Analysts say that the freshman class in the 2025-26 season may be the best in the history of men’s college basketball, and there are college newbies who you likely haven’t heard of who are performing at an ultra-high level.
Powerhouse freshmen such as Duke’s Cameron Boozer, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson are leading the charge, with all of them expected to be high picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
But what about freshmen from smaller schools who are lighting it up this season? They deserve a shout-out, too. In alphabetical order, here are five under-the-radar freshmen who are having outstanding 2025-26 campaigns.
Five freshmen gems this season
Allen Graves, forward at Santa ClaraThe Broncos (19-5 overall) are in a battle with No. 6 Gonzaga for the West Coast Conference regular-season crown, and Graves is a big reason why. The Ponchatoula, LA., native is stuffing the stat sheet, averaging 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 2.0 steals per game. The 6-foot-9 Graves is also making 50.0 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Jake Hall, guard at New MexicoThe 6-foot-4 Hall, who hails from Carlsbad, Calif., is having a terrific freshman season for a Lobos team (18-4) that is vying for a Mountain West Conference title, along with Utah State and San Diego State. Hall is averaging 15.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest while connecting on 48.3 percent from the field, 43.3 percent from long range and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Nigel James Jr., guard at MarquetteThe Golden Eagles, in somewhat of a surprise, are slogging their way through the 2025-26 campaign, with an overall record of just 8-15. However, the 6-foot James, from Huntington, N.Y., on Long Island, is doing his part, averaging 15.4 points, 4.7 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per encounter. He makes 47.8 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point land and 70.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Acaden Lewis, guard at VillanovaThe Wildcats, in three seasons under head coach Kyle Neptune, weren’t good enough. So they hired former Maryland boss Kevin Willard as their new head coach. This season, Villanova is 16-5 overall and solidly in third place within the Big East Conference. The 6-foot-2 Lewis, a native of Washington, D.C., is averaging 11.9 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while connecting on 46.0 percent from the field.
Stefan Vaaks, guard at ProvidenceThe Friars have been a bummer this season, at 9-13 overall. Yet the 6-foot-7 Vaaks, from Estonia, has been anything but a disappointment. He’s tallying averages of 15.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds per contest while hitting on 40.8 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from deep and 83.6 percent from the free-throw line.
