Ranking college basketball’s 50 finest newbies, plus 16 more sleepers

• Jeff Borzello, ESPN

  • Staff WriterOct 30, 2024, 09:00 AM ET Close Basketball recruiting insider.
  • Signed up with ESPN in 2014.
  • Graduate of University of Delaware.Projecting beginners

— whether they’re freshmen or transfers– has constantly been an inexact science. In the present age of college basketball, with player movement at an all-time high, it’s much more difficult. Entire rosters are being turned over from one year to the next, with function allowance for lots of groups entirely unclear entering the season.Talking to coaches and NBA scouts, keeping an eye on exhibition games, taking a look at box scores for”secret”scrimmages– it’s all handy when attempting to determine which beginners are going to make an instant effect. And it’s more needed than ever provided the lack of lineup continuity.A yearly reminder: This is a ranking solely based on anticipated impact for this season. It’s not suggested to be a mock draft or a rehash of our

recruiting, transfer or preseason leading 100 rankings. The leading four players in the newbie rankings are indeed the leading 4 players in the 2025 NBA draft rankings and were the top four potential customers in the 2024 ESPN 100, but that’s where the resemblances end.