Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Player Rankings 2023-2024 Preview

The landscape of NCAA men’s college basketball continues to evolve from one season to the next. As top tier players at the collegiate level move on to the NBA Draft, the next wave of talented incoming freshman class arrives. With these top tier incoming freshmen, the play will vary from team to team with many of the most talented teams within the country landing one if not multiple freshman ranked among the incoming freshman basketball class. One of those talented incoming freshmen set to put on a show during the upcoming season is the USC Trojans freshman point guard Isaiah Collier who lands atop the Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Player Rankings 2023-2024 Preview list.

Collier, who is ranked as the number one overall point guard recruit among the incoming freshman class, is as talented as any freshman taking to the hardwood during the 2023-2024 NCAA Basketball season.

As Collier will look to lead the Trojans to a PAC 12 Championship and a potential deep run during the NCAA Tournament, he is just one of the many talented freshmen set to put together strong starts too their careers. Joining Collier on the list includes small forward Justin Edwards, center Aaron Bradshaw, combo guard DJ Wagner, and power forward Mackenzie Mgbako. Here is a look at the Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Rankings 2023-2024 Preview:

Honorable Mention

Kwame Evans Jr.

School: Oregon Ducks

Position: Power Forward

Just missing the Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Rankings 2023-2024 Preview is the Oregon Ducks incoming freshman Kwame Evans Jr. Evans Jr who plays his high school ball for the Montverde Academy is a dynamic power forward who finished his high school career ranked as the top overall player for the state of Florida.

The Ducks big man has size at six foot nine inches to play both at the power forward and center position however his playmaking abilities and skills slots him in as a solid forward. Despite lacking true playmaking abilities on the offensive end, Evans Jr power and size on the glass will help him be an effective scorer and defender each night.

DeShawn Harris-Smith

School: Maryland Terps

Position: Small Forward

Another talented NCAA men’s freshman entering the upcoming college basketball season is the Maryland Terps small forward DeShawn Harris-Smith.

Harris-Smith who is from just outside of Maryland in Fairfax Virginia delivers the Terps an all around forward who has a high motor and drive to compete at a high level each night.

The Terps incoming freshman is aggressive inside the paint, strong on the glass, and is not afraid to attack the rim which helps get him to the free throw line often.

Despite not being an aggressive scorer Harris-Smith delivers the Terps a key weapon to their rotation to compete within the Big Ten during the 2023-2024 NCAA Men’s basketball schedule.

Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Player Rankings

10. Stephon Castle

School: UConn Huskies

Position: Shooting Guard

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Player Rankings 2023-2024 Preview is the UConn Huskies shooting guard Stephon Castle. Despite losing multiple weapons off of their National Championship team, the Huskies landed a talented shooting guard to help retool the roster.

Castle arrives as the ninth overall ranked player according to 247 sports as well as the second overall combo/shooting guard recruit. The Huskies guard is an interesting player who can not only play the shooting guard position but also the point guard position.

Castle thrives with the ball in his hands while also being a solid weapon inside the perimeter. Overall, Castle has the talent to be solid on both ends of the floor during his rookie season with his one glaring weakness coming from his ability to shoot consistently from multiple spots from the floor.

9. Elmarko Jackson

School: Kansas Jayhawks

Position: Point Guard

The point guard position is such an important position at all levels of basketball but even more important at the collegiate level. Over the years many of the great teams in the country have all had success with strong point guards and/or guards who can handle the ball.

One of those guards this year is incoming freshman Elmarko Jackson. While Jackson lists at more of a combo guard, his ability to run the Kanas Jayhawks offense allows for him to use his playmaking abilities to produce points.

The Jayhawks guard has the ability to attack the rim, setting up teammates while also using his speed to pick up fouls and additional scoring opportunities. Entering the upcoming season, the Jayhawks are projected as the top seed among the preseason AP Top 25 rankings. 

8. Xavier Booker

School: Michigan State Spartans

Position: Center

Over the years the Michigan State Spartans have had a history of landing talented playmakers and that can be said for the upcoming 2023-2024 NCAA men’s basketball season.

One of those playmakers is big man Xavier Booker who arrives with the Spartans ranked as the second over center recruit in the country. While Booker lists and projects as a center for the Spartans, he has the abilities, athleticism, and speed to also play the power forward position while allowing the team to play big if required.

As Booker looks to be a solid post player, his ability to shoot the basketball from the perimeter and behind the arc at his size makes him a dangerous freshman during the upcoming season. 

7. Elliot Cadeau

School: North Carolina Tar Heels

Position: Point Guard

Joining Isaiah Collier on the Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Player Rankings 2023-2024 list at the point guard position is Elliot Cadeau who has all the physical tools and abilities to be a great point guard during his freshman season and beyond.

Cadeau arrives with the North Carolina Tar Heels ranked as the second best point guard in the nation. Cadeau is a dynamic point guard who looks to set up his teammates first and shoot second.

While his lack of aggressiveness limits his scoring abilities at times, his playmaking abilities ultimately helps set up his ability to shoot from all over the floor including having a solid three point shot. In addition, Cadeau is a solid defender on the defensive end of the floor who can limit the production of opposing point guards.

6. Ja’Kobe Walter

School: Baylor Bears

Position: Shooting Guard

The Baylor Bears found a way to secure the top shooting guard in the Nation in the ways of Ja’Kobe Walter. Walter, who ranked among the top high school basketball players in the state of Texas, is a dynamic all around shooting guard who can play a physical style of basketball as well as a player who can attack the rim.

However, Walter is dynamic at creating shots for himself all over the floor including having solid success at hitting pull up jump shots from behind the three point line.

While his aggressive play style may see him force shots at times, his overall play making abilities makes him as dangerous as any incoming freshman in the country. Look for Walter to emerge as a proving scorer during his freshman season for the Bears while building his NBA resume.

5. DJ Wagner

School: Kentucky Wildcats

Position: Guard

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Player Rankings 2023-2024 Preview list is the third member of the Kentucky Wildcats talented incoming freshman class that doesn’t stop there.

As he arrived with the Wildcats, Wagner ranked among the sixth best freshman recruits according to 247 sports while topping the list at the combo guard position.

Wagner is as dynamic of a scorer as any of the incoming freshmen while he has the ability to hit shots from all over the floor including behind the three point line as well as by using his speed to attack the floor.

In addition, Wagner has the talent to handle the ball as a shooter while also having the ability to find his teammates when needed. Look for the Wildcats to make a serious run during the upcoming season if all their incoming freshmen can gel as a unit.

4. Mackenzie Mgbako

School: Indiana Hoosiers

Position: Power Forward

As you look around at the Big Ten men’s basketball teams each are loaded with talent while continuing to build strong basketball programs. One of those programs is the Indiana Hoosiers who landed one of the top 10 incoming freshmen in Mackenzie Mgbako.

Mgbako has solid size at six foot eight inches while being able to use it to his advantage including setting up his own shots.

Even more impressive is while being a strong physical power forward who can attack the rim, Mgbako has the ability to swing outside and shoot the ball from behind the three point line making him a difficult player to defend and shut down.

With the game of basketball transitioning to big man shooting the three pointer, Mgbako has a potential to be a stud freshman this season.

3. Aaron Bradshaw

School: Kentucky Wildcats

Position: Center

Joining his other talented freshman teammates Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner among the top five incoming freshman list is Aaron Bradshaw.

Bradshaw, who headlines the list of the best freshman centers entering the upcoming season finished his high school career as the top overall player in New Jersey as well as the number one overall center in the 2023 NCAA men’s recruiting class.

The Wildcats center lists at seven foot tall while having the capability to use his size to his advantage on both ends of the floor. While his shot selection and shooting can improve his ability to run the floor, attack the rim and use a jump hook makes him a dangerous freshman to watch this season.

2. Justin Edwards

School: Kentucky Wildcats

Position: Small Forward

The Kentucky Wildcats continue to strike gold year in and year out while landing some of the most top freshman college basketball players in the country. The same can be said for their current crop of freshmen to include Justin Edwards as well as Aaron Bradshaw and DJ Wagner.

Each is as talented as one another while delivering title aspirations to the Wildcats campus and fan base. Edwards arrives with the Wildcats as the number three overall freshman while ranking as the top overall small forward to arrive on campus. Edwards can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor.

On the offensive side the Wildcats freshman has the size to go along with a solid jumper inside the three point line and the aggressiveness and quickness to attack the rim. On the defensive side of the floor Edwards can attack the rim while also being a strong defender using his size to slow down opposing players.

1. Isaiah Collier

School: USC Trojans

Position: Point Guard

In atop the Top 10 Freshman College Basketball Player Rankings 2023-2024 Preview list is Isaiah Collier of the USC Trojans. Collier is a dynamic all-around athlete who ranks atop the group of incoming point guards.

The Trojans point guard has tremendous court vision and change of pace speed to help run the offense while also having solid size at the point guard position.

As his court vision helps his overall game, Collier enters the 2023-2024 season ranked among the best passers of the incoming group of freshman while being a legitimate point guard who will help bring up the game of each of his teammates when he has the ball in his hands.

In addition, Collier can attack the rim, has a solid pull up jumper and the defensive abilities to be solid on the opposite end of the floor. Collier looks to be a potential one and done while building his NBA Draft resume this season.

How would you rank these college basketball freshmen for the 2023-2024 season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings.

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