Big Ten Basketball Top 25 Incoming Freshman for 2023-24 Season
The 2023-24 college basketball is right around the corner, so let's take a look at which teams are bringing in the top freshmen. These rankings are based on the 247Sports Composite, which takes into account rankings from all major recruiting services.
Here are the top-25 recruits headed to the Big Ten, with some thoughts on their games and how they'll fit at their new schools.
1. SF Mackenzie Mgbako (No. 8 overall) – Indiana
Indiana beat Kansas for Mgbako after he decommitted from Duke, marking perhaps the biggest recruiting win of Mike Woodson's tenure. Mgbako can score anywhere on the court, and he'll have plenty of opportunities after Indiana lost its top four scorers from last season.
2. C Xavier Booker (No. 14) – Michigan State
Michigan State returns forwards Malik Hall, Mady Sissoko, Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper from last season, but Booker is talented enough to earn minutes on a Big Ten title contender. He was one of the fastest risers in recruiting rankings last summer due to his fluid movement and 3-point shooting at 6-foot-10.
3. PG Jeremy Fears (No. 31) – Michigan State
Playing time might not come as easy for Fears, who joins a Michigan State backcourt with returning starters Tyson Walker, A.J. Hoggard and Jaden Akins. Fears will benefit from competing against and learning from these veterans, and he gives Michigan State bench depth it lacked at times last year.
4. SF DeShawn Harris-Smith (No. 32) – Maryland
With wing players like Hakim Hart, Don Carey, Ian Martinez and Patrick Emilien all gone, Harris-Smith likely steps into the starting lineup right away. He has an explosive offensive game and can guard multiple positions on defense.
5. PF Coen Carr (No. 33) – Michigan State
Carr is one of the most athletic players in the class of 2023. Michigan State returns nearly its entire rotation from last year aside from Joey Hauser, but Carr could give Tom Izzo a spark off the bench.
6. CG Taison Chatman (No. 39) – Ohio State
Ohio State had major roster turnover for a second offseason in a row. Losing Brice Sensabaugh, Sean McNeil, Justice Sueing and Isaac Likekele will allow Chatman to compete for minutes alongside Bruce Thornton in the backcourt right away.
7. SF Gavin Griffiths (No. 44) – Rutgers
Rutgers desperately needed a 3-point shooter after Cam Spencer transferred out, and Griffiths can provide just that. His 6-foot-7 frame will aid in his transition to the college game.
8. PF Devin Royal (No. 49) – Ohio State
The 2023 Ohio Mr. Basketball led Pickerington Central to the state title game, averaging 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds on 64.9 percent shooting. At 6-foot-7, he should help Ohio State replace leading scorers Justice Sueing and Brice Sensabaugh.
9. SF Scotty Middleton (No. 50) – Ohio State
Middleton played for Sunrise Christian, one of the top high school programs in the country. At 6-foot-7, he shot 44 percent from 3-point range during NIBC play. The incoming freshman trio of Middleton, Chatman and Royal gives Ohio State a nice core for the future.
10. SF Jamie Kaiser (No. 65) – Maryland
Kaiser transferred to IMG Academy for his senior year, and he's one of the top 3-point shooting freshmen joining the Big Ten next year. Like Deshawn Harris-Smith, he'll have a chance to contribute right away with Maryland losing plenty of minutes on the wing.
11. PF Amani Hansberry (No. 67) – Illinois
Minutes are a bit clogged down low with Coleman Hawkins and Dain Dainja returning, but Hansberry's relentless nature on the boards could be a path to increased minutes as the season moves on. He can knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers at times, too.
12. SF Pryce Sandfort (No. 85) – Iowa
Pryce teams up with his older brother, Payton, who averaged 10.3 points last year. Iowa's leading scorers Kris Murray and Filip Rebraca are gone, so coach Fran McCaffery will need the Sandfort brothers' 3-point shooting ability.
13. PG Gabe Cupps (No. 94) – Indiana
Cupps finished his high school career as Centerville's all-time wins leader at 95-18, including a state championship as a sophomore and an Ohio Mr. Basketball award as a junior. A smart passer and an accurate shooter, Cupps will benefit greatly from learning behind sixth-year point guard Xavier Johnson
14. SG George Washington III (No. 95) – Michigan
63.6 percent of Michigan's scoring is gone after Hunter Dickinson, Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin left. Washington III can help replace that after averaging nearly 25 points per game last season on his way to winning Ohio's Gatorade Player of the Year award.
15. SF Myles Colvin (No. 97) – Purdue
Colvin could turn out to be one of the most underrated players in this class. He was one 12 players to make the USA U19 National Team, which includes some of the top high school and college players in the nation.
16. CG Jakai Newton (No. 118) – Indiana
Newton remains out indefinitely after undergoing knee surgery in August. When healthy, he has impressive explosiveness and quickness when driving to the basket. Indiana returns veteran guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway, but Newton could compete for minutes off the bench if he's able to return from injury.
17. SF Gehrig Normand (No. 122) – Michigan State
Michigan State brings in three top-40 recruits and returns most of its rotation from last year, so Normand could have a tough time finding minutes as a freshman. In the long-term, he'll be a good 3-point shooter with above-the-rim athleticism at 6-foot-6.
18. C Gus Yalden (No. 128) – Wisconsin
Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl will demand significant minutes at power forward and center, so it's hard to say how much Yalden will contribute as a freshman. But at 6-foot-8, and with 3-point shooting ability, he could be a valuable piece off the bench.
19. CG Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (No. 134) – Illinois
Illinois' biggest question entering 2023-24 is at point guard. Sencire Harris and Terrence Shannon Jr. are back, but neither are true point guards. Gibbs-Lawhorn could help Illinois there, but there's some concern with him as a freshman at 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds.
20. SG Cameron Christie (No. 135) – Minnesota
The brother of former Michigan State one-and-done guard Max Christie, Cameron joins a Minnesota team that went 2-17 in the Big Ten and 9-22 overall last year. Leading scorer Dawson Garcia is back, but Minnesota will need Christie's shooting ability right away with Jamison Battle and Ta'Lon Cooper gone.
21. SG Jahnathan Lamothe (No. 137) – Maryland
Minutes are open at shooting guard and small forward at Maryland in year two under Kevin Willard, who brings in the conference's fourth-ranked class. If the 6-foot-4 Lamothe can knock down shots, he'll earn minutes on a team that ranked 10th in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made last year.
22. PF Nolan Winter (No. 151) – Wisconsin
Winter has impressive 3-point range at 6-foot-10. But like fellow incoming freshman Gus Yalden, Winter joins a Wisconsin team with veteran bigs Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl, who'll take up most of the minutes at the forward and center positions.
23. PF Ladji Dembele (No. 163) – Iowa
Iowa lost forwards Kris Murray, Filip Rebraca, Connor McCaffery and Josh Ogundele, opening a path to minutes for Dembele. At 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, Dembele already has the size to play in the Big Ten. He's a strong rebounder and can even knock down some catch-and-shoot 3-pointers.
24. PF Owen Freeman (No. 182) – Iowa
Freeman chose Iowa over offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin and others. Like Dembele, he should be able to compete for minutes as a freshman due to what Iowa lost up front. At 6-foot-9, Freeman can stretch the floor from 3-point range, as well.
25. C Austin Parks (No. 184) – Ohio State
Ohio State returns forwards Zed Key and Felix Okpara, so Parks may not play a huge role as a freshman. The 6-foot-9 Parks does most of his scoring near the basket, and he joins an Ohio State freshman class that's ranked No. 8 in the nation.
