5 men’s college basketball freshmen poised to shine in mid-major conferences

Each year, a few hidden gems slip through the mesh of the net, opting for a different path to celebrity. Next season, some of the most exciting young talents in university basketball will not play in closed windows for Power Five Giants, but rather for the mid-majeur teams ready to surprise.

Many first-year students in mid-majeur programs challenged expectations last season, with an immediate impact and a promising future. Adrian Wooley of Kennesaw’s state illuminated dashboards, established itself as a prolific marker and winning the first year honors of the year. Likewise, Josh Harris was a dominant force in painting for the north of Florida, while Gabriel Pozzato d’Evansville quickly became an essential offensive threat, constantly putting large figures. To complete this impressive group, Blake Harper in Howard has demonstrated an overall elite potential, and Dedan Thomas Jr. quickly took the reins of the UNLV, winning co-freshman of the year during his conference. These young talents illustrate that a significant production can emerge from unexpected places, offering a shock to their teams and preparing the way for fascinating careers.

Looking at the 2025-2026 season, the scene is now scheduled for a new first-year class of students to have their own immediate impact in mid-meter basketball:

Larry Johnson, SG, McNeese State

Age: 19 (9/1/2005)

Size and weight: 6’4, 200 lbs

Previous school / team: Creighton (Redshirt)

From: Castaic, CA

After sitting part of the season with a knee injury in Creighton last season, and leaving the team in the first stadiums of the season, the very tuned goalkeeper Larry Johnson decided to enter the transfer portal and embarked on the state of McNeese on April 11, 2025.

He is a guardian of 6’4 and 200 pounds with elite athletics, exceptional speed and promising two -way potential. It has an excellent position of position, has a fast first step, excels in attacking fences and is a remarkable finisher by contact at the edge (particularly strong with the end of his left hand). It is also a threat of notation at three legitimate levels (solid traction game for the 3 -point and efficient shooter).

Before his arrival in Creighton last season, he played for Rolling Loud in Elite Elite as a senior. He was one of the best players in the League this season, with an average of 20.1 pts, 6.3 Reb, 3.3 AST and 2 STL during the season.

Due to the in -depth losses of some of the senior guards in the state of McNeese (Alyn Breed, Quadir Copeland and Salere Parker) in Memphis and Nc State, Johnson will probably receive significant minutes from the start. During the season, Johnson should add a significant size, a coherent on -board pressure, a shooting creation / facilitation and a decent defensive capacity / coverage in the rear area of McNeese State next season.

If the green light is the main facilitator or at least very minimum, the option of secondary score for Bill Armstrong next season, expect the name of Johnson to be mentioned as one of the best of the Southland conference, as well as a buzz of the NBA Draft, due to the projected success of the state of McNeese during a relatively low conference in the middle of the major.

Spencer Ahrens, pf, Boise State

Photo by Milad Payami / Fiba via Getty Images

Age: 18 (10/16/2006)

Size and weight: 6’10 ”, 230 lbs

Previous school / team: Bella Vista College Prep (high school)

From: Oakville, Ontario

Spencer Ahrens has a truly modern competence that makes him an ideal candidate to shine immediately during a conference in mid-Mayjaur. At 6’10 ”with a wingspan of 7’0” reported, its ability to regularly shoot down the three points (presented by its 44.4% at stake Eybl) will force the opposing defenses to prolong, creating a crucial spacing for teammates. Beyond the simple shot, its high basketball IQ and its impressive ball manipulation for its size allow it to attack the fences, create its own dribbling and even act as a secondary playmaker. This offensive versatility – Combining high -level shots, self -creation and passage – is rarely in a large first year man, especially in the middle of the major, and will make him an instant gap problem.

In addition, Ahrens enters a team from Boise State which will have minutes and a significant production to replace, in particular in the before zone, after key departures after the 2024-2025 season. This immediate opportunity, associated with its noted work ethics and its desire to be a “winner”, offers it the perfect environment to quickly obtain a significant role. Although it will have to adapt to the physicity of university basketball, its offensive package is so complete and well suited to the current game that it has a clear path to become a score and main game option. Its unique mixture of size, competence and judicial vision positions it not only as a contributor, but as a potential first-year sensation capable of leading a team of half-majeur as the state of wood.

Emmanuel Kanga, PF / C, George Mason

Age: 19 (8/05/2005)

Size and weight: 6’8 ”, 215 lbs

Previous school / team: Mt, Zion Prep

From: Libreville, Gabon

Emmanuel Kanga arrives at George Mason as a very praised four -star perspective, and his immediate impact in the middle of the major is about to be significant. At 6’8 “and 215 pounds, with a powerful framework and an” unstoppable engine “, Kanga is not only physically ready for university basketball; it brings a defensive presence of elite which will be immediately felt. As a defensive player of the league for the preparation of the elite, he has his exceptional instincts as a shooting blocker and Pick-And-Roll. And an implacable rebound approach (leading his preparation league with 11.9 rpg) will make him a fundamental piece for the patriots of the first day.

In addition, the front area of George Mason will see a significant turnover, offering Emmanuel Kanga a clear and immediate path to substantial minutes. His capacity demonstrated to be a dominant force on glass, coupled with his high energy and his mentality of “Guy culture” praised by his coaches, makes him an essential asset for a team that seeks to face in Atlantic 10. While its offensive game is still developing, its ability to finish around the edge, converts the pots-beckles and its athletics for Dunks. Kanga’s defensive anchors, incessant efforts and physical preparation project it as one of the first first-year students of the A-10, capable of raising George Mason’s competitive ceiling next season.

Photo by David Ramirez / Dax Images / Nurphoto via Getty Images

Mario Saint-Supery, PG, Gonzaga

Age: 19 (14/04/2004)

Size and weight: 6’4, 172 lbs

Previous school / team: Baxi Manresa (Liga ACB)

From: Malaga, Spain

Mario Saint-Supéry arrives in Gonzaga with a level of professional experience and international pedigree rarely seen in a first-year student, positioning it as an immediate potential star for Bulldogs. Having already participated in the best Professional League in Spain (Liga ACB) and the Basketball Champions League (BCL) with Baxi Manresa, it brings a balance tested in combat and a refined game of choice. As a dynamic guard, Saint-Superie demonstrates an exceptional vision of the courtyard, an advanced passage of passage and an impressive capacity to operate effectively in traffic, underlined by its 21.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists per match at the 2024 FIBA U18 Eurobasket. This preexisting professional casualness and this IQ of high basketball make it particularly ready to contribute considerably from the first day, in particular for a Gonzaga program which prides itself on developing international elite guards.

In addition, with the departure of veteran keys like Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman after the 2024-2025 season, Mario Saint-Supéry enters a rear area with ample amplification for immediate playing time and an important role. His competence as an operator of Pick-And-Roll and his ability to score effectively, even if it is not yet a high volume shooter, aligns perfectly with the offensive schemes of Gonzaga. Although he will adapt to the physicity of the American college game, his defensive tenacity and his ability to generate turnover (2.7 interceptions per game in U18 Eurobasket) will be invaluable. The mixture of high-level experience of Saint-Supéry, advanced play and proven production against difficult competition positions it to quickly become one of the most impactful first-year students of university basketball, leading the Gonzaga guard game.

Joshua Lewis, Wing, Louisiana Cajuns

Age: 18-19

Size and weight: 6’7 ”, 185 lbs

Previous school / team: Blake

From: Tampa, fl

Joshua Lewis arrives at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette as undoubtedly the signatory of the highest classified high school in the history of the program, a four-star attacker who has bypassed many large-scale offers to play for the Ragin ‘Cajuns. At 6’7 ”and 185 pounds, Lewis brings an exceptional mixture of bidirectional size, length and versatility. It is described as a” player gifted by athletics which is explosive and inflatable “, with a” formidable first step and good lateral speed “. This physical feat, combined with its rebound greater than the average of the wing, positions it immediately in the Sun Belt conference.

The Ragin ‘Cajuns are about to provide Joshua Lewis precisely the scene he needs to prosper in the first year. Although his jump shooting is an area for continuous improvement, his ability to be a “typing driver” and to have an impact on the game with his athletics and his rebound will be invaluable from the first day. By focusing on the development of players under the coach Quanna White, Lewis should receive significant minutes and a main opportunity to refine his attacking game and maximize his physical gifts. His immediate impact on both ends of the soil, coupled with his high recruitment pedigree, makes him a candidate of choice to emerge as one of the most talented and punchy first -year students of the Sun Belt, potentially signaling a new trend of elite high school students choosing the medium -sized ways of the celebrity.

Finishing reflections

The notable potential of players, including Johnson, Ahrens, Kanga, Saint-Supery and Lewis, underlines a central change in university basketball. The relentless movement of the transfer portal often generates vacuum cleaners, presenting talented first year students, in particular in the middle of the major – with unrivaled opportunities to contribute immediately. These highly recruited individuals, many of which have consciously chosen immediate roles and a fundamental status compared to the traditional placements of power 4, are ready to challenge the concept that a substantial impact is reserved only for elite programs. Their distinct skills, associated with these booming opportunities, indicate that the 2025-2026 season could be characterized by surprising contributions and altering these emerging talents.