The college basketball season is still three months away, but around the country, players have already arrived on campus to start practicing and working out with their teams.
There are many New England natives doing just that, including several incoming freshmen who are getting their first experience of college life and basketball at the next level. After finishing successful high school and AAU careers, they’re hoping to make an instant impact at their new programs. But that’s certainly easier said than done.
There are some players from the region who have recently found immediate success in their new environments. A few years ago, Donovan Clingan (Bristol, Conn.) was an impact freshman at UConn. Last year, Jayden Ndjigue (Ayer, Mass.) carved out a role at UMass. Others have had to wait for their opportunity or gone through early growing pains. Not everyone’s path is the same.
The 2024 class from New England is loaded with strong players heading to high-major programs. Here are 10 who could make an early impact.
Cooper Flagg, Duke
Forward, 6-9
High school: Montverde Academy (Fla.)
Hometown: Newport, Maine
Flagg, the No. 1 recruit in the national class of 2024, is no secret at this point and his confidence has to be brimming after an eye-opening performance against Team USA at Olympics training camp last month. Flagg won’t even turn 18 years old until December, but he’ll shoulder national championship expectations as the headliner of Duke’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class. There will be plenty of talent around him – including returning guard Tyrese Proctor – but the Blue Devils will run through Flagg, who projects to be a dominant force on both ends of the floor. He’ll be must-watch TV as one of the most exciting one-and-done college prospects in recent memory.
MORE: Inside Cooper Flagg's experience at U.S. Olympics training camp
Joson Sanon, Arizona State
Guard, 6-5
High school: Vermont Academy
Hometown: Fall River, Mass.
It was a crazy spring and summer for Sanon. He initially committed to Arizona, then flipped to Arizona State before needing to finalize his early graduation from Vermont Academy, all while finishing his grassroots career with BABC. But he’s officially enrolled at Arizona State and now practicing with the Sun Devils. Sanon, the No. 23-ranked recruit by ESPN, is of the most athletic and gifted scorers in the class, and has said that he plans to be one and done. But before he tests the NBA waters, a big season looms in Tempe. Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley expects Sanon to be a significant contributor for a talented Sun Devils squad that has big aspirations.
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence
Forward/center, 6-10
High school: Putnam Science Academy
Hometown: Benin City, Nigeria
Erhunmwunse made a late reclassification to the class of 2024 in June so he could join Providence this upcoming season because he felt like he was ready for the next level. It was hard to blame him – even after only moving to the United States from Nigeria two years ago – after another strong season for Putnam Science as he established himself as one of the best frontcourt recruits and defensive prospects in the country.
Erhunmwunse faces stiff competition for an immediate role with the Friars, but his elite rim protection could be his pathway to the court early. Team New England co-founder Isaiah Davis, who has coached Erhunmwunse the last two years, told New England Basketball Journal that the hope is for him to make the Big East’s all-freshman team.
Oswin Erhunmwunse: What the Providence commit can bring to Friars
Kur Teng, Michigan State
Guard, 6-4
High school: Bradford Christian Academy
Hometown: Manchester, N.H.
Teng finished his high school career in style as he led Bradford Christian to the NEPSAC Class AA championship and won AA Player of the Year, and he’s hoping to carry that success into his first season at Michigan State under legendary coach Tom Izzo. The No. 55-ranked recruit by ESPN, Teng has made a strong impression at summer workouts with the Spartans, as Izzo this week called him their best shooter so far. Teng is an athletic, explosive guard with a high-level scoring ability that makes him a good fit with the Spartans’ playing style, and he has a good chance of carving out a role off the bench as a freshman.
Tyler Betsey, Cincinnati
Forward, 6-8
High school: St. Thomas More
Hometown: Windsor, Conn.
Betsey averaged 23.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game for St. Thomas More last season. He became a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Connecticut, the second straight repeat winner of the award after Clingan did so in 2021 and 2022. It will certainly take a lot for Betsey to replicate the college success of Clingan – who won back-to-back national championships at UConn as a freshman and sophomore – but the 6-foot-8 forward will be joining a talented Bearcats roster that’s ready to return to the NCAA Tournament. Betsey’s shooting ability could earn him minutes as a freshman.
Bryce Dortch, Rutgers
Forward, 6-9
High school: Brimmer & May
Hometown: Somerville, Mass.
Dortch is one of several incoming freshmen for a historic Rutgers recruiting class that ranked as one of the best in the nation after also securing commitments from Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper – two consensus top-5 recruits nationally. There are high expectations for the Scarlet Knights to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years, and while there will be tough competition for minutes with the talent coming in, Dortch’s versatility as a long, athletic defender could make him a contributor in Year 1.
Kayvaun Mulready, Georgetown
Guard, 6-4
High school: Worcester Academy
Hometown: Worcester, Mass.
Mulready flipped his commitment from Providence to Georgetown as he followed head coach Ed Cooley’s move to the Hoyas last year. While they’re loaded in the backcourt with junior lead guard Jayden Epps and Harvard transfer Malik Mack, Mulready’s ability as a tough do-it-all combo guard who can score, facilitate and defend should entice Cooley. There will be a sharp learning curve for Mulready in a physical Big East, but he has the DNA to thrive in the conference after some seasoning and projects to be an early building block for Cooley as he rebuilds Georgetown.
Andre Mills, Texas A&M
Guard, 6-4
High school: Brimmer & May
Hometown: Dorchester, Mass.
Mills made a big leap as a senior at Brimmer, where his scoring performances – including a program record 52-point game – created some buzz. But he can do much more as an explosive, strong-nosed guard who gives Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams an exciting option off the bench for an Aggies squad that has high expectations in 2024-25. Not only can he score, but Mills is a fierce competitor on the court, and his versatility and physicality on both ends make him intriguing as a freshman.
George Turkson, Texas A&M
Forward, 6-7
High school: Bradford Christian Academy
Hometown: Lowell, Mass.
Turkson will rejoin Mills, his teammate at Mass Rivals, in College Station and also has a chance for some early playing time after a standout career at Bradford Christian that culminated in the Class AA title this season alongside Teng. The 6-foot-7 Turkson has a strong inside game and natural defensive instincts and versatility that could lead to some impactful minutes as a freshman.
Luke Toews, Boston College
Guard, 6-1
High school: Newman School
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
A two-time All-NEPSAC Class AAA selection at Newman, Toews is a gifted playmaker and reliable point guard. He helped lead the Middlesex Magic to a national championship on the Under Armour circuit in 2023, and Boston College is hoping he can bring those winning qualities to Chestnut Hill. The Eagles lost six players to the transfer portal this spring and have a fairly young team returning, so there’s certainly some opportunity for Toews to compete for early playing time under coach Earl Grant.
Five more players to follow: Ryan Mela (Providence/Natick, Mass.), Austin Hunt (Harvard, Marlborough, Mass.), Nate Guerengomba (UMass/Branson, Mo.), Amir Lindsey (Albany, Framingham, Mass.), Nick Petronio (Boston College, Needham, Mass.)
