College Basketball: The Preseason's Top-12 Impact Freshmen for 2024-25

College basketball is used to seeing a handful of freshmen come into the game and impact the landscape. This season is no different, and the players are not just at the traditional blue-blood-type schools. A handful of freshmen will be given the opportunity to come in and be handed the keys.

While every freshman’s learning curve is different, there is no denying the talent of the players entering college basketball this season. Duke and Rutgers lead the way, each having two players on this list while other power conferences Big East, SEC, and Big 12 also have freshmen represented.

Preseason top-125 players in college basketball for the 2024-25 season

There were 12 freshmen who made On3’s college basketball preseason top-125 list. This list does not tell the highest upside players or the best pros, however, it is listed by impact. These 12 freshmen are predicted to have an impact on their college basketball teams this season.

There is so much unknown when it comes to freshmen, making the transition from high school to college basketball. Let’s discuss the preseason’s top 12 impact freshmen in college basketball for the 2024-25 season.

1. F Cooper Flagg, Duke

Height/Weight: 6-9/205
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 8
2024 On3 150: No. 1

Cooper Flagg is currently sitting atop many of the preseason NBA Mock Drafts. The 6-foot-9 forward will be a featured piece for a top-ten-ranked Duke team this season. His game should lend to him filling the stat sheet, across the board.

2. G Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Height/Weight: 6-6/215
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 15
2024 On3 150: No. 3

Dylan Harper is slated to have the ball-in-hand from game No. 1 for the Rutgers team. His passing and ability to get into the teeth of the defense popped in high school. Rutgers is currently ranked No. 25 in the preseason A.P. Poll.

3. G VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

Height/Weight: 6-5/180
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 22
2024 On3 150: No. 4

The explosive athleticism pops immediately with VJ Edgecombe. Baylor is a preseason top-ten-ranked team. Edgecombe is coming off a summer where he averaged 16.5 points on 57.1% shooting with the Bohemian Senior National Team.

4. G Tre Johnson, Texas

Height/Weight: 6-6/190
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 31
2024 On3 150: No. 7

The intersection where feel for the game crosses with shot-creation and frame, perhaps no other freshman has that more than Texas’ Tre Johnson. The Longhorns are deep, with experience at guard, so playing time will be interesting, but Johnson has the talent to possibly end up much higher on this list by season’s end.

5. F Egor Demin, BYU

Height/Weight: 6-9/190
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 39
2024 On3 150: No. 34

BYU head coach Kevin Young has built a lot of hype around the BYU program, and the center of a lot of that hype is freshman Egor Demin. The 6-foot-9 forward, originally from Russia, has a reputation for flash, vision, and creation. He reportedly finished with 8 assists in an exhibition against Boise State and reportedly had 12 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds in BYU’s intrasquad scrimmage.

6. F Ace Bailey, Rutgers

Height/Weight: 6-10/200
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 40
2024 On3 150: No. 2

Ace Bailey’s shot-making highlights can be as impressive as they come. His length and step-back ability enable him to create clean looks often. However, he is still feeling out the game and how to utilize his skill set best for the team. He has traditionally had long stretches of quiet production as well as a few air balls mixed in with the impressive makes. It could be a mixed bag for Bailey this season, but there will be a lot of opportunity for Bailey, and he certainly has some unique talent.

7. C Derik Queen, Maryland

Height/Weight: 6-10/245
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 41
2024 On3 150: No. 26

Derik Queen might not have much of a production ramp-up entering college. Already 19, he will turn 20 in December, Queen has some of the best hands and footwork around the basket of any player in the class. He can face up, but also he has an array of go-tos and counters with his back to the rim. There could be a Drew Timme-like impact early on for Queen.

8. G Kon Knueppel, Duke

Height/Weight: 6-7/215
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 51
2024 On3 150: No. 18

While it is the shooting that really pops with Kon Knueppel, it is his all-around play that should keep him on the floor. He finished with a game-high 19 points in just over 20 minutes played in Duke’s recent exhibition against Arizona State.

9. G Boogie Fland, Arkansas

Height/Weight: 6-2/175
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 78
2024 On3 150: No. 22

Boogie Fland has always carried himself with a certain poise and played with a certain confidence that has simply produced at each level. With this Arkansas team, he has the ability to play on or off the ball on offense. He also finished with six steals in the Razorbacks’ exhibition game win against Kansas.

10. F Liam McNeeley, UConn

Height/Weight: 6-7/210
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 91
2024 On3 150: No. 15

Shooting is the name of the game for Liam McNeeley. He should be able to step in from day one for the defending national championships and be a threat to knock down shots from three. Dan Hurley will be able to draw him up some looks, and defenders will have to stay attached. McNeeley shot 44.3 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game over his final two seasons at Montverde (FL) Academy.

11. G Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois

Height/Weight: 6-6/205
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 94
2024 On3 150: No. 62

Kasparas Jakucionis averaged 19.4 points for his home Lithuania this summer in the U18 Eurobasket Championships. What pops with his game is the flare, along with the ability to get to any spot on the floor he wants. He played previous for FC Barcelona’s second team, so the physicality of the Big 10 should not be an issue, however, how quickly he adapts to the speed of the game will go a long way with him. While the efficiency was sporadic, he finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists in Illinois’ exhibition game against Ole Miss.

12. PF Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State

Height/Weight: 6-9/225
Preseason 125 Ranking: No. 119
2024 On3 150: No. 5

Jayden Quaintance brings a physical frame along with a unique blend of twitchy and explosive athleticism. He will also play his entire freshman year at 17 years old (July 2007 birthday). There are a lot of flashes of skill to go along with a hot motor and, at times, overwhelming natural physical tools. How quickly can one of the youngest players in college basketball put it together? What he is in February could look a lot different from what it looks like in November.