First-Year Files: Five Underrated Freshmen Worth Monitoring
These incoming freshmen haven't gotten enough love from NBA Draft evaluators, as all five are very real long-term prospects by my estimation
As we near the upcoming college basketball season, I’m beginning to grow tired of talking about the same five-star recruits over and over again. Not that those prospects don’t deserve the attention, but I think it’s worthwhile to discuss names that haven’t been popping up on pre-season draft boards who I think are potential NBA players. These prospects aren’t necessarily underrated nationally, with each of them being ranked inside the top 100 by at least one major recruiting outlet, but I have yet to hear a single one of their names pop up in 2027 draft discussion. That’s not to say that I think each of these players will hear their name called next June, but that they have a chance of breaking out with their college program this year or developing into a draft prospect in future seasons.
(Disclaimer: All measurements are from team websites or, if not yet available, 247 Sports)
Anthony Felesi - Oklahoma State
Guard/Wing | 6’5” | 205lbs | Utah Prep
I’m a big fan of Oklahoma State’s 2026 recruiting class, and I actually considered including multiple of their incoming freshmen on this list. In fact, I like their roster from top to bottom, which does put a bit of a damper on my expectations for their freshmen group, as they’ll have to fight to earn minutes on this year’s team. That’s why I’ve decided to talk about Anthony Felesi, the freshman who I believe has the best chance to not only be a mainstay in the team’s rotation, but potentially the most impactful two-way player on the roster. Felesi has been one of my favorite recruits in the 2026 graduating class ever since I watched him during his junior season, playing alongside AJ Dybantsa at Utah Prep. He was the best defender on that team, and I could tell that he was blossoming into a strong offensive option despite playing third fiddle to Dybantsa and JJ Mandaquit. Now, after a senior season that saw him lead the EYBL Scholastic League in scoring, I’m fairly confident projecting him to be a day-one difference maker.
Felesi is a dynamic athlete and veracious rim attacker who is capable of effectively operating with and without the ball. While his game is still developing from the mid- and long-range, his interior scoring seems to be pro-ready. During his junior season, he did most of his damage as an off-ball play finisher, and despite him finding more success as a self-creator throughout his senior campaign, I expect him to return to his off-ball playstyle with the Cowboys. This will allow him to play the two or three, positional versatility that I believe will make him more likely to slot into the starting lineup. Not only that, but he’s a very impactful defender who defends the perimeter particularly well, comfortably matching up against virtually all guards and wings. He’s not quite big enough to slide up into the frontcourt, but he’s athletic enough to cause havoc when occasionally switched onto a bigger opponent. In addition to his lacking outside shot and all-around playmaking skills, I do think role instability could hold him back this year. He’ll be fighting against talented upperclassmen for minutes, a few of which are draft prospects in their own right. If he can wiggle his way into the starting lineup while adopting a full-time off-ball role, I see no reason why he couldn’t break into draft conversations by the end of the cycle.
Photo Credits - via Utah Prep Basketball
Gavin Placide - Wake Forest
Power Forward | 6’9” | 220lbs | Faith Family Academy
I have a ton of questions for the Wake Forest men’s basketball program and the university’s athletic department as a whole. This is a program that has been on a downward trajectory over the past several years despite bringing in a handful of talented prospects who probably should have at least led them to a tournament appearance during Steve Forbes’ tenure. Instead, they’ve struggled in a relatively weak ACC, and this year they have even less talent than they have in years past. That said, this weakened talent pool should allow a few of their players to shine who may not have otherwise, and the first name that popped into my mind when considering this possibility was incoming freshman Gavin Placide. This is a player who, for many programs, would offer productivity as a part of their bench unit, but who could emerge as a star for the Demon Deacons this year. He’s a very productive forward who I believe is a very real NBA prospect, and he has put himself in a position to see a ton of opportunity as the leader of a team that will desperately need him to break out.
Placide is a solid offensive agent, but he won’t be Wake Forest’s leading scorer even if he is their all-around best player. His offensive game is centered around his impressive interior scoring, as he’s a talented above- and around-the-rim finisher who primarily operates as an off-ball option. That said, he can put his back to the basket and create for himself, a skill that will appear even more impressive once he polishes his traditional mid-range game. As of today, he’s not an outside shooter, but the hope is that his touch from other levels eventually translates to success from beyond the arc. He’ll be most effective on the defensive end and on the glass, where he projects to be a strong secondary rim protector and all-around switchable forward. He was one of the better defensive forwards in the EYLB Scholastic League this year, and he was primarily matching up against legitimate centers during those games. He’s an excellent positional rebounder on both ends, a trait that not only supports his team’s defensive effort but also uplifts his somewhat simple offensive game. All in all, Placide is not a flashy player whose highlights will blow you away, but I think he’ll have a very productive and impactful season this year, even if Wake once again disappoints.
Photo Credits - Wake Forest University Athletics
Luca Foster - Gonzaga
Shooting Guard/Wing | 6’5” | 185lbs | Link Academy
Previous to this week’s news cycle, I probably wouldn’t have included Luca Foster on this list. That’s not because he’s not a very promising prospect, but because I wasn’t sure what his role would look like on this year’s Gonzaga team. However, after a late off-season departure from the team’s starting point guard, Mario Saint-Supery; it now seems that Foster will play a much bigger role for the Bulldogs. While he is a shooting guard and won’t slide into Saint-Supery’s position, this development does open up a ton of backcourt minutes to split between Nathan de Sousa, Isiah Harwell, Skylar Wicks, and Foster. De Sousa should slide into the starting point guard spot, while Harwell and Foster battle it out for the starting shooting guard position. This is a big deal, as both of these players likely have their sights set on a breakout season after flying under the radar as of late. Foster’s game should immediately translate to the college level, especially in a Mark Few offense, and I do believe that there’s a strong chance that, if he does earn that starting spot, he’s one of the team’s two leading scorers.
What makes me so confident in Foster’s ability is that he’s one of my favorite outside shooters in this recruiting class. He has some of the smoothest mechanics out there and I feel rather comfortable projecting him to shoot around 40% from long-range this season. While he is able to create his own shot off-the-dribble, he’s definitely at his best on catch-and-shoot attempts. When he does have the ball in his hands he likes to get to his mid-range pull-up jumper, a shot that I think he’ll be permitted to take, as he converts them at such a promising rate. His at-the-rim offense needs some work, not because he’s incapable of finishing above- and around-the-rim, but because he’s not a very aggressive driver. His handle is solid for an off-ball player, but I want to see him better utilize his downhill burst. He could also afford to improve as a passer and all-around playmaker. Defensively, he can make a difference when he tries, but again, he’s not very aggressive. He has strong measurables and can defend multiple positions, but his motor just isn’t worth writing home about. Hopefully that changes once he finds himself fighting for minutes throughout his debut season.
Photo Credits - via 247 Sports
Aidan Chronister - Missouri
Shooting Guard/Wing | 6’7” | 180lbs | The New School
When I saw Aidan Chronister play in-person, I was shocked to see that he wasn’t ranked higher than he was. I was thoroughly impressed by what I saw, but was a tad surprised to see him join a Missouri program that I think will boast one of the best rosters in the country this season. For that reason, I’m not so sure that Chronister will be on draft radars this year, as I’m not sure that he’ll be a part of the Tigers’ rotation. That said, I felt like I was watching a future pro when I watched Chronister, and my research into his game has further cemented my belief that he’ll emerge as a draftable prospect at some point in his collegiate career. Hopefully, if he isn’t part of Missouri’s core this year, he will be next season once a handful of his now-teammates leave for the draft. By then, I hope to see him develop his physical profile so that he’ll be able to consistently create advantages against collegiate defenders while being able to defend guards, wings, and maybe even forwards on the other side of the court.
For the first chunk of his prep career, Chronister was primarily known for his outside shooting, a skill good enough to land him on recruitment rankings without him doing much else. However, by his senior season he had expanded his game and began to take a new approach entirely. In addition to his excellent outside shooting, both off-the-dribble and via catch-and-shoot looks, he was putting the ball on the floor and looking for offense from other scoring levels. A player who was once considered an average athlete was looking for above-the-rim offense and finishing around the hoop with impressive hangtime. He was stopping on his drives for pull-up mid-range jumpers that were just as smooth as his beyond the arc attempts. His passing was eye-catching for a non-initiator. Defensively, while he did move a bit lackadaisically, he was able to utilize his understanding of the game and positive physical intangibles to defend multiple positions and make a difference on each. The player I was watching looked like an NBA prospect, and his stats backed that up. Now, I’m curious to see what his college career looks like. I, for one, would be ready to play him this season.
Photo Credits - University of Missouri Athletics
Kayden Allen - Georgia Tech
Combo Guard | 6’6” | 210lbs | Long Island Lutheran
Kayden Allen is a player who I’m surprised didn’t get more love throughout his prep career. Every time I tuned into one of his games I walked away impressed with what I saw. This is a player who takes a very mature approach to his game, offering multi-level scoring and all-around high-end decision making, and doing so with a physical profile more reminiscent of traditional small forwards. He’s able to play just about any role, as he’s a talented on- and off-ball scorer who can create his own offense while also being a solid passer. He originally committed to Cincinnati, but decommitted following the firing of head coach Wes Miller before joining Georgia Tech. When I look at the Yellow Jackets’ roster, I feel rather confident saying that Allen is the most talented player among the group. Saying that, this isn’t a bad team, and I’m not even sure if he’ll be a day one starter, but I think he’ll work his way into the starting lineup as the season progresses. If that does happen, I hope to see him be a focal point in their offensive scheme; I think they’d be better for it.
Allen is a crafty scorer who can put the ball on the floor and get to his spots despite not being the quickest player on the court. He has a herky-jerky handle and impressive stop-start acceleration which often allows him to get to the rim even if he isn’t able to use his burst to beat defenders right away. He’s a strong under- and around-the-rim scorer, and he’s liable to throw down emphatic dunks in full court scenarios. His mid-range game is primarily predicated on floaters and push shots, but he’s no slouch on traditional jumpers. His outside shooting is a question mark for me as, while he’s had strong seasons from long-range, he does have a bit of a hitch in his shot motion and shoots threes without much arc. His passing is a skill that I hope to see utilized throughout this season, even if he does suit up at the two or three. He’s a smart player and strong decision maker who I believe can moonlight as a point guard. Defensively, his lack of agility can hold him back, but he’s very well-built and excellent at using his intelligence and feel for the game to his advantage. He defends multiple positions rather well and can even switch onto forwards from time-to-time. At this point, I’m just waiting to see how long it takes for Allen to take the reins in Atlanta.
Photo Credits - via MSN
Relative to consensus, I’m high on all five of these players, and I’m a fan of their long-term outlooks. As far as this year’s draft is concerned, I think Felesi and Allen are the most likely to break into draft discussion. Felesi will be part of a strong Oklahoma State team that he’ll likely play a prominent role for. Allen should shine on a Georgia Tech team that will be looking for their primary option. Gavin Placide will play a huge role for Wake Forest, but he may be the farthest away (of these five) from a skill perspective, but that’s not to say he isn’t a real prospect. Foster and Chronister are somewhere in-between, players whose roles aren’t defined at this point in the off-season, but who are good enough to break into their respective rotations. All in all, I’m looking forward to watching all five as they make their collegiate debuts.