2024 NBA Draft: Top Freshman Prospects

College basketball is right around the corner as some teams are beginning to play their exhibition games. Who are the top freshman prospects in college basketball?

Isaac Condra | Oct 27, 2023

2024 NBA Draft: Top Freshman Prospects /

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The 2023-24 college season is nearly here and we are set to see some of the top incoming freshman prospects make their college debut. Let’s dive into the top freshman prospects for the upcoming season.

Isaiah Collier | USC

Isaiah Collier is a 6-foot-3 lead guard that’s looking to lead USC through the PAC-12 this season. He’s the top incoming freshman and is so highly regarded due to his elite playmaking ability and great feel for the game. Collier is a true floor general that has proven at the high school level that he can make his teammates around him better. He’s also quite quick and does a great job of putting pressure on the rim.

Justin Edwards | Kentucky

Justin Edwards is a 6-foot-7 wing that will be on a loaded Kentucky squad but will be looking to shine and show off his versatility on the basketball court. His ability to finish at the rim is pretty impressive as he’s able to use either hand inside the paint with a soft touch. The defensive tools are there for him to be an effective all-around defender. If the 3-point jumper becomes consistent then we could be looking at a potential top-five pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Stephon Castle | Connecticut

Stephon Castle, UConn Huskies — Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Stephon Castle is a 6-foot-6 combo guard that will be looking to help lead UConn to another national championship after winning it all last season. Castle is a high level playmaker with positional size which makes him one of the more unique prospects in this upcoming draft. He’s not a super explosive athlete but he’s a smooth athlete that is effective at getting to his spots. It will be interesting to see how Castle does initiating this UConn offense.

DJ Wagner | Kentucky

DJ Wagner is a 6-foot-3 combo guard and will have a major offensive role on this Kentucky squad. He’s a skilled guard that has the ability to score it all three levels effectively. He has improved as a finisher over the years, can convert on tough mid-range pull-ups and is a threat from 3-point range. If Wagner is able to get more consistent with balancing out his playmaking and scoring, then there’s very real optimism that he can be a lead guard for a team in the NBA.

Ja’Kobe Walter | Baylor

Ja’Kobe Walter is a 6-foot-5 wing that is looking to help the Baylor Bears get back on top after winning a national championship back in 2021. He is one of the most talented scorers amongst this entire freshman class as he’s a high level shot-maker from all around the perimeter. The Baylor freshman should be given a lot of touches and on-ball reps as he could legitimately carry Baylor throughout stretches of the game with his scoring ability. The projected lottery pick will have to prove he’s more than just a scorer, though.

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Published Oct 27, 2023

ISAAC CONDRA

Isaac is the founder of Global Scouting and an analyst for Draft Digest. He has scouted and covered the NBA draft for the last five years, with experience analyzing players at all levels.