Ranking men's college basketball Freshman of the Year contenders

In retrospect, Cameron Boozer should have been No. 1 when we first launched these Freshman of the Year rankings.

AJ Dybantsa had just opened his college career with 21 points against Villanova and added another 25 points with an incredible second half against UConn before we set the first top 10 in mid-November. Boozer was also fantastic early on, but struggled ever-so-slightly against the size and length of Texas and Kansas.

By the time December rolled around, though, it was clear Boozer was the best freshman in the country. Dybantsa kept it close with a historically good month of December, but Boozer hasn't relinquished the top spot in these biweekly rankings since first claiming it on Dec. 3.

The eight editions of this top 10 have consistently featured key names, but plenty of players shuffled in and out over the first couple of months. Arizona's Koa Peat, Virginia Tech's Neoklis Avdalas, Illinois' David Mirkovic and Arkansas' Meleek Thomas were all in the first edition. Virginia's Thijs De Ridder and Iowa State's Killyan Toure also made appearances. None made this week's final cut.

With the best freshman class in modern college basketball history, this list could have expanded from 10 to 20 with ease -- there are that many deserving first-year prospects. But there's been one constant since day one, and it's the double-double machine in Durham.

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1. Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke

Previous rank: 1

Biggest performance so far: 35 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals vs. Arkansas on Nov. 27

We're running out of ways to describe this season for Boozer, who remains the clear front-runner to win national Player of the Year. The Blue Devils have arguably America's top collection of freshman stars in the one-and-done era, and Boozer has a chance to be the best of them. But he's playing for more than his legacy in Durham -- Boozer could end his college career as one of the most decorated amateur players of all-time. He won four state titles in high school and was a two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year. A Wooden Award and a trip to the Final Four would elevate him into a different stratosphere compared to his peers.-- Myron Medcalf

2. AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU

Previous rank:2

Biggest performance so far: 43 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Utah on Jan. 24

Even as BYU limps toward the finish line of the regular season, Dybantsa has put up some of his best individual performances over the past few weeks. Since taking on a bigger share of the offensive load since the Cougars lost Richie Saunders to a season-ending ACL tear, Dybantsa has responded with eight straight games of at least 20 points -- including three with at least 35. That doesn't include his performance against Iowa State, when he finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and also played elite defense against Milan Momcilovic.-- Jeff Borzello

3. Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas

Previous rank:3

Biggest performance so far:49 points, 5 assists, 1 turnover, 6-for-10 from 3-point range vs. Alabama on Feb. 18

Acuff earned this spot. In a typical season without as much talent as this one, the Razorbacks star would be a top contender for Player of the Year. It just so happens that the two players standing in his way are two of the best freshmen the sport has ever seen. That doesn't diminish Acuff's achievements, though. He is not only one of the most efficient point guards John Calipari has coached -- averaging 22.0 points on 49.1% shooting (42.9% from 3) to go with 6.2 assists per game -- Acuff is also one of the toughest. He has been in and out of a walking boot in recent weeks due to an ankle injury.-- Medcalf

4. Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois

Previous rank: 5

Biggest performance so far: 46 points, 4 assists, 9-for-11 from 3 vs. Purdue on Jan. 24

Wagler is arguably the biggest surprise star of the season, going from an unranked four-star recruit to an NBA draft lottery pick, and the best player on a potential Final Four team. He is averaging 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and has been even better over the past month (20.1 PPG) despite Illinois losing four of six games in February. He still managed to score 34 points and dish out seven assists in an overtime loss to Wisconsin and had 23 points while being primarily guarded by Yaxel Lendeborg in the loss to Michigan.-- Borzello

5. Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston

Previous rank: 6

Biggest performance so far: 42 points, 6 assists vs. Texas Tech on Jan. 24

Houston's 40-point win over Colorado on Saturday wasn't a surprise -- the Cougars were favored to win -- but it was an opportunity for Flemings to remember that his best opportunity to elevate this team is through his playmaking. Following up-and-down performances from Flemings during the three-game losing streak the Cougars carried into the game, he had 11 points and eight assists against the Buffaloes, finishing with his highest offensive rating in a month. He's capable of helping this team as a high-level scorer, too; he has three games with 25 or more points to his name.-- Medcalf

6. Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville

Previous rank: 7

Biggest performance so far: 45 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, 10-for-16 from 3-point range vs. NC State on Feb. 9

Brown's injury issues are flaring back up -- he was a game-time decision against Clemson on Saturday before coming off the bench to play just 21 minutes. He then missed Tuesday's game against Syracuse with back issues. It's a shame, because Brown was putting up some of the most impressive numbers of any guard in the country over the past few weeks. He had 45 points against NC State on Feb. 9, then followed that up with back-to-back 29-point performances against Baylor and SMU. He also had 24 points and six 3-pointers in a loss at North Carolina.-- Borzello

7. Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina

Previous rank: 4

Biggest performance so far: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals vs. Kansas on Nov. 7

Coach Hubert Davis continues to convey optimism about Wilson's ability to return after sufferinga left-hand fractureon Feb. 10 against Miami. On Monday's ACC conference call, Davis said Wilson was approaching clearance for full contact, and is already "dribbling, catching, shooting" in practice. The last time he played a full game -- he missed a chunk of the loss to the Hurricanes with the injury -- Wilson scored 23 points in North Carolina's last-second win over rival Duke on Feb. 7. He's a special talent who could change the Tar Heels' postseason trajectory if he comes back and matches the impact he had before his injury.-- Medcalf

8. Nate Ament, F, Tennessee

Previous rank:8

Biggest performance so far: 29 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Kentucky on Feb. 7

Ament is also dealing with injury issues; he left Saturday's loss to Alabama early after getting rolled upon in the first half. He attempted to return in the second half before leaving again. He then was ruled out of the Vols' game against South Carolina on Tuesday, and the school did not offer a timetable for his return. Ament had started putting it together consistently in mid-January and had hit the 20-point mark seven times in his last 12 games before the injury, shooting 38% from 3-point range over that stretch. His combination of size and shotmaking ability has few peers in college basketball.-- Borzello

9. Brayden Burries, G, Arizona

Previous rank:10

Biggest performance so far: 28 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 12-of-16 FG vs. Kansas State on Jan. 7

Burries' numbers aren't as gaudy or consistent as some of the other players on this list because of Arizona's balance, but there are very few players better in late-game situations than Burries. He was under the weather against Houston, but made several clutch late free throws. He then took over late against Baylor, helping the Wildcats avoid the upset. He also scored 20 points in three of his last six games entering the week, including 24 in that Baylor game and 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in Saturday's win over Kansas. --Borzello

10. Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

Previous rank: 9

Biggest performance so far: 26 points, 3 assists, 11-of-13 FG in 23 minutes vs. Baylor on Jan. 16

Last month, Peterson told ESPN that he hasheard the criticism about his season, but he hasn't focused on it. Perhaps that's true. As the spotlight on the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft has intensified, Peterson has shown only some of his potential. His 24 points in a blowout loss to Arizona on Saturday gave Kansas a short-lived opportunity to close the gap in the second half. He has struggled to translate his talent into wins for a program that's 2-4 in its past six games. Peterson logged 30-plus minutes in three of those losses: vs. Cincinnati, at Arizona and at Arizona State.-- Medcalf

Honorable mentions

Ebuka Okorie, G,Stanford: Okorie cracked the rankings at various points this season, and he entered the week as the second-leading scorer among freshmen, averaging 22.7 points. He was as explosive as any guard in the country, scoring 30-plus points on six occasions -- including a 40-point effort against Georgia Tech in early February.
Hannes Steinbach, F,Washington: Steinbach leads all freshmen in rebounding, by nearly a full rebound (11.1 RPG vs. 10.2 RPG for Fairfield'sBrandon Benjamin). Steinbach also ranks in the top 10 among all freshmen in scoring, averaging 18.2 points. He hasn't slowed as the season has progressed, with a 24-point, 16-rebound performance against Rutgers just last week. -- Borzello

Freshman of the Year rankings

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