We all know the biggest names (AJ, DP, Cam and company), the freshmen who will dominate the top of the lottery and the top half of the first round. But there are so many more freshmen who will come in and have an immediate impact and could see their draft stock soar.
Here are 10 freshmen ballers who aren’t getting enough draft love and not enough consideration as one and done prospects. While most of these guys will probably end up staying a few years in school I think we’ll see a few players from this list enter the 2026 draft.
College basketball is loaded with talent thanks to the NIL rules and an influx of overseas talent, so coming in as a freshman and earning big minutes can be a challenge. Some of these guys will be buried on the bench and will have to wait their turn, while a few of these players will take on a big roles in year one.
10 Underrated Freshmen
Andrej Kostic (Serbia) – SG – Kansas State – Kostic is one of the top European prospects in his age group and could be an instant hit for Kansas State. The Wildcats brought in a lot of high level transfers and so it’ll be a battle for minutes but don’t be surprised if Kostic earns a major spot in the rotation. At 6-6 with wiry strength and solid athleticism he’s got a pro frame and a high level feel for the game.
Cayden Boozer – PG – Duke – Boozer is obviously a very big name but it’s rare to see him listed on mock drafts. While most scouts see him as a potential multi-year college player I think there’s a legit chance he goes one and done. The big swing skill for him his the outside shot. If it comes around and shows promise this year it’ll go a long way towards helping his draft stock and could land him a lot higher in the 2026 draft than most expect. He does everything else at a high level including running the offense, getting into the lane and bringing a lot of leadership at the point guard position.
Omer Mayer – PG – Purdue (Israel) – Another rock solid point guard, Mayer is built in a similar mold as Cayden Boozer but with a better jumper. He should be a really good as a freshman for the Boilermakers pairing with star guard Braden Smith. He’s got good size and strength and great ball skills. Purdue got a good one.
Neoklis Avdalas – SF – Virginia Tech (Greece) – Avdalas is sort of a darling of the NBA Draft community. The 6-8 sweet-scoring wing from Greece entered the 2025 draft but pulled his name out before the deadline and decided to go the college route. He should get plenty of touches and scoring opportunities for the Hokies and could be a one and done if everything falls into place. Either way he’s one to keep an eye on for future drafts.
Hannes Steinback – PF – Washington (Germany) – Another international player who opted to go the college route, Steinback is a mobile, high-energy big forward with an inuring skill-set. He’s a versatile talent who rebounds the ball at a high rate, defends in the lane, has some switchability and runs the floor really well. I like the way he attacks the rim and he’s always a threat to bring down the house with a big dunk.
Bryson Tiller – PF – Kansas – Tiller is one of the more unique stories on this list, having enrolled mid season at KU while rehabbing from an ankle injury. After surgery and more rehab he’s getting back into basketball shape and should be a full-go for the Jayhawks this season. The 6-10 forward has pro level tools and a nice skill level. At one point he was looking like a top 10 recruit but injuries and an up and down time with OTE dropped him a bit in the rankings. He still has all the talent in the world and could surprise to the upside this season.
Kingston Flemings – PG – Houston – There’s another Houston freshman that gets all the mock draft love (Cenac) but Flemings is also a high-end talent with real NBA potential. The 6-2-ish point guard is a strong, coordinated and bouncy athlete with a high feel for the game. He can play above the rim and is deadly going to the basket.
Malachi Moreno – C – Kentucky – The Kentucky Wildcats have a ton of depth in the front court and Moreno will likely be coming off the bench and fighting to get minutes early on. Still he’s a very talented 7-footer with a strong frame, good touch and a chance to be really good. He’s probably a two or three year player and will likely just show some good flashes this year before taking on a bigger role next season.
Jalen Haralson – SF – Notre Dame – Haralson is the type of versatile do-it-all forward that NBA teams love. He’s got the size, strength and quickness to guard up and down the line-up and he’s the complete package on the offensive end, showing good handles, play-making and scoring ability. He’s one of the top ranked recruits in Notre Name history (coming in with a big NIL deal) and should get plenty of run for the Irish this season.
Niko Bundalo – PF – Ole Mis – Bundalo is a bit of an enigma. He’s a super talented big forward with awesome open court athleticism and above the rim ability but he can also be undisciplined and has some work to do in maturing himself and his game. The tools are all there and if he can lock in and make the most of his opportunity the sky is the limit for him.
But wait, there’s more!
10 Honorable Mention
Trey McKenney – SG – Michigan
Shon Abaev – SF – Cincinnati
Maikcol Perez – PF – Baylor (Italy)
Ivan Kharchenkov – SG – Arizona (Germany)
Kohl Rosario – SG – Kansas
Mouhammed Sylla – C – Georgia Tech (Senegal)
Jacob Furphy – SG – UConn (Australia)
Eric Reibe – C – UConn (Germany)
Matt Able – SG – NC State
Elzie Harrington – PG – Harvard
Overall this is a really strong freshman class and even these less-heralded freshmen are big time talents with legit NBA potential.
Thanks for reading!