With the NCAA Tournament set to begin, On3 college basketball insider Joe Tipton believes several freshmen could end up stealing the spotlight during March Madness. In a recent post, Tipton highlighted eight standout newcomers across the sport who have the ability to take over games on the biggest stage and notably, half of them play in the Big 12.
The list includes BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Arizona’s Brayden Burries, and Houston’s Kingston Flemings, a group of elite freshmen who have already made major impacts during their first college seasons. With the NCAA Tournament now underway, each of them could become even bigger names if their teams make deep runs.
Dybantsa has arguably been the most dominant freshman in the country this season. The 6-foot-9 BYU wing leads all of college basketball in scoring at 25.4 points per game, and his ability to take over games has been on full display throughout the year. Dybantsa has recorded two 40-point performances and five additional games scoring in the 30s, while scoring fewer than 20 points just six times in BYU’s 34 games. His production helped carry the Cougars through adversity after star Richie Saunders suffered a torn ACL in February. Dybantsa ultimately earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and First-Team All-Big 12 recognition, and many NBA scouts already view him as the frontrunner to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson also earned a spot on Tipton’s list after flashing elite scoring ability when healthy. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard is averaging just under 20 points per game, showcasing the type of shot-making that made him one of the most highly touted recruits in the country. Peterson’s season has been disrupted at times by injuries, including a hamstring issue, ankle injury, illness, and cramping that forced him to miss 11 games. Still, when he has been fully healthy, Peterson has looked every bit like a future star and is widely projected as another top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Arizona freshman Brayden Burries has also made a significant impact during his debut season. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, giving the Wildcats a versatile scoring option in the backcourt. Burries recently delivered one of his biggest performances of the year, scoring 21 points in Arizona’s win over Houston in the Big 12 Tournament Championship Game. He has scored 20 or more points in 13 games this season, proving he can produce big numbers against high-level competition. His strong freshman campaign has already put him on the radar as a potential NBA lottery pick.
Houston point guard Kingston Flemings rounds out the list after putting together one of the most productive freshman seasons in Cougars history. Flemings scored 42 points at Texas Tech earlier this year, setting the record for the most points by a Houston freshman in a single game. He has also scored 20 or more points in 12 games this season and finished the year with 510 total points, setting Houston’s freshman single-season scoring record. Like the others on Tipton’s list, Flemings is already viewed as a potential Top-5 pick in the NBA Draft.
If Tipton’s prediction proves accurate, the Big 12 could once again have a major presence during March Madness and these four freshmen may be the reason why.
