NCAA Basketball: Top 25 impact freshmen classes for 2022-23 season

Montverde Academy's Dariq Whitehead (0) reacts after forcing a turnover during the second half of the GEICO Nationals quarterfinal between AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.) and Montverde Academy (Fla.), Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.Montverde Academy defeated AZ Compass Prep 72-63.GEICO Nationals 2022: AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.) vs. Montverde Academy (Fla.), March 31, 2022 /

8 of 25

Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis Ceb Osumbk 0220 Bjp 30 /

18. Indiana Hoosiers

The Hoosiers benefitted nicely from a pair of de-commitments of top-30 prospects in Jalen Hood-Schifino (Pittsburgh) and Malik Reneau (Florida) in the past several months to create a class that from a talent perspective, could be top-10 good. The reason why they’re lower on this list than may be expected is that the team returns almost everyone from last season, so the minutes will be hard to come by.

But Indiana certainly will have some of the most depth in the Big Ten next season. Reneau, a 6’8 power forward, has the ability to play alongside both All-Big Ten star Trayce Jackson-Davis, as well as veteran big Race Thompson in the frontcourt. That three-man combo will make the Hoosiers formidable for all 40 minutes inside. And if four-star combo forward Kaleb Banks can have an impact as well, that only adds to what they can do inside.

Hood-Schifino has the best chance of any freshman to start. The 6’5 combo guard is primarily a “point” but can both play off the ball or allow starting guard Xavier Johnson to play off it as well. He’s got great size and is a quality defender, allowing him to play the two-spot without issue. His shooting is solid but if Hood-Schifino can’t shoot better than 30% from deep (the team’s average from last season), it could cause questions about how effective they’ll be if they can’t scare opponents from beyond the arc.

That could allow, CJ Gunn, a three-star shooting guard prospect, to potentially get minutes. After a few departing transfers, there’s a little room on the perimeter for someone that can shoot like him. He may be the lowest-ranked newcomer but could find a way to slide into the rotation somehow.

Home/NCAA Basketball News