Hurricanes add a big-time scorer and shooter who may need a year to pack on some pounds.
9)Drake Powell, 6-6, 195, from Pittsboro, NC, wing, North Carolina. The Tar Heels added another five-star prospect in Powell, who could go in the lottery next season. Has great length and lays above the rim. His defense is ahead of his offense right now and that's where he'll need to make big strides this season if he wants to be a high lottery pick.
10)Jayden Quaintance, 6-9, 230, from Raleigh, NC, center, Arizona State. There are few quality freshmen big men rated as a five-star recruiting. Quaintance is 6-9 with a very long wingspan at 7-3 and has a soft touch. He's also very athletic and will be dangerous at the dunker spot. Has a strong frame and good hands.
