Class is in session for the newest freshman group of college basketball stars. In about two months, we'll see the high school Class of 2026 (now the college Class of 2030) suit up for the first time. That includes 38 players who are either from New England or attended a New England-based high school, per our commitments database, which means we have plenty of basketball to track around the country.
But it's also never been harder to make an impact right away. Last winter, only one New Englander averaged double-digit points per game in her first year: Ella Pelletier (South Paris, Maine) at Stonehill. I had some hits with our preseason dart board last fall, with the highlights being Providence forward Ashley Dinges (Haverhill, Mass.) and St. Bonaventure guard Elyse MacDonough (South Burlington, Vt.). My honorable mentions members, which included guards like Izzy Adams (Bryant/Walpole, Mass.), Charlotte Adams-Lopez (Brown/North Attleboro, Mass.), were arguably more productive than the main list. The best prospects, albeit at the highest levels of play, had to earn their stripes.
It's hard to glean much from statistical impact among freshmen. As Meg Olbrys (Norwood, Mass.) put it in our Div. 1 stars' advice story, "you go right to the bottom of the barrel" when you arrive on campus. A quiet freshman year can often be misleading as players break out later in their college careers.
So what can we expect from this year's new class? I've picked out 10 names who I believe can earn solid minutes right away. This is partially influenced by my view of their talent, but even more based on roster construction and what I see as an obvious pathway to minutes.
Fope Ayo, Michigan
6-5 center
Austin Prep/Methuen, Mass.
Ayo finished prep school atop our final 2026 prospect rankings and made consistent leaps in her polish as a post player throughout the last three seasons. That said, she enters an entirely new world from a competitive standpoint. Michigan projects to be one of the best teams in the country.
I don't expect Ayo to score much. She is the tallest player on the Wolverines and is physically conditioned for college, so her early impact will most likely come on the boards and protecting the rim. Ayo's long-term ceiling is the most exciting part of her prospect profile right now. I'd consider it a successful first year if she carves out a consistent bench role as a rebounder and keeps up with the pace of the Power Four level.
Lauren Bousquet, Rhode Island
5-11 forward
Moses Brown/West Warwick, R.I.
Bousquet made a very late decision to enroll at her home state school after initially committing to Marist. She joins a Rams team that just made the NCAA Tournament but has a new head coach in Colleen Mullen, plus a new-look roster with Sophia Vital (Cambridge, Mass.) as the lone returning starter. The Rams also have three six-footers who are all new to the program, though two come from Mullen's former Albany program. Bousquet brings power drives and rebounding as a smaller forward and has plenty of room to make an impact on a young roster.
Jill Dingler, Central Connecticut
5-7 guard
Darrow/Columbia, Conn.
Central Connecticut's eight freshmen include six with New England ties, so it's likely at least one or two jump into the rotation right away. I'll pick our highest-ranked prospect in Dingler, who I list at No. 17. Dingler possesses several of the traits I like to see in early-impact players. She's super smart as a cutter and driver, she plays tough, she can make outside shots and she has high-level experience after leading Darrow to the NEPSAC Class AA championship.
Molly Corcoran, Colgate
5-7 guard
Tabor/Medford, Mass.
Corcoran's ability to thrive on and off the ball at Tabor should prepare her beginning in a complementary role at Colgate. The Raiders have solid guard experience coming back, but with six freshmen in the mix, Corcoran should have a shot at a bench role. Her deep-range shooting and court vision are immediate rotation assets, so if Corcoran can defend capably at the Div. 1 level, I like her chances.
Norah Fuld, Elon
6-3 forward
Western Reserve/Westport, Conn.
Because Fuld played outside of New England last year, I almost never got to write about her. But she's an intriguing prospect as a long forward who can hit 3s and block shots. Elon doesn't have a ton of size on the roster, though its leading scorer is back in LaNae' Corbett. Fuld is the tallest player on the team and worth keeping in mind as she moves through college.
Brooke Golden, Northwestern
6-3 center
Tilton/Chester, N.H.
Northwestern has some of the deepest New England ties of any college program next season. New head coach Carla Berube is from Oxford, Mass., and she's brought in a pair of former prep stars in Syracuse transfers Jasmyn Cooper-Derba (North Easton, Mass.) and Camdyn Nelson (Greenwich, Conn.). Golden is another important addition for her speed at her size, shot-blocking ability and post passing. None of the Wildcats' returning forwards played more than 75 total minutes last season, so the frontcourt looks like an open competition.
Ella Getz, UNH
6-1 forward
Worcester Academy/Wayland, Mass.
Getz is one of three freshman forwards on the Wildcats, plus two sophomores and senior Anya McKenzie transferring in from West Georgia. No forward averaged more than seven minutes per game last season. The frontcourt is wide open with very little college playing experience, and Getz can jump in with her versatility as a mobile defender and underrated scorer. She made our All-NEPSAC AA First Team at Worcester Academy.
Serenity Lancaster, St. John's
6-1 forward
New Hampton/New London, Conn.
St. John's has some established leaders in its frontcourt, but there's room for a first forward off the bench and I think Lancaster is talented enough to compete for the spot. She's powerful, tough and consistent with her motor on both ends of the floor. I'll be interested to see how much the Red Storm use Lancaster in the paint versus out on the perimeter in her first college season. They should be a Big East contender and possibly a sleeper to sneak into March Madness.
Elyse Ngenda, Stanford
5-9 guard
New Hampton/Bedford, N.H.
The Cardinal have zero seniors on the roster and their guard room is inexperienced outside of standout sophomore Hailee Swain. Ngenda could come in and earn lead guard minutes quickly, though she'll be competing for playing time with a strong freshman core that includes fellow nationally ranked talent Jordyn Wheeler. I'm increasingly a believer that smart, quick processing is the best way for freshmen to get on the court. That supports the case for Ngenda, who was one of the more reliable NEPSAC stars during the last two seasons. She was our second-ranked New England 2026 prospect.
Eva Wilkerson, Towson
5-10 guard
Sacred Heart/Somers, N.Y.
Wilkerson was perhaps the best defensive player I watched in NEPSAC last winter. Her length at her position and timing skills should translate to college right away. Towson brings in six freshmen, plus a redshirt freshman, and only has a couple of players back from last year's rotation, including Boston native Thalia Shepard.
Six more players to monitor
These players all appear in the top 15 of our Best of New England 2026 rankings. I think it's less likely they play major rotation minutes this season, largely due to more experienced players in their respective programs. But they're certainly talented enough to make an impact.
Abby Casper and Maddie Provost, Holy Cross — This is a great duo addition for the Crusaders; Provost (Lawrence/Fairfield, Maine) is a microwave scoring guard and Casper (Northwest Catholic/Cromwell, Conn.) is a big wing who can stretch the floor and drive through contact. Holy Cross is just super deep at most positions right now. The Crusaders have a good shot at defending their Patriot League title.
Olivia Fleming, Lehigh —  Also in the Patriot League, the Mountain Hawks will give Holy Cross a run with their high-powered offense. They're well-stocked at the guard positions, but Fleming (Northfield Mount Hermon/Windham, N.H.) plays with a pace and heads-up approach that make her a great fit in this program. She'll find success in due time.
Bela Cucuta, George Washington — Cucuta (Tilton/Newington, Conn.) joins a George Washington team that brings back three leading guards and adds a notable transfer from Richmond in Alicia Newell. One of three freshmen on the team, Cucuta can definitely carve a path to minutes on her 3-point shot alone if she's consistent as an off-ball player.
Caterina Ravosa, Fairfield — Ravosa profiles as a tremendous fit for Fairfield's "Road Runner" forward designation because she's a solid 3-point shooter who is also skilled scoring around the basket. Right now, the Stags just have too many good ones in front of her. Meghan Andersen and Cyanne Coe are entrenched starters, Milou van Vilet played solid bench minutes and Lana McCarthy (Bedford, N.H.) was a significant transfer addition from Purdue. Even if Ravosa spends her freshman year learning, though, she should be set up for success. She was fourth in our final 2026 prospect rankings.
Jae Scott, Tulsa — Tulsa has impressive size across its roster with 10 of 14 players listed at 6-0 or taller. The Golden Hurricanes brought back a solid chunk of last year's team, and I think it will take time for Scott to adjust to a new region and level of play. But I could be drastically underrated just how special she is as an athlete and two-way impact wing. Her career is among the trajectories I'm most intrigued to follow in this class.
