With the heart of Big Ten play now underway, it’s time to talk about the most impactful freshman in the conference. There have been plenty of highlight-worthy plays from freshmen across the league as a whole. Is it a one-horse race? Rutgers alone has two guys who could easily take home the Big Ten Freshman of The Year award. Then again, some others have to be taken into account. Some young stars in Maryland, Illinois, and Michigan State might have something to say about the award before the season’s end. No matter how it plays out, the 2024-25 freshman class in the Big Ten is loaded with talent all across the board. Let’s take a closer look at those vying for Freshman of the Year and who really can win the race.
Big Ten Freshman of the Year Race is On
It’s no secret that most had Rutgers’ Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper pegged to be the best Big Ten freshman this season. Sure, they are both delivering individually. That’s not helping them as a team per se, though, as Rutgers is struggling. In my opinion, they are hurting their team more than they are helping. Harper has been the better of the two. Sure, the Big Ten freshman battle could easily just be Harper and Bailey. Look at the stats: Harper is averaging 22.8 points per game, while Bailey is averaging 18.2. That could easily have both of them right in the hunt for All-Big Ten.
However, they aren’t the only Big Ten freshman that belong in the conversation.
Derik Queen -Maryland
Derik Queen has more than delivered so far this season. He’s not only a big-time scoring threat in the post for the Terrapins; he’s rebounding the ball at a very high rate. His 16.8 points per game, along with 8.8 rebounds, put him in the conversation for not only the best Big Ten freshman but also the best in the Big Ten overall.
His most recent performance at Washington is something to throw away after he struggled to stay on the floor, playing only 18 minutes and scoring just four points and one rebound. It’s not easy to go from one coast to the other, but Queen has to still be in the conversation. His team sits 11-3 compared to Harper and Bailey’s 8-6 Rutgers team. It should be fun to see how things go when the Terps and Scarlet Knights square off that’s going to have three freshmen alone showcasing why they are amongst the best in this league and arguably in the country.
Kasparas Jakucionis – Illinois
It was no secret that Illinois brought in a stout recruiting class for this season. Sure, plenty of people around the country had Will Riley being among the top freshman in the Big Ten and for the Illini. Boy, has that been far from the truth, no slight against Riley, but Kasparas Jakucionis has taken the cake for that consideration.
Not only is he leading the team in scoring, but he’s top three in rebounding and is also the team’s leader in assists. This guy has been showcasing his versatility all season. He’s right up there with the likes of Bailey and Harper. Jakucionis could easily hear his name early in this summer’s NBA draft. The star from Lithuania has winner written all over him, and he’s going to make a lot of plays for the Illini down the stretch, it appears. Illinois is lucky to have Jakucionis, and he’s going to have something to say in the Big Ten Freshman of the Year race before the season is over.
Jase Richardson- Michigan State
Call me crazy for including Michigan State’s Jase Richardson amongst the contenders here. But he’s got all the tools to be elite. Yes, he should probably be starting, but that’s the way Tom Izzo works, he’s content with having Jase come off the bench. It’s worked thus far, and time will tell if it stays that way. Richardson has delivered in some of the biggest moments this season.
That includes a team-high 18 points against Memphis in Maui, and he also chipped in 16 points against Nebraska in early December in a 37-point win for the Spartans. You’re in pretty good company when you are a freshman and leading a team in scoring in games. That hasn’t been seen since Miles Bridges or even as far back as Gary Harris.
Richardson’s skill set reminds me a lot of Harris. That is a pretty good comparison; Harris was impactful from day one for Michigan State. Jase does a bit of everything; he can score, rebound, defend, and share the ball. The Spartans haven’t quite showcased a go-to scorer for every night, but Richardson has shown flashes that he could be the guy to go get baskets in the clutch. MSU has a tough test this week at Ohio State. It could be a moment for Richardson to show out once again.
