College Basketball: Top 10 freshman standouts from week 1

The 2024 high school class carried some expectations with them into college. Fast-forward to week one of the 2024-25 college basketball season and we are seeing a lot of players from that class making an impact early in their freshman year. Players like UConn’s Liam McNeeley, who finished with a double-double in each of his first two games, and Maryland’s Derik Queen, who exploded in his first game for a 22 and 20 stat line.

The freshmen were so good in week one that players like Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford and Syracuse’s Donnie Freeman did not make the top ten this week. Pettiford, who scored 21 in a win at Houston on Saturday, got off to a slow start in his opening game, playing 19 minutes against Vermont and fouling out going 0-4 from the field with four assists. In Syracuse’s lone game of the week, Freeman finished with a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double while shooting 3-12 from the field. Promising weeks for both as we start the college basketball season.

There have also been some really good mid-major freshmen to this point. Harvard’s Robert Hinton has already put himself on the list after a scorching hot start. However, players like San Francisco’s Tyrone Riley and Evansville’s Gabriel Pozzato are worth continuing to pay attention to after strong starts to their seasons.

This freshman class is shaping up to be fun to follow this college basketball season. Let’s discuss how things shook out after week one of the season with college basketball’s Top 10 freshman standouts.

1. SG Tre Johnson (Texas)

Week Average: (vs. Ohio State, Houston Christian) 28.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 21-38 FG (55.3%), 10-18 3P (55.6%)

Through two games Tre Johnson got a lot of buckets and he did so in an efficient manner.

2. F Egor Demin (BYU)

Week Average: (vs. UC Riverside, Central Arkansas) 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 2.0 steals, 15-24 FG (62.5%), 6-12 3P (50.0%)

The 6-9 Egor Demin has played a point-forward role, spreading the ball around and scoring on his own. He is currently second among freshmen in assists per game.

3. SG Kon Knueppel (Duke)

Week Average: (vs. Maine, Army) 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 13-23 FG (56.5%), 7-14 3P (50.0%)

Duke’s leading scorer, Kon Knueppel has scored the ball at an efficient and consistent clip.

4. SF Cooper Flagg (Duke)

Week Average: (vs. Maine, Army) 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, 2.5 steals, 11-25 FG (44.0%)

Cooper Flagg has had a major impact on the game across multiple stat categories.

5. C Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)

Week Average: (vs. Lehigh, Fairfield) 22.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 16-29 (55.2%)

Thomas Sorber has firmly established his presence in the paint and around the rim. He is currently tied with Donnie Freeman, leading all NCAA freshmen in rebounds per game.

6. PF Asa Newell (Georgia)

Week Average: (vs. Tennessee Tech, Texas Southern) 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 18-32 FG (56.3%)

Asa Newell has started his season with a bang, showcasing touch, length, and twitchy athleticism.

7. SF Liam McNeeley (UConn)

Week Average: (vs. Sacred Heart, New Hampshire) 14.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 8-17 FG (47.1%), 4-9 3P (44.1%)

A known shooter, 44.1% of 4.5 3P attempts per game, Liam McNeeley has started his college career with a pair of double-doubles.

8. SG Robert Hinton (Harvard)

Week Average: (vs. Marist, Navy, American) 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 27-46 FG (58.7%), 4-8 (50.0%)

While Harvard dropped two of three, Robert Hinton, a former 4-star recruit, is more than living up to his four-star billing. His 72 total points scored is currently second overall in NCAA basketball.

9. PF Derik Queen (Maryland)

Week Average: (vs. Manhattan, Mount St. Mary’s) 15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, 12-24 FG (50.0%)

While the second game did not bring the fireworks of Derik Queen’s opening 22-point/20-rebound outing, a college debut of 20/20 is impressive.

10. PG Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)

Week Average: (vs. Eastern Illinois, SIUE) 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 4-7 FG (57.1%), 2-5 3P (40.0%), 13-16 FT (81.3%)

Kasparas Jakucionis leads all freshmen in assists through two games and has gotten to the free-throw line eight times per game.

10. SF Will Riley (Illinois)

Week Average: (vs. Eastern Illinois, SIUE) 22.5 points. 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 blocks, 15-25 FG (60.0%), 8-11 3P (72.7%)

Will Riley exploded with a 31-point outburst in his first game. He followed that up with a 14-point, 7-rebound game. He is getting the volume and has put up numbers.