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Big Ten’s Most Impactful Freshman Players in 2024-25

It’s no secret that the Big Ten has plenty of talent for the 2024-25 season in college basketball. A lot of that talent is key returning players or transfers. There are also several significant new players in the Big Ten. In many cases, there is more than one impactful freshman on a team in the conference.  The biggest example of that is Rutgers, who had a historic recruiting class for this season.

There are some teams in the Big Ten, like Indiana, who brought in a highly touted player that doesn’t quite make sense as a fit in the team’s rotation. No matter how you look at it, the Big Ten has some special freshmen to keep an eye on in 2024-25.

Every team has a young player ready to make a name for themselves, but here’s a closer look at which ones will be the most impactful freshman in 2024-25.

Big Ten’s Most Impactful Freshman Players in 2024-25

R-U-RAH-RAH

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights might have the two best freshman guards in the whole country. Both players will be fun to watch from the start of the season. The first of those players is Ace Bailey, who was the No. 2 overall player in the country according to 247 Sports. Bailey comes to Rutgers from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. He helped lead his team to a 26-6 record in 2023-24. His size and shooting ability are huge for the Scarlet Knights, as they will try to get back into NCAA tournament contention this season.

Bailey isn’t alone, however, as he is joined by a Rutgers legacy player in Dylan Harper. Yes, Dylan Harper, the son of former NBA player Ron Harper Sr., and younger brother of Ron Harper Jr. Harper Jr. was an outstanding player for the Scarlet Knights from 2019-2022. Dylan will be looking to follow in his brother’s footsteps. Dylan led Don Bosco Prep to the New Jersey Boys Basketball State Championship in 2023-24. His natural ability and pedigree should bode well for Rutgers in 2024-25.

It’s Queen Time in College Park

The Maryland Terrapins have long found talent, especially in the post. That is no different for 2024-25, as they were able to bag Montverde Academy’s Derik Queen. Queen excelled on his level alongside, the No. 1 player in the country Cooper Flagg (Duke) for the Eagles last season. He was a huge part in leading Montverde to an unbeaten 36-0 record. Queen earned 2nd-team All-American Honors from MaxPreps, as he had 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists in the High School National Championship Game.

Now Queen will see post touches alongside Julian Reese, who enters his senior senior in College Park. It will be interesting to see how the pair work together. Nonetheless, he has a chance to be one of the most impactful freshmen in the Big Ten this season.

Purdue Finds Another Giant

Stop if you have heard this before, Purdue’s Matt Painter and seven-foot players. Yep, they have done it again. The Boilermakers were able to find another giant specimen, for Painter to turn into a star. Daniel Jacobsen will be tasked with trying to help replace Zach Edey. It won’t be easy, as Jacobsen will have to adjust to the physicality of the Big Ten, but he’s certainly got the height. At seven-foot-three and 235 pounds, he is already put together. He even showcased some great skills during the Team USA run to the Gold Medal during the U18 AmeriCup Championship.

According to Big Ten Network’s Andy Katz, Jacobsen is exactly the guy Purdue needed to land to once again compete for the Big Ten crown this season.

 

Michigan State Has An Elite Shooter

Michigan State has always found great shooters while recruiting high school players, and it appears Tom Izzo has done it again. Kur Teng may be rated as the 12th-best shooting guard in the country, but don’t let that fool you. Teng can shoot the ball with the best of them. His three-point shooting ability is what is going to get him playing time this season in East Lansing. The Spartans will need his shooting with Tyson Walker gone, and plenty of other question marks outside the arc.

Coach Izzo spoke highly of the coaching Teng got during his time playing at Bradford Christian Academy. The shooting isn’t the only factor that Teng brings, his willingness to guard whoever he is manned up against is going to be exciting to watch.

 

Was Indiana The Right Choice For Tucker?

Indiana brings only one freshman for 2024-25, but he’s a highly-rated player. Arlington, Virginia’s Bryson Tucker will hope to give Coach Mike Woodson everything he has. Tucker had plenty of potential suitors for this season including skipping college and going pro. For a long time, he seemed to have been considering Michigan State and possibly Duke at one point.

Tucker arrives in Bloomington with plenty of question marks surrounding him. Certainly, the biggest being, was Indiana the right move? Where does he fit in the rotation? He’s certainly a wing player at six-foot-six and 180 pounds, but is there a spot for him this season? He has the talent, and it will be interesting to see how quickly he can translate his game, especially in Woodson’s system. Can he be a Jalen Hood-Schifino for the Hoosiers?

Rest of the Field

There are certainly plenty of other intriguing freshmen to keep an eye on this season. Illinois brought in a big batch of freshmen led by Will Riley. Of the four new teams, the top talent coming in will be playing for UCLA, and that is Trent Perry, a six-foot-four point guard. Michigan certainly went celebrity with their top incoming freshman as Justin Pippen, the son of six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen, is the first big freshman hook in the Dusty May era.

The Big Ten is stacked with young talent, and it should be fun to see it showcased in 2024-25.

Kaleb Kraus

Kaleb Kraus

Kaleb Kraus is a proud graduate of Michigan State Universities School of Journalism. Kaleb strives to use his vast knowledge of sports in any way he can. Kaleb's sports interests include the NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR and both College Football and Basketball.

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