2024-25 Men’s College Basketball Freshman of the Year Rankings

V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor (11.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG)
Robert Wright III, Baylor (12.9 PPG, 5.4 APG, 2.1 RPG, 46.4% 3PT)

While not quite on the same level of last year’s Kentucky duo of Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham, Baylor’s dynamic duo of first-year phenoms has been putting in work. Wright scored 22 in the loss at UConn (in which Edgecombe didn’t play) and had 13 dimes last week against Norfolk State. Edgecombe put up 20 in the loss to Tennessee and has been a rim-rattling stat-sheet stuffer. Had we ranked more than just 10, these Bears might have been Nos. 11 and 12.

Jayden Quaintance, Arizona State (8.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.4 BPG, 2.1 APG, 1.5 SPG)

The Sun Devils are still figuring out how to best utilize Quaintance on offense, maxing out at 14 points in a game thus far. He has been a relentless force in the paint, though, with multiple blocks in all 10 games, as well as 60 rebounds over his last six contests. He’s already quite good and might really level up his game at some point in the next few weeks.

Egor Demin, BYU (13.3 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 38.4% 3PT)

Demin averaged 15.2 points, 7.2 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting 56.5 percent from downtown in BYU’s first five games, all at home against teams with no at-large potential. However, he tapered off considerably in the three subsequent games against major-conference opponents (10.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 12.5% 3PT) before missing the past two games with a knee injury. Thus, we’re keeping him outside the top 10 for now. With these first four honorable mentions, though, the race for Big 12 Freshman of the Year is going to be sensational.

Will Riley, Illinois (13.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 37.5% 3PT)
Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois (14.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 34.8% 3PT)

Because he played professionally in Croatia before landing at Illinois, Ivisic was docked a year of eligibility and is *technically* a sophomore as far as the NCAA is concerned. But the first-year big man has been a double-double machine, while Riley has averaged better than 22 points per 40 minutes off the bench. Both are strong Freshman of the Year candidates, though not as strong as the third member of that class who we’ll get to later.

Thomas Sorber, Georgetown (15.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.4 SPG)

This is easily the most ‘out of left field’ player among the 20 here, as Sorber was neither a 5-star recruit nor is Georgetown particularly relevant. The Hoyas do already look a whole lot better than the past three years, though, and Sorber—who entered Wednesday’s game against Creighton leading the team in points, rebounds and blocks—has been a massive part of their ascension back into the KenPom top 100.

Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn (10.7 PPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 43.6% 3PT)

A key reserve for the best team in the country, Pettiford scored 20 against Duke and 21 in the win over Houston, rising to the occasion in big moments. He’s held back a bit in these early rankings by only playing 20 minutes per game, but he could easily be a top candidate if both he and Auburn continue to shine.

Kon Knueppel, Duke (11.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 32.2% 3PT)

Respectable stats/play here, but Knueppel has gone 6-for-32 (18.8 percent) from three-point range in Duke’s five games against major conference foes. Between that and the fact that it’s hard to hold a candle to what teammate Cooper Flagg is doing, just an honorable mention for now.

Labaron Philon, Alabama (11.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 SPG)

On Mark Sears’ infamous scoreless night against Illinois, Philon had a monster performance, going for 16 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as the Crimson Tide won 100-87. That alone almost got him into the top 10. But his combined five points, four assists, four rebounds and seven turnovers in the next two games against Houston and Rutgers brought him back to earth a bit.