Saturday marked a historic day for first-year in college basketball. At 2 p.m, Houston’s Kingston Flemings dropped an absurd 42 points. An hour later, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler broke the first-year single-game scoring record with 46 points on just 17 shots, followed by BYU’s AJ Dybantsa’s 43-piece at 5:30 p.m. This marked the first time in at least the past 30 years that three first-years scored 40 points or more on the same day. It then feels like the perfect time to rank the first-years performing best at this point in the season.
1. Cameron Boozer, Duke
It’s hard to argue for anyone else in this spot, even given the season that Dybantsa has had. Duke is 19–1, sitting at No. 4 in the AP Poll, with an offense fully revolving around and relying on Boozer. He’s averaging 23.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game with efficient shooting splits. Not to mention, he already has 10 double-doubles on the season and continues to put the team on his back when it matters most.
2. AJ Dybtansa, BYU
As the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025, this ranking is no surprise. I expected Dybantsa to succeed at BYU, but not to this degree. He looks like he could immediately dominate in the NBA, averaging 23.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for the Cougars. With a No. 13 rank and the fifth-best record in the Big 12, don’t be surprised when Dybantsa makes a big splash in March.
3. Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Peterson has only played in 10 games, making him extremely hard to place among the other high-performing first-years. But when he does play, it’s difficult to say any other player in his class — or even the country — is better. He doesn’t just average over 20 points per game or shoot extremely efficiently from the field; he also passes the eye test with flying colors. If he can stay healthy, Peterson could very easily be the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — and he might be selected there regardless.
4. Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
As one of the most entertaining guards in the country, Acuff belongs on this list. This first-year floor general is currently leading the No. 2 team in the SEC and No. 15 team in the country, putting on a show every night. With averages of 20.2 points and 6.2 assists per game, Acuff is a threat every game to drop 30.
5. Caleb Wilson, UNC
Wilson is one of the best forwards in all of college basketball. He averages a double-double, with 19 points and 10 rebounds per game. While No. 16 UNC has been up and down this season, he has consistently anchored them on both sides of the ball. The 3-point shot is still a work in progress, but inside the perimeter, he is nothing but dominant.
Honorable Mentions: Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler
