Contrary to popular belief, not all freshmen are one-and-done players. These sophomores stayed in college basketball for another year and could be ready to take the scene by storm.
Not included is PJ Haggerty, who played six games as a true freshman, before redshirting, and playing the next season as a Rs.-Fr.
Honorable Mentions:
- Aaron Bradshaw, Ohio State
- Alex Condon, Florida
- Cam Christie, Minnesota
- Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
- Darren Buchanan Jr., George Washington
- Isaiah Coleman, Seton Hall
- John Blackwell, Wisconsin
- Joseph Tugler, Houston
- Juslin Bodo Bodo, High Point
- Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
- Sean Stewart, Ohio State
- Silas Demary Jr., Georgia
- Solomon Ball, UConn
- Trey Green, Xavier
- Tucker Anderson, Utah State
25. DeShawn Harris-Smith, Maryland
2023-24 stats: 7.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.2 APG
While Harris-Smith needs to drastically improve his three-point shot, he still showed off the rest of his offensive game and playmaking in year one at Maryland. With incoming 5-star Derik Queen, expect Harris-Smith to benefit from that talent and pair nicely with the talented big man.
24. Andrej Stojakovic, Cal
2023-24 stats: 7.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.9 APG
How will a scenery change help out Stojakovic? As a freshman at Stanford, he played well, but heading to Cal could help his overall development as one of the top options for the Golden Bears.
23. Jarin Stevenson, Alabama
2023-24 stats: 5.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.4 APG
For Stevenson, it’s all about how many minutes will be available at Alabama. We all know Nate Oats likes to recruit deep teams, so don’t let Stevenson’s stats fool you. He was a critical part of the Crimson Tide as a freshman. But now, with one year under his belt, he could really take off and be a top player in the SEC.
22. Kanaan Carlyle, Indiana
2023-24 stats: 11.5 PPG, 2.7 APG, 2.7 RPG
One of three Hoosiers sophomores on here, Carlyle comes in from Stanford where he put up double-digits in points per game. His biggest issue isn’t finding more scoring – it’s finding a way to not cough up the basketball so much. He turned it over almost three times per game last year, which won’t win you any extra games. Carlyle also needs to work on his scoring efficiency, but you would think that would benefit from playing with better talent around him at IU.
21. Eric Dailey Jr., UCLA
2023-24 stats: 9.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.5 APG
Dailey had a surprise freshman season at Oklahoma State and used it to find his way into playing for a legendary program like UCLA. How he will fit in on a loaded Bruins squad will be interesting, but the forward showed a lot of grit and offensive talent as a Cowboy. Mick Cronin should push him to reach new lengths next season.
20. Owen Freeman, Iowa
2023-24 stats: 10.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.8 BPG, 61.4 FG%
A talented big man at Iowa! Where have we heard that before? Freeman certainly exceeded expectations as a freshman and now gets to run it back for another year with the Hawkeyes. He might not be Luka Garza 2.0, but he will be one of the best big men in the Big Ten next season.
19. Zavonimir Ivisic, Arkansas
2023-24 stats: 5.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.6 APG, 1.3 BPG, 57.7 FG%
It’s unfair to make too many assumptions off 15 games of a season. Ivisic is pretty much a freshman and a half in my book, and that’s saying something, because he did show his defensive dominance and offensive potential at UK. Now, he follows John Calipari to Arkansas where the minutes (and of course, games played) are sure to skyrocket.
18. Jaland Lowe, Pitt
2023-24 stats: 9.6 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.8 RPG, 35.2 3P%
Lowe enjoyed a solid freshman year at Pitt and could be in store for something even bigger in year two. He has a consistent outside shot and makes plays for others. Pitt is a bit of a sleeper team and Lowe is a sleeper player, so it’s a bit of a match made in Heaven.
17. KJ Lewis, Arizona
2023-24 stats: 6.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.1 SPG
Lewis played in a crowded backcourt as a freshman at Arizona. However, with Caleb Love AND Jaden Bradley both returning to Tucson, there’s a chance Lewis still comes off the bench. If that ends up being the case, look for Lewis to be the top sixth man in the country. Regardless, the Wildcats will be loaded with that three-headed monster.
16. Brandon Garrison, Kentucky
2023-24 stats: 7.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 BPG, 57.2 FG%
Garrison put up impressive numbers as a freshman at Oklahoma State and now will play for Mark Pope and Kentucky. The Wildcats will have a much different team and Garrison could be one of the focal points of the offense. However, I look to his defensive skillset and rebounding that can put him over the top. At 6-11, 245, Garrison is massive and mobile, a tough pairing to stop in college basketball.
15. Malik Mack, Georgetown
2023-24 stats: 17.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 34.1 3P%
As a scoring threat, playmaker, hustler, and defender, Mack brings everything Ed Cooley preaches about. Moving on from the Ivy League to the Big East requires all of those traits, but the Harvard star certainly plays with a lot of fire. The Hoyas are trying to rebrand and not many sophomore guards are on his level in the country, so it’s a great start.
14. Caleb Foster, Duke
2023-24 stats: 7.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 40.6 3P%
There’s a lot to like about Foster’s game, even if he didn’t get to show it off at Duke in year one. He should transition into an everyday starter and the first thing to note is his three-point game. But Foster is also a playmaker – an underrated trait that we could see more of with the ball in his hands more.
13. Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
2023-24 stats: 10.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 35.9 3P%
Momcilovic has the potential to be an NBA player in the future as a 6-8 forward who can drill threes. However, he wanted another year to hone in on his entire skillset, and Iowa State should be very happy about that. Momcilovic is a gifted scorer, but still has a lot of ways he can improve.
12. Baye Ndongo, Georgia Tech
2023-24 stats: 12.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.1 BPG, 55.8 FG%
Ndongo has a chance to be a Georgia Tech great after posting some incredible freshman stats. The forward still has room to grow too with an untapped three-point game. Look for the Yellow Jackets to run their offense even more through Ndongo.
11. Dedan Thomas Jr., UNLV
2023-24 stats: 13.6 PPG, 5.1 APG, 2.7 RPG, 36.2 3P%
Thomas starred on a good UNLV team in 2023-24 but has the chance to be the best guard in the Mountain West next season. He can get to the rim, hit threes, and plays with a lot of energy and bounce. Going into next year, expect Thomas to be one of the best players in mid-major college basketball. And, he isn’t afraid to take the big shot.
10. Aden Holloway, Alabama
2023-24 stats: 7.3 PPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 RPG
Holloway’s shooting woes absolutely need to be fixed but the guard showed a lot of potential as a guy who can get buckets in a moment’s notice. Despite only averaging a bit over seven points per game, Holloway topped 15 points four times in his first 10 games at Auburn, with a career-high 24 against Indiana. He only hit the 15-point mark one more time last season, so a different school may be all he needs to put together a consistent sophomore campaign.
9. Markus Burton, Notre Dame
2023-24 stats: 17.5 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.9 SPG
When you talk about stats, Burton put up some ridiculous numbers as a frosh. For his sophomore year, it’ll be important to see if Burton’s skills translate to wins for the Irish. He can ball out, but the talent was lacking in South Bend last year. This season, don’t be surprised if Burton’s numbers actually. dip, as long as other guys are pitching in to play winning basketball.
8. Sebastian Mack, UCLA
2023-24 stats: 12.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.3 SPG
Mack enjoyed a solid freshman campaign, but on a UCLA team that was far from being a competitive Pac-12 team. Now, the Bruins enter year one in the Big Ten and Mack looks to be a leader as a sophomore. He’ll need to become much more efficient of a scoring, but he has the tools to become UCLA’s go-to guy in 2024-25.
7. Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
2023-24 stats: 17.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.7 APG
I’m not sure how much more Hubbard can really explode next year, given his scoring average as a freshman, but the Mississippi State product has a chance to elevate his team to the top of the SEC. He may just be 5-10, but Hubbard has the mindset and the ability to be a big-time player for the Bulldogs again and will be in the running for SEC Player of the Year.
6. Elliot Cadeau, North Carolina
2023-24 stats: 7.3 PPG, 4.1 APG, 2.2 RPG
In case you didn’t get the memo, the ACC has a whole unit of returning sophomore stars and Cadeau leads the pack. With RJ Davis returning, this has the chance to be the best UNC backcourt in years. The two can build off a year of chemistry and with no Armando Bacot, it opens up more shots and chances for them to take over. Obviously, there’s still tons of talent up and down the Carolina lineup, but Cadeau has the chance to really live up to being a former 5-star.
5. Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana
2023-24 stats: 12.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.3 APG
The highly touted recruit is back for year two at Indiana and should be in store for a major year. From February on, Mgbako averaged 14,7 PPG, with a few 20-point outings. With no Kel’el Ware next year, it’ll be Mgbakoa and Malik Reneau as the top duo for the Hoosiers inside. Expect BIG things.
4. Myles Rice, Indiana
2023-24 stats: 14.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.6 SPG
It’s crazy to think Rice had to sit out TWO years due to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and burst onto the scene at Washington State. Clearly, Rice can do anything he puts his mind to and alongside Mgbako and Carlyle, forms one of the top trio of sophomores in the country. Moving on from Washington State to Indiana could halt his stats, but his game speaks for itself.
3. DJ Wagner, Arkansas
2023-24 stats: 9.9 PPG, 3.3 APG, 1.9 RPG
The 5-star Wagner didn’t end up being a one-and-done player after all and returns for his second year of college basketball to Arkansas, where he will once again play for John Calipari. Wagner showcased scoring and passing but still needs to work on his overall shooting abilities. It’s a loaded Razorbacks team, but it’s clear Coach Cal has a lot of belief in Wagner to be his guy.
2. Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
2023-24 stats: 12.8 PPG, 2.8 APG, 2.8 RPG, 34.5 3P%
Shelstad sort of came out of nowhere but quickly became one of the top freshmen in the final year of the Pac-12. Now, it’s the Big Ten that needs to be aware of his game. Shelstad has deep three-point range, sets up teammates for looks, and commands the attention of opposing defenses. If I had to pick one player who could really light the college basketball country on fire next season, it would be Shelstad.
1. JT Toppin, Texas Tech
2023-24 stats: 12.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 0.6 APG, 1.9 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 62.3 FG%
Leave all those Mountain West jokes aside for a second, Toppin was the real deal. The 6-9 forward proved he could score, rebound like an animal, defend underneath, and play super efficiently. He also utilized his three-point shot well, hitting 34.4% of his shots from behind the arc. However, as a sophomore, Toppin could be the best transfer pickup in the country if he puts it all together. Remember, he’s going to have to adjust to playing in the Big 12, but after the way he burst onto the scene, I don’t think that’s much of a worry.
Jaylin Stewart should be top 5 in this list.
Agree with the vast majority of these but Cam Christie is in the NBA Draft.