Two years ago, the trio of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. set the bar very high for instant-impact freshman classes. All three -- who were ranked in the top six of the ESPN 100 coming out of high school -- were named All-Americans and ended up as the top three picks in the 2022 NBA draft.
Things regressed a bit last season, when Alabama's Brandon Miller was the lone freshman All-American and the lone college player chosen in the top five of the NBA draft.
The high school class of 2023, aka this year's college freshmen, is trending much closer to last season's group, although there's no one at the top quite like Miller in terms of college impact, and there's not nearly as much high-end depth. A year ago at this time, 17 college freshmen were in the top 30 of ESPN's NBA draft rankings. This year, there are nine.
For more context, there were just 16 top-100 freshmen averaging double figures in scoring entering Tuesday's games. Last season, there were 19. Digging deeper, eight of this season's 16 were top-25 recruits -- meaning just eight players ranked between 26 and 100 are putting up double figures in points so far this season.
Those trends will change as first-year players get more comfortable with the college game and as others get fully healthy (a number of high-level newcomers are dealing with injuries), but with conference play approaching, it's time to take stock of the freshmen class so far.
Most stats as of Dec. 20
Best of the best
The No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, Collier has established himself as a high-level playmaker despite USC struggling to a 6-5 start. He's averaging 16.1 points and 4.3 assists, although turnovers and foul trouble have been issues. His best performance might have been the season opener against Kansas State, when he finished with 18 points and six assists with an efficient shooting performance.
Reed Sheppard jumps into the passing lane for another steal before rising up for a two-handed jam.
Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky brought in the No. 1 recruiting class and it hasn't disappointed, even though Dillingham and Sheppard were only the fourth- and fifth-highest-ranked prospects, respectively, in the group. That's not to say D.J. Wagner and Justin Edwards haven't lived up to expectations (more on Aaron Bradshaw shortly), but Dillingham and Sheppard have been terrific. Dillingham is averaging 14.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists -- and just scored 17 against North Carolina -- while Sheppard is putting up 12.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists, shooting 57.1% from 3.
Malik Mack shows off his range on a 3-pointer.
The biggest surprise in the freshman class, and one of the biggest in college basketball, period, Mack leads all freshmen in scoring at 20.1 points per game. He's also producing on average 4.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists, shooting 47.2% from 3. He had 32 points against Massachusetts, 27 against Indiana and 26 against American and has scored in double figures in every game this season, while playing more than 32 minutes per game.
Walter has slowed since his outstanding start to life in college basketball, scoring 28 points and making four 3s against Auburn in the season opener. He put up at least 23 points in three of his first five games. He struggled in Baylor's blowout loss to Michigan State over the weekend, but did go for 15 points and four 3s against Seton Hall and 15 against Duke. Averaging 14.3 points.
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Among the most productive sixth men in the country, Hubbard hasn't started a game this season for Chris Jans' team but is still averaging 16.0 points in 23.4 minutes off the bench. He's scored in double figures in every game since the opener, including 29 points in a win over Northwestern and two 22-point efforts. The 5-foot-10 guard is shooting 40.2% from 3-point range.
Carlton Carrington, Pittsburgh Panthers
Carrington entered the offseason in a battle with fellow freshman Jaland Lowe for the starting point guard spot, but won it outright and cemented the soundness of the decision with a triple-double in his first-ever college game: 18 points, 12 boards and 10 assists against North Carolina A&T. He's only had a couple of down games, hitting double figures in all but two games and possessing better than a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Averaging 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
In recent history, the success rate of high school point guards that reclassify and enroll in college a year early has been low. Thomas is bucking that trend, leading all freshmen in assists. He had 16 points, six rebounds and nine assists in UNLV's upset win over Creighton last week and then had 24 in a double-overtime loss to Saint Mary's on Saturday. He's averaging 13.6 points and 6.0 assists, shooting 41.7% from 3 on the season.
UCLA is in a complete tailspin, dropping to 4-5 against Division I opponents after Tuesday's home loss to Cal State Northridge, but Mack has been a reason for future optimism. He's the team's leading scorer, averaging 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals, going for 25 points in a loss to Marquette earlier this season and 27 in the loss to Northridge. Mack gets to the free throw line as well as anyone in the freshman class.
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State Cyclones
A borderline top-50 recruit, Momcilovic entered college with the reputation as a skilled three-level scorer and hasn't disappointed. He's averaging 13.3 points and shooting 45.5% from 3-point range, breaking out with a 21-point performance against Virginia Tech the day after Thanksgiving. He has scored in double figures in all but two games this season.
Aden Holloway hits the 3-pointer from way downtown for Auburn.
After coming off the bench the first two games of the season, Bruce Pearl inserted Holloway into the starting lineup and he's been running the show since. Holloway has had some of his best games against Auburn's toughest opponents, going for 19 points and six assists against Baylor, 24 points against Indiana and 15 points and six assists against USC. He's averaging 12.0 points and 3.6 assists.
Jackson Shelstad, Oregon Ducks
While he was a top-40 recruit, Shelstad was only the third-highest-ranked freshman heading to Eugene. But he's been the best so far. He missed the first four games with a knee injury, but has been on a tear since Dana Altman made him a starter four games ago. As a starter, he's averaging 14.5 points and 3.3 assists, and also hit a game-winner to beat Michigan.
Ten surprises
Myles Rice drops in the smooth shot
Myles Rice, Washington State Cougars
Rice redshirted his first two seasons in Pullman, including last season when he was receiving treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. Now cancer-free and back on the court, he has been terrific. He's averaging 15.6 points and shooting nearly 40% from 3, and went for 28 points earlier this season in a win over Eastern Washington.
An ESPN 100 prospect in the 2023 class, Missi entered college with some preseason hype, but becoming the starting center for a top-10 team this early was unexpected. Missi has scored in double figures in seven of 10 games and tallied two double-doubles. He's averaging 10.1 points, 6.2 boards and 2.0 blocks in just 19.0 minutes.
Naithan George and Baye Ndongo connect again on an alley-oop that gives Georgia Tech the lead late in the 2nd half.
Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
After missing the first three games of the season with a hand injury, Ndongo was immediately slotted into the starting lineup and hasn't looked back. The Senegal native went for 21 points, five boards and four blocks in the Yellow Jackets' win over Duke and just had 12 points and 19 rebounds in an over Penn State. Averaging 8.8 points and 9.0 rebounds. Ndongo's teammate, Naithan George, didn't commit to the Yellow Jackets until August, but has started the last five games and has 26 assists to just eight turnovers in his last four.
Markus Burton, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish are in the midst of a difficult first season for Micah Shrewsberry, but Burton has been a bright spot. He had 29 points in the season opener against Niagara and has barely slowed down, hitting double figures in all but two games. Had 20 against both Marquette and Oklahoma. Averaging 15.5 points and 3.6 assists.
Freeman won his fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award this week, despite being an unranked three-star recruit coming out of high school. The 6-10 forward is averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 boards in just 16.2 minutes, although he was inserted into the starting lineup two games ago and responded with his first double-double of the season on Saturday.
Jizzle James, Cincinnati Bearcats
The ESPN 100 prospect has provided a real spark for Wes Miller's team. He hasn't started a single game (yet) but is averaging 9.5 points off the bench. He had 19 points in a loss to Xavier earlier this month and has hit double figures on four occasions overall.
John Blackwell, Wisconsin Badgers
Blackwell didn't have a single high-major offer aside from Wisconsin, but has proved to be a good find for Greg Gard. He's come off the bench in every game, but has hit double figures seven times -- including 17 points and seven rebounds in this month's loss to Arizona. He's averaging 9.6 points in 19.0 minutes.
Cam Christie, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Yet another Big Ten newcomer, Christie earned a promotion into the starting lineup three games ago, after coming off the bench for the first seven games of the campaign. He's averaging 11.6 points and shooting 43.8% from 3, and is coming off a 19-point, six-rebound, three-assist performance in a win over IUPUI.
After redshirting last season, Huff has been one of the few reliable bench players for Mark Few. He opened the 2023-24 season with 19 points and nine boards against Yale and has hit double figures in scoring five times since, including 12 points in a win over USC. Averaging 10.7 points despite struggling in a couple of recent losses.
Will Richard knocks down a jumper to tie the score, then Alex Condon comes up with a huge block to hold the Bears from gaining a lead going into halftime.
The Australia native didn't have a ton of buzz entering Gainesville, and the Gators going into the portal for big men Tyrese Samuel and Micah Handlogten didn't seem like there was much room left for Condon. But he has emerged as a key member of Todd Golden's rotation, averaging 8.8 points and 6.6 boards. Had 12 and 16 in a win over Merrimack, 8 and 10 against East Carolina and 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks in Tuesday's win over Michigan.
Ten impacted by injury
Cody Williams, Colorado Buffaloes
A top-10 recruit, Williams was just beginning to hit his stride before suffering a wrist injury -- which could keep him out another few weeks, ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported last week. Prior to the injury, he was averaging 14.0 points and 3.6 rebounds, and was coming off back-to-back 21-point performances against Colorado State and Pepperdine.
Aaron Bradshaw gets air for a huge block against Penn.
Aaron Bradshaw, Kentucky Wildcats
Bradshaw missed the first seven games of the season after undergoing offseason foot surgery, and after John Calipari eased him in against UNC Wilmington, the 7-1 center has transformed Kentucky's frontcourt. He had 17 points and 11 boards against Penn, then followed it up in his first start against North Carolina with 12 points, while also helping to limit Armando Bacot to nine points.
The No. 12 prospect in the ESPN 100 started the first two games of the season and averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He then suffered a knee injury and underwent a minor procedure in mid-November. Castle has returned for the past three games, coming off the bench as a key part of the rotation. He'll add a different dimension to the Huskies at full strength.
Darren Buchanan Jr. gets the hoop and the harm
James missed the first month after suffering a cardiac arrest during a July practice. He was cleared by doctors to return to basketball in late November before suiting up for his first college game on Dec. 10. Andy Enfield is bringing James along slowly, but he's played around 16 minutes per game since being cleared.
The top-25 recruit underwent ankle surgery in October and hasn't played yet for the Ducks. But Dana Altman said this week he could be available to play in the first half of January -- and reporters saw Cook practice for the first time on Tuesday.
Kanaan Carlyle, Stanford Cardinal
This wasn't an injury, as Carlyle missed the first eight games of the season due to what the school deemed a noninjury issue, but he didn't make his debut until Dec. 17 against Idaho. And right away, the 6-3 guard made an impact, scoring 11 points and making a pair of 3s in 22 minutes off the bench. Expect his role to continue to grow.
Taison Chatman, Ohio State Buckeyes
Chatman underwent a knee procedure in October and missed the first four games of the season. He played sparingly upon return, before missing the past two games with an injury not related to the surgery. Chatman's new injury doesn't seem like a long-term issue, and the former top-50 recruit should help provide perimeter depth for the Buckeyes.
Wesley Yates III, Washington Huskies
It was considered a major recruiting coup for Mike Hopkins when Yates committed to the Huskies, but they haven't been able to see him suit up just yet. Yates has missed every game because of a foot injury. On an experienced team filled with transfers, he will be able to come along slowly once he returns to game action.
Berke Buyuktuncel, UCLA Bruins
After missing the first three games of the season while awaiting NCAA clearance, Buyuktuncel was thrust into the starting lineup for a Maui Invitational game against Marquette and then came off the bench for three games before suffering an ankle injury against UC Riverside earlier this month. He was getting NBA draft hype before the season, so a return to health would be a huge boost for Mick Cronin's team.
Freddie Dilione V, Tennessee Volunteers
Dilione has drawn rave reviews since arriving in Knoxville late last season and redshirting. But after playing 16 minutes and scoring seven points in the season opener against Tennessee Tech, Dilione has played just 21 minutes total. Much of that is due to him suffering a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot. Combine that with a veteran backcourt in front of him and it's been difficult for him to get into a rhythm after missing four games.
Thirteen mid-major stars
On a veteran team with several experienced transfers, Toppin has stood out in his first year of college basketball. The 6-9 forward is averaging 13.2 points and 7.4 rebounds, which includes 18 points and 11 rebounds against in-state rival New Mexico State and 27 and 11 against Toledo before that. Toppin's teammate, Tru Washington, has also been an impressive freshman for the Lobos.
Tyler Perkins buries big triple for Penn
Darren Buchanan Jr. and Garrett Johnson, George Washington Revolutionaries
Chris Caputo is relying heavily on his freshman class this season, with Buchanan and Johnson leading the way. Buchanan is averaging 13.9 points and 5.5 rebounds despite only starting four games, hitting double figures in each of his last 10 games. Johnson's is a terrific story: he underwent nine rounds of chemotherapy and missed nearly three years of game action. Now, he's averaging 12.8 points and 6.7 boards, shooting 41.4% from 3.
PJ Haggerty, Tulsa Golden Hurricane
The redshirt freshman played in just six games at TCU last season before transferring to Tulsa. And since his arrival, he's been one of the best freshmen scorers in the country, averaging 16.1 points through 10 games. He's hit the 20-point mark on three occasions, getting to the free-throw line at an incredible rate. Just had 24 points in a key win over Missouri State.
Xzayvier Brown, Saint Joseph's Hawks
The Hawks have been one of the surprise packages in college basketball this season, with Brown's impact a key reason. The 6-2 guard has notched 17 points at Rupp Arena, 16 points in a win over Villanova and has hit 20-plus points on two occasions. Averaging 11.6 points despite starting just one game.
Seydou Traore throws down big jam vs. Mt. St. Mary'S Mountaineers
Tyler Perkins, Pennsylvania Quakers
Staying in Philly, let's talk about this big-time scorer who was thrust into the starting lineup from day one and hasn't disappointed. Perkins had 22 points and six rebounds in a win over Villanova and also had 24 points, 14 rebounds and five assists against Bucknell. He's putting up 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds while playing more than 30 minutes a night.
Mason Falslev, Utah State Aggies
Danny Sprinkle has the Aggies off to an 11-1 start in his first season at the helm, with in-state recruit Falslev at the heart of their early success. The 6-3 guard is averaging 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists, highlighted by a 19-point performance in a win over UC Irvine earlier this month. Shooting 72% inside the arc.
Tyler Harris with the massive swat at the rim
Seydou Traore, Manhattan Jaspers
The top rebounder among all freshmen, Traore is averaging 9.3 rebounds to go with 11.4 points, 2.2 assists and 2.3 steals. Had 16 points and eight boards against Kansas and 13 and eight against UConn. Hit a bit of a scoring wall over the last few games, but bounced back with nine points, 17 rebounds, four assists and four blocks against Fairleigh Dickinson.
Vasean Allette, Old Dominion Monarchs
If Allette wasn't on radars after his first seven games, when he hit at least 14 points on five occasions, he certainly moved the needle with 30 points in a loss at William & Mary earlier this month. Also scored 21 against Northeastern in the game prior. He's averaging 14.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Money Williams, Montana Grizzlies
It could be the level of competition or any number of factors, but Montana is 6-0 when Williams starts and 1-4 when he comes off the bench. He's found success against San José State on two occasions, finishing with 21 points and nine rebounds in their first meeting and 15 points and seven assists in the second. Averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 boards and 3.5 assists.
Omaha Biliew fights off defender for and-1
The second-best rebounder among all freshmen started his career with 17 points and 12 boards against Long Beach State and ran off six straight double-figure scoring games -- including another double-double -- to begin the season. Went for 19 points and seven rebounds, including four 3s, against Nevada. Averaging 12.7 points and 8.3 rebounds.
The Bulldogs harbor hopes of making another trip to the NCAA tournament, and coach Darian DeVries has showed no fear in leaning on a freshman from the opening game. Overton has scored in double figures in nine games so far this season, including 21 against Saint Louis and 22 against Oakland. Putting up 13.8 points through 12 games.
Derin Saran, UC Irvine Anteaters
The 6-4 guard from Turkey has been remarkably consistent despite not starting a game for Russell Turner's team. He's scored in double figures in each of the last eight games, including 16 points in wins over Pepperdine and Rice, and 15 in a win over Toledo. Also had 14 in a one-point loss at San Diego State. Averaging 11.7 on the season.
Top-50 recruits waiting their turn
Omaha Biliew, Iowa State Cyclones
The No. 11 recruit in the ESPN 100, Biliew was never expected to make a huge offensive impact early on, and his frame isn't quite there yet to dominate the glass like he did at the high school level. Played double figure minutes the first five games of the season before seeing his role diminish in the last few weeks; averaging 3.9 points so far. Given his defensive potential, it's worth being patient.
Xavier Booker, Michigan State Spartans
Booker came out of high school with questions about his motor, not his talent level. And that's always difficult for a freshman under Tom Izzo. He has three DNPs so far this season and has hit double figures just three times while playing behind seniors Malik Hall and Mady Sissoko. Did score seven points against Baylor last weekend, and his ceiling is still very high.
Sean Stewart and TJ Power, Duke Blue Devils
Jon Scheyer brought back four starters and a senior big man, making it tough to get consistent minutes for newcomers up front. Despite playing double-figure minutes just three times so far, Stewart did have 16 points and 10 boards against La Salle. Power meanwhile was used as a floor-stretcher against Arkansas and Georgia Tech, which could see him avoid more DNPs moving forward.
Simeon Wilcher, St. John's Red Storm
Wilcher looks like a player whose role could increase as the year progresses. He saw nine or fewer minutes in four of the team's first five games, but has now seen that flip in the past three weeks, playing double-figure minutes four times in five games. The one-time North Carolina commit is playing behind three senior guards, which bodes well for next season. Averaging 2.5 points.
Baye Fall, Arkansas Razorbacks
Fall played nine minutes in the season opener and 10 minutes in the second game, but has played just four minutes since. The 6-11 Senegal native was a good defensive player and rebounder in high school, but his frame is slight and Eric Musselman has four transfer bigs -- including Trevon Brazile -- ahead on the depth chart. All four could be gone next season, though.
Scott Drew brought in two high-level transfer guards in RayJ Dennis and Jayden Nunn, one of the best freshmen in the country in Ja'Kobe Walter, and still had Langston Love returning from last season. That hasn't left a ton of minutes for Little, a Finland native. He's seen extended minutes in a handful of games, though, averaging 3.1 points.
Chris Johnson, Texas Longhorns
Johnson flipped his commitment well into the offseason, going from Kansas to Texas in June. Behind the talented veteran backcourt of Tyrese Hunter and Max Abmas and a couple of transfers off the bench, there's just not a lot of minutes up for grabs in Austin though. Averaging 1.7 points in 6.6 minutes, but he'll get a chance eventually due to his scoring ability.