Big Ten Basketball: Top 10 impact freshmen for 2024-25 season
In recent years, a big knock on Big Ten Basketball has been the top-end recruiting talent in the conference. Rarely have schools brought in blue-chip freshmen who wowed immediately. Even players like Xavier Booker and DaShawn Harris-Smith had hiccups early. You have to return to Jaren Jackson Jr. in 2018 before finding an elite recruit excelling over the entire year.
However, that is set to change this year as four Big Ten freshmen are slotted to go in the first round, and three of them are in the lottery in Bleacher Report's 2025 mock draft. Add in multiple other five-stars and ample opportunity, and the Big Ten projects to be a league ripe with good freshmen performances.
No. 10: Bryson Tucker (Indiana)
As one of the five stars mentioned above, Bryson Tucker is one of the higher rated incoming recruits in the league this year. In a pure talent vacuum, Tucker would be much higher than 10. However, taking opportunity into account opportunity knocks the talented freshman down a few spots.
Tucker is a six-foot-six guard/wing from Virginia and is behind a group of talented and veteran wings. At least three players (Mgbako, Galloway, and Carlyle) are ahead of him on the depth chart, but a wing with Tucker's size, athleticism, and pure talent could force Mike Woodson into a tough decision.
Tucker projects to be a high-level athlete from day one. The freshman excels at getting to his spots and is a knockdown mid-range shooter. He uses his elite athleticism to get to the rim and finish above defenders. The big key for Tucker is his ability to shoot the three. Tucker was inconsistent at times from behind the arc, and if he figures out that shot, Indiana has a real needle-moving piece added to their rotation.
No. 9: Morez Johnson (Illinois)
As the first of several Illinois players to be featured on this list, big man Morez Johnson is part of an incredibly talented team. On a roster that only features two returning players, there is ample opportunity for a breakout freshman.
Johnson enters the roster quite possibly as the best rebounder on the team. He is constantly praised for his motor and comes in with a Big Ten-ready body. At six-foot-nine and weighing 235 pounds, Johnson has a filled-out frame ready for the physical Big Ten game.
The good news for the Illinois native, is that there is plenty of opportunity for him to play. Illinois doesn't return a frontcourt starter, and reports on fellow freshman big Tomislav Ivisic are conflicting. Overall, there should be plenty of space in the frontcourt for a player with the talent of Johnson.