Top 5 Freshmen to Watch in March Madness

Once again, the seasons are shifting. It's that time of year when the birds are chirping, the weather is warming up, and oh, March Madness is upon us!

This year’s tournament promises unprecedented excitement due to a loaded, star-studded freshman class, widely considered the best of all time. Legends emerge, Cinderella stories unfold, and three weeks of elite competition capture the nation's attention during March Madness.

Success requires talent, team cohesion, and a bit of luck, but the real difference will come from exceptional players—many of them freshmen.

5. Kingston Flemings, Houston

2025-26 Stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 47 FG%, 39 3P%

I initially doubted Flemings because of his jumper. Boy, was I wrong. The 6’4 Houston guard has become a complete lead guard, combining vision, size, and skill.

He reads defenses, creates easy scoring opportunities, and distributes the ball with precision. Flemings has joined elite company as one of four freshman guards to average 16+ points, 5+ assists, and shoot 45%+ from the field and 35%+ from three.

The others are Dennis Smith Jr. and Markelle Fultz in 2016–17, and his contemporary, Darius Acuff of Arkansas.

He also excels defensively, ranking second in the Big 12 in defensive win shares (2.4) and eighth in steals among guards. Across all positions, he ranks in the top 10 in both categories.

Flemings has produced explosive outings, including a 42-point game against Texas Tech, the most by a Big 12 freshman guard since Cade Cunningham in 2021. With his scoring, playmaking, and defensive instincts, he is a must-watch in March Madness.

https://youtu.be/B7-zIIVA1go

4. Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

2025-26 Stats: 22.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.5 APG, 48 FG%, 44 3P%

Acuff is arguably the best point guard in the class. John Calipari has coached incredible guards—Derrick Rose, John Wall, Devin Booker, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—but none have combined efficiency, scoring, and playmaking like Acuff this season.

He leads Arkansas in scoring and assists while maintaining elite shooting percentages. Acuff can drop 49 points in an overtime win against Alabama, a freshman single-game record in Division I history. You need a lead guard who doesn't turn over the ball? He has four turnover-free games despite handling a 28.9 usage rate.

He averages 20+ points and 6+ assists, shoots 45%+ from the field and 35%+ from three, and plays with toughness and efficiency. Acuff was the only guard in the nation to average 20+ points and 6+ assists on 45%+ from the field and 35%+ from three.

Acuff joins Brandon Miller (2023) and Anthony Davis (2012) as the only players to win SEC Freshman and Conference Player of the Year honors. Texas Head Coach Sean Miller called him “a generational player” and praised his scoring, shooting, and court vision.

Add in the fact that he joined Pete Maravich as the only player to lead the conference in scoring and assists in the same season. After leading Arkansas to its first SEC Championship since 2000, Acuff is primed to make a huge March Madness impact.

https://youtu.be/vdTwEHMIrxw?si=RQPWmpV3jwmAt0bA

3. Cameron Boozer, Duke

2025-26 Stats: 22.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 56 FG%, 40 3P%

Cameron Boozer, son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, has been exceptionally consistent this season. While not as flashy as past Duke freshman phenoms Cooper Flagg or Zion Williamson, he delivers automatic double-doubles every night.

The 6’9, 250-pound forward uses his frame to establish an interior position and finish strong through contact. His 18 double-doubles tie for the 10th most by a freshman since 2010.

Boozer led the ACC in points (765), points per game (22.5), total rebounds (347), and rebounds per game (10.2). He’s the only freshman since 1980-81 to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 50%+ from the field and 40%+ from three.

Boozer's ability to stretch the floor, defend multiple positions, and leave no offensive holes makes him a formidable opponent in March Madness.

2. Darryn Peterson, Kansas

2025-26 Stats: 19.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 44 FG%, 38 3P%

Peterson has had a bizarre season, with injury concerns and subbing patterns raising questions about his competitiveness. Once favored by all mock drafts as the presumptive first overall pick in June’s draft, scouts and executives seem to have cooled off on him.

Those issues now seem to be in the past.

He’s played over 30 minutes in five of his last seven games and remains one of the most unstoppable scorers in college basketball. The Jayhawks will need Peterson to be at his best if they look to make a deep run. He was nonexistent in the second half against Houston in a 69-47 rout in the Big 12 Semifinals.

Peterson’s jumper is textbook-perfect, with flawless release, follow-through, and elevation. He scores at all three levels with Mozart-like precision, reminiscent of Ray Allen or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Ultimately, Peterson combines scoring, efficiency, and poise, making him a March Madness game-changer when healthy.

1. A.J. Dybantsa, BYU

Career Stats: 25.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 51 FG%, 34 3P%

There aren’t enough superlatives to describe BYU Cougar freshman phenom A.J. Dybansta. Unstoppable. Freak. Scoring Savant. Rarely have we ever seen such a polished scoring arsenal from a teenager on such a consistent basis. 

Dybantsa is the most dominant freshman of the season, a scoring savant whose performances rival Kevin Durant’s 2006-07 campaign.

He broke Durant’s Big 12 Tournament freshman scoring record with 93 points in three games, surpassing Durant’s 92. He leads the Big 12 and the nation in scoring, averaging 25.3 points on 51% shooting as a freshman.

The last freshman to lead the nation in scoring was Trae Young with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2017-18.

Dybantsa drives aggressively, can finish with either hand, and is proficient in the midrange. His scoring arsenal is polished, versatile, and nearly impossible to defend, especially when his triples are falling.

Dybantsa tied Young for the third-most games (12) by a freshman scoring 25 or more points on over 50% shooting from the field, was sixth in 30+ point games, and third in 40+ point games. He’s the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, poised to dominate March Madness and cement his status as a historic talent.

https://youtu.be/OP-UBna0BdE?si=_b7ehZpcFy062K1h

Closing Thoughts

This March Madness, the freshman class is the story. Dybansta, Peterson, Boozer, Acuff, and Flemings combine elite scoring, playmaking, and leadership.

Expect game-changing performances, highlight moments, and future NBA stars to emerge on college basketball’s biggest stage.