The Ten Most Impactful Freshmen in the Big East for the 2023-24 Season

It is Big East week here at On3, and we keep the content rolling with the 2023-24 basketball season previews. Freshmen can be an interesting thing to predict. There are a lot of variables that take place when transitioning from high school to college basketball. Everything from the speed and physicality to the processing takes time to adjust.

In this piece, I look at the freshmen in the Big East this upcoming season. The conference, as a whole, emphasized recruiting impact players from the transfer portal more than it did in the 2023 high school class. Between them, the 11 Big East teams added 41 players via the transfer route while bringing in 37 true freshmen.

This list is not of the best player or the highest upside player; it is based on the potential impact of the player. Opportunity is a big factor here, but so is talent.

Big East Basketball Preseason Power Rankings

Let’s take a look at the ten impact freshmen in the Big East for the upcoming season.

1. G Stephon Castle, UConn

The Buzz: UConn returns starting guard Tristan Newton, so Stephon Castle will not be asked to immediately take over the offense. However, the McDonald’s All-American is at his best with the ball in his hands. At 6-foot-6, Castle has a sturdy frame and he uses a good pace to get into the paint, keep his defender on his hip, and make a play whether for himself or his teammates. The jump shot questions might arise if he plays off the ball, but easing him into the flow and speed of play early could only help down the line. Castle is at his best when the lights are the brightest. He has natural basketball instincts and should slip right into the starting rotation for the defending national champions. 

2. G Garwey Dual, Providence

The Buzz: Garwey Dual has created a lot of pre-season buzz leading into his freshman year. Most of that buzz is warranted as the upside is very real. Dual has great length and a crafty handle, that gets him into the teeth of the defense. Throughout high school, consistency was a question for him. There would be long stretches where he would go unnoticed. As he enters college, he is going to have to continue figuring out his game, and how he best affects winning. With Jayden Pierre there, Dual should start the season in an off-ball role. It will be interesting how he develops there. Providence has solid depth at the guard/wing spot with Pierre, Dual, Devin Carter, and Corey Floyd all vying for minutes (Ticket Gaines can also slide into some minutes at the three, and Justyn Fernandez is returning from an ACL). The talent and upside are intriguing with Dual. 

3. C Churchill Abass, DePaul

The Buzz: Churchill Abass is a man amongst men. The 6-foot-9 freshman is a physical and explosive post. He attacks rebounds in and out of his area, and anything within five feet, he tries to tear the rim off the backboard. There is a ferocity to his game, along with a motor that consistently runs hot. As a freshman, the speed of the game and the processing could take some time. Would also like to see him continue to extend his range. The sheer size and physicality of his game should get him on the floor early and for DePaul.

4. G Simeon Wilcher, St. John’s

The Buzz: This St. John’s team is pretty deep, and new head coach Rick Pitino went out and got some experienced transfers to join the rotation. However, when it comes down to basketball ability, Simeon Wilcher has a high ceiling. He is a downhill, scoring guard. Comfortable enough with the ball in his hands, and confident enough to take the shot, Wilcher might not start right away, but he should be in the rotation early. As the Big East season progresses, and the game starts to slow down, the minutes could increase. The Red Storm might not need him right away, but he is talented enough that that might not matter.

5. F Lazar Djokovic, Xavier

The Buzz: Lazar Djokovic is a skilled forward, able to dribble, shoot, and pass in the half-court. This summer, he averaged 14.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists for the Serbian U19 Team in the FIBA World Cup, He also shot 37.5 percent from three. Only a freshman, he will need to continue adding strength and get caught up to the speed and physicality of the game. With injuries to Jerome Hunter and Zach Freemantle, playing time is available at Xavier. Djokovic has an interesting skill set with available opportunities. 

6. F Jaylin Stewart, UConn

The Buzz: Jaylin Stewart came to Storrs with a lofty reputation as a skilled scorer. And with UConn returning Tristan Newton and then bringing in graduate transfer Cam Spencer and McDonald’s All-American Stephon Castle, the Huskies can bring Stewart along at his own pace. UConn, coming off a National Championship season, has expectations heading into the year, even after losing three starters. Part of that has to do with the talented freshman class they brought in. Stewart’s size, physical frame, and natural feel for scoring could get him into the rotation early. 

7. C Drew Fielder, Georgetown

The Buzz: Drew Fielder originally committed to Providence. He then de-committed and followed head coach Ed Cooley to Georgetown. Fielder has good size and is a skilled player on the block. He has good touch, with a feel for angles, and good footwork around the basket. The four-star recruit enters a situation at Georgetown where there is not much depth ahead of him on the roster, and word coming out of this weekend’s scrimmage is that presumed starter Ismael Massoud injured his hand. It will be interesting how Cooley moves the lineup around. Will Fielder plug and play into the starting group, or will he move someone like Dontrez Styles to the four and play smaller? Either way, Fielder is in the rotation with minutes staring right at him. 

8. G Isaiah Coleman, Seton Hall

The Buzz: Seton Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway built his reputation with toughness. While their defense kept them in games, their shot-making went through some droughts. Enter freshman Isaiah Coleman. The 6-foot-5 guard has a smooth offensive feel for the game. He is comfortable on the ball and he can make shots from multiple levels. Seton Hall returns Kadary Richmond and Al-Amir Dawes as well as bringing in senior Dylan Addae-Wusu. Coleman will not need to play immediately, however, his skill set could see him get some early opportunities.

9. G Zaide Lowery, Marquette

The Buzz: Zaide Lowery is an intriguing player. His strong suit as a prospect fits very well with what Marquette will need him to do this season. Lowery. Has a strong frame with good length. He is a good team defender with natural instincts, and he is a very good shooter with range. Marquette returns depth at guard, with five players who averaged over 12 minutes per game, so the former football wide receiver will not be forced into a lot of minutes early. However, with his skill set, he could earn minutes sooner rather than later.

10. F Dailyn Swain, Xavier

The Buzz: Dailyn Swain had one of the more intriguing skill sets in the Big East freshman class. At 6-foot-87 he was his team’s primary ball handler, initiating offensive sets. While he does not project long-term as a lead guard, his processing ability is advanced. He also has good length and natural athletic pop, giving a lot of upside on the defensive end. Swain was only 17 when he graduated high school, so he is on the young side for a freshman, He will need to continue getting stronger; but, he is a toolsy player whose size and skill set you can do a lot with on the floor. Just scratching the surface of his upside, he was one I simply could not leave off the list.