Who is the best Freshman College Basketball Player?

The 2024-25 NCAA Men’s College Basketball season is just around the corner as the opening tip off what looks to be another exciting and action-packed season is set for November 4^th, 2024. While many great names are gone from the 2023-2024 NCAA basketball season, a new group of talented freshmen now arrive to take over for former five-star recruits, prior top overall recruits, and even four year stars whose time at college concluded. One of those fresh new faces arriving as the top freshman on the Top 10 College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction Rankings is the Duke Blue Devils Cooper Flagg.

Flagg who reclassified his status from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2024 while remaining the top overall prospect of the class. The 2024 Gatorade National Player of the Year and Naismith Prep Player of the Year also put together an impressive performance during the summer for the USA Select team while practicing against Team USA National Men’s Basketball team prior to the 2024 Summer Olympics.

While all eyes will be on Flagg entering the upcoming season, other top income freshman include VJ Edgecombe of the Baylor Bears, a pair of Rutgers Scarlet Knights Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper as well as Flagg’s teammate Khaman Maluach.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Men’s Freshman College Basketball Rankings 2024-2025:

Honorable Mention

Tre Johnson

School: Texas Longhorns

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Just missing the Top 10 of the Top 10 College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction Rankings lists is the Texas Longhorns guard Tre Johnson. Johnson who has been turning heads since arriving on campus has the fundamental tools to be the next star guard at the collegiate level.

The Longhorns freshman guard is a talented shooter that ranks among the best among the Class of 2024 while being a threat to shoot each time he touches the ball. The six-foot six-inch guard has strong ball handling skills to help open up his shot as well as attack the rim while also having strong physical tools on the defensive end of the floor.

Only major concern entering the season is his lack of potential court vision as he looks to open up shots, limiting his all-around skills as a playmaking guard who can run the Longhorns offense.

Flory Bidunga

School: Kansas Jayhawks

Position: Center

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Another talented freshman just missing the group of the ten best freshman in college basketball for the upcoming season is the Kansas Jayhawks six-foot eight-inch star Flory Bidunga.

Bidunga who was the top overall recruit from Indiana is an interesting option at the center position while also being one that can do a little bit of it all. Arriving in Kansas, Bidunga brings great size and tremendous wingspan to the position while helping him dominate on both ends of the hardwood.

The Jayhawks freshman is strong downlow as a shot blocker while also being able to use his size and vertical jumping to slow down opposing shooters on all sides of the floor.

As his down low game continues to develop and mid game shooting gets tweaked, the potential is the sky for Bidunga as he looks to be the best center potentially during the upcoming season among the Class of 2024.

Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Player Rankings

10. Liam McNeeley

School: UConn Huskies

Position: Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction Rankings list is the UConn Huskies who enter the upcoming season looking to three peats as a National Championship.

One player looking to help continue that trend is the six foot seven inch forward from Florida Liam McNeeley. McNeeley arrives on the collegiate scene on a roster loaded with talent while allowing him an opportunity to continue developing his all-around game.

The former second overall ranked player from Florida is a tremendous shooter including from behind the three-point line while also being a strong passing forward who can find open teammates in transition.

Despite lacking the same athleticism as some of the other top incoming freshmen, McNeeley makes up for it with his size and strength on both ends of the floor.

9. Ian Jackson

School: North Carolina Tar Heels

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Once a former top two overall recruit just a few short months ago, Ian Jackson will look to deliver another NCAA Championship to the North Carolina Tar Heels this season.

Jackson will arrive on the college doorstep as one of the top guards in the incoming freshman class and one that has shown at times his ability to play with the best players in the country on both ends of the floor.

Only thing holding Jackson back from a higher spot among the best incoming freshman rankings is his inconsistent play at times that slows him down and limits his overall production capabilities.

Ultimately however Jackson should overcome some of his growing pains while joining a talented Tar Heels roster for the upcoming season.

8. Jalil Bethea

School: Miami Hurricanes

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

The excitement level is building for what looks to be a great season for the Miami Hurricanes on the hardwood after landing a strong incoming freshman class. A freshman class that includes talented shooting guard Jalil Bethea who ranked as the top player in the state of Pennsylvania after a strong senior season on the floor.

Bethea who is six foot four inches is one of the best all-around shooters among the incoming Class of 2024 and one that can shoot from nearly any spot on the offensive end of the floor. The talented guard has the ball handling skills to help set up his shot, great court vision to find an open teammate, as well as speed and quickness to make a quick first step.

On the defensive end of the floor Bethea still has room to develop but ultimately his scoring abilities is just hard to look past as one of the top freshmen in college basketball this season.

7. Derrion Reid

School: Alabama Crimson Tide

Position: Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

The potential of another one and done is high as the talented forward Derrion Reid has all the tangibles and skills to take his game to the next level after one season with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Reid brings an aggressive style of play to the floor using his size, footwork, and athleticism to help him get to the rim but also enough shooting skills to allow him to shoot from all over the offensive side of the floor.

On the defensive end of the floor Reid brings a strong physical defensive skill to the floor using his solid size and aggressiveness to slow down ball handlers attacking the zone while also being a shot blocking threat around the rim.

6. Jayden Quaintance

School: Arizona State Sun Devils

Position: Center

Previous Ranking: Unranked

While it’s not often a program like Arizona State lands a weapon such as Jayden Quaintance, that is the case leading into the upcoming 2024-2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball season.

Quaintance brings a big body to the Arizona State Sun Devils roster while ranking among the top centers arriving on college campuses this season and one that can be extremely difficult to slow down down low. Only thing that may slow down the talented big man is he is just 17 years old, making him one of the younger freshmen in the country.

On the plus side the overall game Quaintance brings to the floor will only continue to develop as he continues to mature, develop and continue to grow.

The nearly seven-foot big man is a dynamic dunker and defensive weapon that can slow down any big man in the country while also using his size and wingspan to slow down shooters on the defensive side of the floor.

5. Dylan Harper

School: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction Rankings list is the second Rutgers Scarlet Knights incoming freshman Dylan Harper.

Harper along with fellow freshman Ace Bailey has the Knights fan base excited for what has the potential to be a great season. Ultimately Harper elected to stay home, electing to join the Knights which are in New Jersey after fishing his high school career and becoming the top overall recruit from the state joining the Class of 2024.

Arriving among a talented group of freshmen, Harper brings a stellar game to the hardwood that includes the skills to open up a shot from anywhere on the floor while using his knowledge, speed, and quickness to make plays. The combo guard has solid size and long arms while adding to his skills on the defensive end of the floor.

4. VJ Edgecombe

School: Baylor Bears

Position: Guard

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Over the years the guard position continues to be as valuable as any on the floor with the top teams in the country possessing one if not two talented guards. One of the top freshman guards in the country and one set to elevate the Baylor Bears back into an AP Top Ranked program is VJ Edgecombe.

Edgecombe, who projects as another lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is an explosive guard who can get to the rim while using his speed to slow down opposing ball handlers.

On the scoring end of the floor Edgecombe has the tools to open up his own shot with his quickness while being able to shoot from the perimeter or attack the glass.

While height might be a concern at the next level, the issue shouldn’t be a big concern this season as the six foot five-inch guard should be as entertaining as any freshman in the country to watch this upcoming season.

3. Khaman Maluach

School: Duke Blue Devils

Position: Center

Previous Ranking: Unranked

The saying the rich just keep getting richer is a great one that aligns with the Duke Blue Devils as they continue to land some of the top incoming classes and freshman in the country.

The Class of 2024 is no different as the team has two of the top five players arriving at the college rankings this season as well as the overall top recruiting class in all of men’s college basketball.

One of those two talented freshmen is Khaman Maluach who will arrive ranked among the best centers in college basketball. After spending time at the NBA Academy Africa, Maluach now will get to display his all-around skills on a team expected to compete for a National Championship.

Standing at seven foot two inches tall, Maluach is a tremendous defensive asset that can attack the glass while also protecting the rim as a dynamic shot blocker. ON the offensive end of the floor the Blue Devils freshman will be a threat down low as one of the top dunking and offensive rebound threats in the country.

2. Ace Bailey

School: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Position: Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights enter the upcoming 2024-2025 Men’s College Basketball season with high hopes after landing two of the best high school basketball players in the country.

One of those players is Ace Bailey who will arrive as one of the most versatile freshmen in college basketball for the upcoming season.

Bailey, who lists at six foot nine inches has the height and wingspan to play center, the ball handling skills to stretch the floor, and an excellent all around shot that can make him one of the top scorers in college in what looks to be his only year playing college basketball.

Nonetheless the Scarlet Knights fans are excited for what has the making to be their best season in this history of their program.

1. Cooper Flagg

School: Duke Blue Devils

Position: Forward

Previous Ranking: Unranked

In at number one on the Top 10 College Basketball Freshman 2024 Prediction Rankings list is the Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg who enters the upcoming college basketball season as one of the most hyped players in the game.

Flagg who put together a strong performance this summer against the NBA’s top stars in a tune up before the 2024 Summer Olympics is an all-around great basketball player who can play at a high level on both ends of the floor.

On the defensive end of the floor the Blue Devils talented freshman can slow down opposing balls, attack the rim, and also be a great shot blocker.

On the opposite end of the floor Flagg has the tools to run the Blue Devils offense despite standing at over six foot eight inches tall while also using his talented ball handling skills to open up his own shots from all over the offensive side of the floor.

How would you rank these college basketball freshmen for the 2024-2025 season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings.

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