College Basketball: Power 6 Freshmen to Watch

We are ten weeks into the college basketball season. Most teams have already played multiple conference games and we are starting to get a good feel for players and their roles.

Yesterday we talked about the top ten freshman in college basketball. With so many freshmen playing well this season, I want to use this article to talk about other power six freshmen across the college basketball landscape who are entering the discussion.

READ the Week 10 Freshman Power Ranking

G Markus Burton, Notre Dame

The Buzz: Markus Burton has led the way for a young Notre Dame team this season. So much so that the 5-foot-11 guard’s 15.9 points per game are fourth and his 4.1 assists are tied for eighth in Division 1 among all freshmen. Albeit with relatively low efficiency (39.4 percent from the field and 27.9 percent from three) Burton has scored 15, or more, points in ten games as Notre Dame is currently 7-9 on the season and 2-3 in the ACC.

G Kanaan Carlyle, Stanford

The Buzz: Kanaan Carlyle sat for Stanford’s first eight games for non-injury-related reasons. However, he quickly jumped into the lineup and made his presence felt, scoring in double figures in four of his six games including a 28-point outburst against then No. 4 ranked Arizona. Through his first six, Carlyle is averaging 12.7 points with shooting splits of 50.0 FG/46.4 3P/88.2 FT. Stanford is now 2-2 in PAC 12 play.

F Alex Condon, Florida

The Buzz: Alex Condon came to Florida from the NBA Global Academy. The former rugby prodigy quickly earned a spot in the Gators rotation as he is averaging 19.6 minutes per game. Condon’s 6.6 rebounds per game is eighth in Division 1 among all freshmen. He is also averaging 8.3 points, 1.2 blocks, and shooting 46.4 percent from the field. 

F Kwame Evans, Oregon

The Buzz: Kwame Evans came to college with some buzz, the 6-foot-10 forward was a consensus top-20 recruit and a McDonald’s All-American. While it took Evans a couple of games to get his footing, he has certainly picked things up. His 1.5 blocks per game sit eighth in Division 1 among freshmen and his 1.9 steals per game are seventh. Oregon sits atop the PAC 12 with a 4-0 conference record. In conference play, Evans is averaging 12.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and shooting 54.8 percent from the field. 

C Owen Freeman, Iowa

The Buzz: Owen Freeman made his presence felt in the paint from the moment he stepped foot on Iowa’s campus. The 6-foot-10 center’s 2.0 blocks per game sit fifth in the Big Ten among all players. He is also averaging 10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and shooting 63.3 percent from the field. In Iowa’s two games in 2024, both conference games, Freeman’s numbers have risen to 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. 

G Aden Holloway, Auburn

The Buzz: While his shooting and scoring numbers have been up and down, where Aden Holloway has shined is with his assists-to-turnover ratio. The 6-foot-1 freshman’s 3.71 assists-to-turnover number makes him 13th overall in Division 1 and the top freshman to date. His ability to take care of the ball is a big reason why Auburn is 13-2, with eight straight wins, and sits at 2-0 in the SEC, and that more than makes up for his 33.3 percent shooting from the field.

G Sebastian Mack, UCLA

The Buzz: Things have not gone according to plan for UCLA this season, but a shining light is the play of 6-foot-3 freshman Sebastian Mack. Mack has led the Bruins in scoring in eight games this season, including two of their four PAC 12 contests. His 14.3 points per game has him 13th in Division 1 among freshmen. Sebastian’s father Sam Mack scored over 2,000 points in the NBA in his seven-year career.

F Collin Murray Boyles, South Carolina

The Buzz: Collin Murray Boyles missed South Carolina’s first six games of the season due to a bout with mono. Since then the 6-foot-7, former four-star recruit, has carved his way into the lineup by shooting 55.6 percent from the field. As the season has progressed, Murray-Boyles’ role has become more significant, playing 17.8 minutes over his last four. South Carolina is currently 13-2, 1-1 in the SEC and received votes in the A.P. Poll this week.

G Myles Rice, Washington State

The Buzz: Myles Rice’s status as a freshman is a little different than the rest on this list. He had to miss two seasons as he battled cancer. Now a cancer survivor, redshirt freshman has been putting up big numbers for Washington State. His 14.6 points is ninth in Division 1 among freshmen, as he leads the Cougars in scoring, assists (3.1), and steals (1.7) this season. Washington State is currently 10-5 on the season.

G Jackson Shelstad, Oregon

The Buzz: Just watch Oregon play, and you see that freshman Jackson Shelstad has complete control of the huddle. The local four-star product got the keys from day one and Oregon currently sits atop the PAC 12 with a 4-0 record. Shelstad is shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from three while averaging 14.8 points and 2.9 assists. His numbers have jumped in PAC 12 play, averaging 18.0 points on 60.0 percent shooting from three.