Big Ten Basketball: Top 10 impact freshmen for 2024-25 season

No. 8: Daniel Jacobsen (Purdue)

It is hard to mention Morez Johnson on this list without fellow Team USA under 18 teammate Daniel Jacobsen. Jacobsen, while not having the pedigree of Johnson, has really come on strong late in the recruiting cycle. Measuring in at seven-foot-three, Jacobsen follows the trend of massive Purdue big men.

Jacobsen's ability to impact the game is mostly through shot blocking. While at the FIBA u18 World Cup, Jacobsen broke Myles Turner's record for blocked shots during the event. Jacobsen picks his spots well, and times his attempts extremely well to protect the rim. The big also showed off soft hands and the ability to finish at the rim through contact.

With the departure of two-time NPOY Zach Edey, a large chunk of minutes opened up in the front court. While Edey dominated, his backups typically struggled, leaving only Trey Kaufman-Renn a proven talent in the front court. This gives Jacobsen ample opportunity to get crucial minutes immediately.

No. 7: Trent Perry (UCLA)

Trent Perry looks to offer some much-needed improvements for UCLA next year as a highly-ranked recruit, on a team that had pretty noticeable struggles last year.

Perry steps into college with good size for a freshman. Standing at six-foot-four, he is more than capable of playing off-ball next to a guard like Dylan Andrews. In a backcourt of question marks, Perry has a great opportunity for playing time, especially as one of the top shooters in the group.

Perry adds a level of shot-making, especially from three, that this backcourt is lacking. According to 247sports.com, he was tracked by Synergy for his senior high school season. That data showed 256 shots over 20 games, and shot 41.7 percent from three. The guard ranked in the 94th percentile nationally in making guarded jump shots.

The freshman showed just as much in the playmaking department. He displayed an impressive 2:1 assist ratio, and his composure and ability to limit turnovers will prove to be valuable in high pressure minutes.