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 as a freshman. 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.
