Gyms across the country come alive with new life in October. Summer ball fun is over and the road to Indy 2026 begins. Music up, rims ringing, assistants counting makes while head coaches pace like they have had three espressos. And on every power campus, a freshman is already turning heads. The 2025–26 class is not just hype; it is a list of accomplishments and been there, done that that big wings, quick-twitch guards, and switchable bigs carry into freshman year, ready to step into minutes that matter on November 3. These boys are NBA ready and many are signing NIL deals in the millions. By Thanksgiving tournaments, you will see it clearly: the teenagers are here to tilt the bracket math. Here is an early look at today’s Top 10 as ranked by several sources including ESPN, 247Sports, and On3.
1) A.J. Dybantsa, BYU (SF)
No argument that Dybansta is No. 1 frosh this year because he will also likely go first in the NBA Draft next year. If you watched even a couple of FIBA clips, you know the vibe: a jumbo wing who bends a defense on the catch. He arrives in Provo massive buzz and a green light to drive BYU’s first-step offense. Expect early mismatches in transition and a steady dose of elbow isolations as he settles. The Cougars want to run and he is the wind. ESPN ranked him No. 1 in the final ESPN 100 for 2025; 247Sports final rankings list him No. 2 behind Darryn Peterson; On3’s final 2025 ranking kept him No. 1.
Where he came from and what he has done: Boston-born, polished at Prolific Prep and Utah Prep, McDonald’s All-American, USA Basketball golds. Signed with BYU under Kevin Young after a high-profile recruitment.
NIL Scoop: When is a college freshman the subject of a Forbes article? When his pre-campus earnings before even stepping on the court are reported to be a $5M NIL base plus multi-year deals with Nike, Red Bull partnerships, and a Fanatics Collectibles deal in the eight-figure range. Forbes writer Adam Zagoria makes a great point in saying the positive side of NIL is that schools like BYU, who normally might not attract a top prospect away from the high-profile ACC or SEC, now have a shot at a top-tier roster. The times they are a changin’ and the ride will surely be interesting.
2) Darryn Peterson, Kansas (CG)
Kansas rarely hands the keys to a freshman, but Peterson’s blend of pace control and three-level scoring plays anywhere. The 6’5″ guard tips the scales at 190-plus and can toggle between primary and secondary creation next to veteran guards. Bill Self will trust him late because the shot diet, including pull-ups, strong-hand drives, and a still-developing 31 percent three-point shooting, provides options in key situations. Between Peterson and Dybantsa, the 1–2 honors for this year’s class have been debated. The KU roster bio notes he “ended ranked No. 1 by 247Sports and On3. ESPN’s final had him top 2.” Time will tell which source was more accurate, but both players will add to the competitiveness of their teams.
Where he came from and what he has done: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to Prolific Prep, McDonald’s All-American, USA Basketball.
NIL Scoop: According to On3, Peterson left Ohio to play out his high school career in West Virginia so he could take advantage of early NIL opportunities. The state of OH does not participate in NIL. He then went on to sign a million-plus deal with adidas in 2023. On3 listed him at a $1.4M valuation at commitment (November 2024) with later reporting pushing toward $3.8M as of March 2025.
3) Cameron Boozer, Duke (PF)
The frame, the footwork, the feel, Boozer will be plug and play at Duke. He will screen and roll with force, punish switches, and live on second-chance points. Duke’s identity tilts toward paint pressure again. Boozer’s screens, seals, and second-chance points turn good shooters into great ones. He does not need 18 shots to swing a game. Eight clean touches and four offensive boards will do it. ESPN, On3, and 247Sports list him No. 3 nationally for 2025. Twin brother Cayden comes along, far from a package deal riding coattails, and enters the NCAAs as a top 25 tempo guard who can control the flow of the game.
Where he came from and what he has done: Miami, Florida, Columbus HS legend, three-time Florida Mr. Basketball, two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year. A legacy, Dad Carlos Boozer, played at Duke, and the brothers both signed late fall 2024 with Dad’s alma mater.
NIL Scoop: Crocs multi‑athlete campaign features the Boozer twins. Leaf Trading Cards multi-year exclusive signed in January 2025. On3 lists an estimated $1.5M NIL valuation for Cameron as of October 2025. If you search deeper, odds are that number is much higher.
4) Nate Ament, Tennessee (PF/SF)
Ament is the Vols’ third top-five recruit in their history, and Rick Barnes’ versatile forward passed up several offers from top-tier schools including Alabama, Texas, BYU, and Kansas State while overlooking UNC, Duke, Kentucky, and Louisville to wear orange and white. His passing skills and defense will light up highlight reels, and the Vols can tilt small or big because his defensive coverage buys them options. He will be an early starter who eases Tennessee’s post-Zakai reset and the connective tissue that keeps Barnes’ defense elite while juicing the secondary break.
Where he came from and what he has done: Ament averaged 19.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game as a senior on his way to Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year out of The Highland School, in addition to several other awards including SLAM Summer Classic MVP and McDonald’s All-American.
NIL Scoop: Ament signed a multi-year deal with Reebok, which adds an interesting twist to NIL deals by individual players versus existing brand partnerships of the college they are about to play for. In this case, he will be wearing Nikes at Tennessee, which has had a deal with the Beaverton, Oregon company since 2014, expiring in June 2026. For Ament, total dollar figures circulating have him above $4M in NIL dollars including a deal with Fanstake, but credible outlets have not confirmed a hard number.
5) Caleb Wilson, North Carolina (PF)
Wilson plays like UNC recruited him for every modern lineup. He is a high-skill forward with real secondary initiation, think short-roll reads, swing-swing to a corner, then a cut behind your ear. In Chapel Hill’s pace, his touch shots and paint floats will fit right in with UNC’s veterans as a mismatch four by conference play and will keep the floor balanced. ESPN’s final ranking placed him top 10, and he is touted as going in the top 10 for the NBA Draft next year.
Where he came from and what he has done: An accomplished high school athlete, he played at Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Atlanta, Georgia, was 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year in the state, and played in the Jordan Brand Classic leading Team Air to a win with 28 points and six rebounds. Overall, he scored 1,836 points and 1,168 rebounds at HIES, where he averaged 21.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.6 blocks, and 2.1 steals as a senior.
NIL Scoop: Wilson signed a New Balance multi-year, multimillion-dollar shoe deal this summer.
6) Chris Cenac Jr., Houston ©
Kelvin Sampson plus an elite rim protector with this year’s recruiting success in landing Cenac Jr. gives Houston another piece in the final four puzzle. Cenac’s timing off the floor and vertical contests without fouling anchor a defense that already squeezes opponents. Offensively, he will live in the dunker spot, hammer lobs, and screen with purpose. The Cougars have guards; Cenac gives them a ceiling and a 6’11”, 240-pound target to hit in the paint. ESPN has him ranked as the No. 1 center in the 2025 class and UH calls him the program’s highest-ranked modern signee. He will walk into 22 quality minutes, instantly raising Houston’s floor on defense.
Where he came from and what he has done: Cenac Jr. is from New Orleans and comes to Houston out of Branson, Missouri’s Link Academy where he played big and earned several honors including: Member of Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year Midseason Team and Watch List for National High School Player of the Year. He was invited to compete at USA Basketball U19 National Training Camp and was named to the McDonald’s All-American Game, scoring 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds and an assist in a win for Team West.
NIL Scoop: On3 NIL valuation around $1.2M at commitment; no marquee national brand announced as of preseason, but valuation keeps him in the top tier of CBB freshmen with more likely to come.
7) Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (PG)
Calipari’s freshman guards are a genre. Acuff is a pressure valve who changes pace beautifully and keeps the weak side honest with pocket lobs. Arkansas will defend to run; Acuff turns live-ball turnovers into two-on-ones and a fan base into a sound cloud. A day-one table setter who restores point guard university swagger in Fayetteville. The roster’s athletes will look faster because he is.
Where he came from and what he has done: Detroit to IMG Academy, McDonald’s All-American, USA gold.
NIL Scoop: Another Reebok NIL class of 2025 member who will wear Nike with the Razorbacks, Acuff signed a multi-year endorsement with On3 citing an NIL valuation of about $1.1M at the time.
8) Meleek Thomas, Arkansas (SG)
Calipari’s recruiting radar was on high alert and his team delivered the right messages to his young, top-tier prospects. Thomas may have a different tool kit than Acuff, but the scoreboard pressure is similar. Thomas is a rhythm scorer who can knife your best on-ball defender, then bury a hand-back three the next trip. Next to Acuff, he does not need to moonlight as full-time creator. He can hunt the most vulnerable matchup every half. Slot him as advantage scorer on the wing. He changes Arkansas from dangerous to volatile in the best way.
Where he came from and what he has done: Thomas, Pittsburgh’s Lincoln Park phenom, leaves behind a stack of accolades and arrives ready to start the same process over again as a Razorback.
NIL Scoop: Thomas publicly announced an NIL partnership with Damar Hamlin’s Chasing Millions apparel brand during his senior year, showcasing a community-facing, merchandise-driven activation model that plays well on social and at grassroots events. His On3 valuation is in the low seven figures.
9) Koa Peat, Arizona (F)
Peat lands in Tucson as a ready-made rotation forward with varsity strength and a motor you do not need to plug in. The Wildcats love to cut and sprint; Peat’s best trait might be how simple he makes the game for everyone else, seal, kick, drive, repeat. He eases in as a two-way glue forward who starts by New Year’s and raises Arizona’s baseline physicality and glass control. Arizona’s roster bio lists him as No. 8 nationally coming in.
Where he came from and what he has done: Four-time Arizona champion at Perry HS, USA U19 gold this summer.
NIL Scoop: On3 listed his valuation around $1.3M at commitment; no major national shoe or athletic brand deal publicly announced as of preseason.
10) Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville (PG)
Brown doesn’t just steady Louisville, he rebrands it. Expect Pat Kelsey to lean into pace and spacing while letting Brown’s decision making define the offense. A live-dribble passer who can turn a corner without losing sight lines. Brown reads tags and late stunts like an upperclassman, which means Louisville’s shooters will eat. If the pull-up three holds early, circle him for the ACC’s “most annoying cover” list by January.
Where he came from and what he has done: Canton to Prolific Prep pipeline, Five Star Plus guard, McDonald’s All-American, USA Basketball rep. Signed in the early window, blue-chip consensus top 3 in class.
NIL Scoop: Brown Jr. is already an entrepreneur in the making, building an NIL portfolio early via Overtime Elite, including a national adidas ambassador deal and a creator partnership with VerifiedInk. This summer he leveraged that momentum into a first-of-its-kind move, launching his own AAU program (MBJ Elite) backed by adidas before his first college game, evidence that his brand is an operator, not just an endorser. Credible trackers peg him as a high-end freshman earner, but current dollar figures are not public.
Why This Class Hits Right Away
This group brings NBA build and habits into the college system, and we are beginning to see the total value of NIL deals to keep college hoops super competitive and give young players the opportunity to build their own brands on the way up. Some will headline early. Some will be the quiet hinge that swings March. Either way, this class is built for the modern sport, long, skilled, decisive, and loaded in more ways than one. Odds markets are already nodding along. They do not have to be 25 percent usage to change a win probability; they just have to win the right eight possessions. Keep an eye on bench depth, early contributions, and the spirit of the young star wanting to prove himself to tip betting odds as well.
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