It’s certainly still early, but a few weeks into the college basketball season, the number of impact freshmen from New England has been notable.
In a college hoops world that has prioritized older, mature, more experienced players, the volume of freshmen contributing at a high level has been particularly striking. On both the men’s and women’s sides, we’re seeing a handful of the players from our final Best of New England 2026 rankings make a seamless transition to the next level.
Which players with regional roots are making a big first impression at the Division 1 level? And what can we learn about those contributions? Let’s discuss.
Steve: It feels like on a nightly basis, I’m seeing a former New England prospect make headlines in men’s college hoops. On Monday, former Cushing star Ryan Moesch, now a Syracuse freshman, put up 19 points and six assists in a narrow loss to Indiana, which included a takeover stretch in the second half. On Wednesday, former Newman star Quinn Costello hit five 3-pointers in a win over Marquette. Those weren’t one-offs, either. Both have carved out significant bench roles early.
Former St. George’s star Dywane Chess posted back-to-back 20-point games for Marist. Abdou Toure, our No. 1 New England prospect in 2026, is averaging 9.7 points in three games with Arkansas. Former Lawrence Academy star Alex Egbuonu is averaging double figures at Marquette. The former Putnam Science backcourt of Jordan Skyers and Kamai Samuels are off to a terrific start, with Skyers putting up 15.3 points per game and Norfolk State and Samuels averaging 11.7 points at Tennessee Tech.
If you go further down the 2026 rankings, former Winchendon standout Quinn Gibson was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week while averaging 9.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game at Cornell. I could keep going, but those are some of the names that have stuck out to me.
Ethan:Â It's been awesome watching the early success on the boys' side. Moesch in particular is creating some of those same highlights we always watched at Cushing, and Toure seems to be delivering on some of the early hype around him as an NBA Draft prospect.
We haven't seen quite the same immediate impact with the top of the 2026 girls class, but I've been more impressed by who has broken through as early rotation players. Among the top 10 high school prospects, Olivia Fleming is the most notable. She's started all three games at Lehigh so far and is averaging four points, 4.3 rebounds and a steal in 30 minutes per game.
I've more noticed some of the low-majors who appear to have found recruiting gems. Eva Wilkerson, who swept our Class A individual honors at Sacred Heart, is averaging 10 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals at Towson. Jill Dingler has posted 14.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game at Central Connecticut. Gianna Nichols is at 12.3 points per game for Le Moyne.
Have you noticed any themes among the players finding success early? Are there skills or roles working right away?
Steve: Before I pat myself on the back too much, I will say that six of the names I mentioned above appeared in the Top 10 of my final 2026 rankings, with Chess coming at No. 12, so we had an idea this could happen.
I would say the translatable skills that we always talk about are translating like we expected. Moesch's twitchiness and elite court vision and playmaking ability out of pick and rolls is making it impossible for Syracuse coach Gerry McNamara to take him off the floor. Costello's 3-point shooting ability is translating, and it seems like he has a specific role as a floor spacer that's working; he's shooting 42.9 percent from deep on seven attempts per game. Like you alluded to, Toure's athletic frame and scoring ability is making an impact right away.
I remember talking to Winchendon coach Alex Popp at this time last year after Gibson went off at the NMH Tip-Off Classic; he told me that Gibson had the tools with his effort, rebounding and defense that translates to the next level no matter what position you play. That's already showing itself.
Ethan:Â I think you hit on two pathways to making an immediate impact as a freshman: Bring an elite signature skill, or have a high floor regarding defense, versatility and effort. Moesch and Costello (and Toure to an extent) fit in the former category and Gibson makes sense with the latter.
The top girls players I mentioned probably fit more into that latter category. Fleming has always been a strong perimeter defender who competes hard, so that's helped her lock down a role even while she learns what it takes to score at this level.
Wilkerson and Dingler were No. 16 and 17 in my 2026 rankings, and though I thought I was higher than consensus on them, I think I should've been even more adamant. Anyone who watched either of them in NEPSAC knew they could fit into all sorts of college roles. Wilkerson, in my opinion, was NEPSAC's most impactful defender last season. Dingler could score in a variety of ways and was a solid perimeter defender as well. I think that baseline impact has helped both succeed.
Steve: I also want to hit on how much fit matters, especially in today's climate. Moesch, for instance, only had one high-major offer and, of course, initially committed to McNamara when he was at Siena, then followed him to Syracuse when he got that job. Having a coach believe in you as fiercely as McNamara does in Moesch is important. It's why he's had no problem giving him significant minutes right away as a freshman -- and Moesch has rewarded that faith.
But we also know that the number of high school players going to high-majors with a clear path to playing time as a freshman is dwindling. Skyers and Samuels may have been high-major recruits 10 years ago, and they were smart to go to lower profile schools where they're talented enough to start right away. They're among the latest examples of that growing trend.
Cushing coach James Cormier put out a tweet after Moesch's big game on Monday, saying in part, "Colleges NEED to start recruiting prep school kids again." There's something to that, for sure, especially in New England. The players I mentioned above are getting the right development at both their prep schools and grassroots programs that are preparing them to impact the game right away when they get to college.
Ethan:Â Agreed! It's so hard to earn playing time at any level in Division 1 right now, especially the higher up you go in program pedigree. That makes what these players are doing so far especially impressive.
Again, though, it's been two weeks. This is a tiny fragment in what will be long college careers for this 2026 class. Every school's situation is different, so I really wouldn't take anything meaningful away from how playing time is shaking out so far. It's just cool to applaud the freshmen jumping into early success.
