The Big 12 is loaded with young talent this year, and it doesn’t take long to see it. The 2025 freshman class is one of the deepest the league has had in a while, and a handful of first-year guys are already starting to take over. There are four names in particular that are making an early case for freshman of the year, but the real story is how deep the class goes across the board.
Kansas’ Darryn Peterson is the name that’s going to grab headlines, and for good reason. He walked onto a top-25 roster and immediately looked like the best player on the floor. He dropped 21 points in 22 minutes in the season opener and made it look effortless. Kansas has had plenty of high-level freshmen before, but Peterson is on a different level. He’s got the size, the skill, and the confidence to lead a program that doesn’t typically hand the keys to a freshman.
Then there’s AJ Dybantsa at BYU. At 6-foot-9, he has the tools to do a little bit of everything. He’s long, skilled, and already making plays on both ends. BYU needed a headliner after a dominant 2024-25 season, and Dybantsa might be the guy to push them into that next tier. He’s not just a good prospect; he’s a potential mismatch nightmare in a league that already values versatility.
Over in Waco, Baylor landed Tounde Yessoufou, and he’s not far behind. He’s built like a Big 12 wing and plays with a physical edge. Yessoufou doesn’t need the ball to make an impact, which fits perfectly with Baylor’s style. The Bears have a track record of developing guys like him into high-end contributors, and he already looks the part.
Koa Peat at Arizona rounds out the list. He’s another big-bodied freshman with polish. Arizona is counting on him to help bridge the gap between veteran experience and new blood this season, and he certainly fits the bill. Peat is versatile, can guard multiple spots, and gives them real toughness on the glass.
Those four are just the start. This class has real depth and could reshape the league by the time we hit February. If the early returns hold, the Big 12 won’t just be the deepest league in the country; it might also be the youngest.
