The Big Ten has plenty of returning stars who are making a massive impact this season. But there are also plenty of Big Ten newcomers putting their names near the top of the conference. Obviously, when players like Braden Smith, Nick Martinelli, and Jaxon Kohler returned to Purdue, Northwestern, and Michigan State, they were going to grab plenty of the headlines.
While that is great, there are obviously newcomers to the Big Ten, both freshmen and transfers. So let’s take a closer look at the conference’s newcomers who are making the biggest impact.
Newcomers in the Big Ten Making the Biggest Impact
The biggest players that stick out are Michigan’s very powerful transfer class. Whether it’s Yaxel Lendeborg, who is currently averaging 16.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and nearly four assists per game. Not to mention he’s coming off a near triple-double in the Wolverines‘ win at Maryland: 29 points, eight rebounds and a career-high nine assists.
From his efforts, combined with former North Carolina point guard Elliot Cadeau, Lendeborg started to lead the charge on the floor. As is freshman Trey McKenney, who is averaging 10 points in 20 minutes per game as a freshman, putting him amongst the best freshmen in the Big Ten.
Freshmen from Around the Globe
This year’s crop of freshmen in the Big Ten has plenty of world flavor, and they aren’t disappointing. Washington’s Hannes Steinbach and Illinois’ David Mirkovic are certainly making a case for Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In Mirkovic’s case, he’s already earned the weekly honor several times this season.
European’s have a true presence in this conference.
Tom Izzo Just Knows How to find Gems
For all the bashing Michigan State’s Tom Izzo gets for not making moves for big-time transfers, he knows how to find his kind of guys. That is no different this season, as both of his freshmen have made an impact in big moments.
From Cam Ward scoring 18 points against Arkansas on Nov. 8, to Jordan Scott making plays in all facets of the game, both have made an impact and will continue to. While Ward has dealt with a sprained wrist, Scott has, in many ways, picked up the slack for the Spartans. As has transfer guard Divine Ugochukwu, who had a career-high 23 points in a tough road win at Penn State on Dec. 13.
Others to Keep an Eye on
The Nittany Lions have some tough newcomers as well, including freshman point guard Kayden Mingo, alongside a majority of their roster.
Not to be forgotten clearly are Minnesota’s Cade Tyson, USC’s Chad Baker-Mazara, and Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz. All three of which are amongst the Top 10 in the Big Ten in scoring right now. That’s great for the conference, but each of them has been in college for a long time.
That makes it hard for a lot of the freshmen who joined the Big Ten in 2025-26 to make an impact. But that’s college basketball right now.
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