Who Are Big 12 Basketball’s Top Incoming Freshmen?

With the Thunder hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy Sunday and me unloading my bank account on championship merchandise, the basketball world now shifts its attention to this week’s NBA Draft.

NBA.com released a consensus mock draft on Monday morning, which averages out some of the mocks from the major outlets. That consensus mock has three Big 12 players (Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, Arizona’s Carter Bryant and BYU’s Egor Demin) going in the top 14, and each of those Big 12ers were freshmen last season.

As the Thunder proved Monday night, the NBA is a young man’s league. Of those 14 listed in the mock, a dozen were college freshmen last season. That got us thinking who are the next crop of NBA lottery guys who will play in the Big 12 this upcoming season.

Eight of the top 20 players in 247Sports’ ranking of the 2025 class are set to play at Big 12 programs. Here’s a quick look at each of those guys.

Darryn Peterson, Kansas

Peterson is a 6-foot-5 guard out of growing national power Prolific Prep in California.

He’s the No. 1 player in 247Sports ranking for the class and chose KU over offers from Kentucky, USA, Ohio State, Kansas State, North Carolina, Texas and others. From scoring to rebounding to defending, there isn’t much Peterson can’t do.

AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Although 247 has pinned Peterson as the top player in the class, many other recruiting services has bestowed that honor to AJ Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 forward who will spend this next season in Provo.

All of the major programs were interested, as Dybantsa had offers to North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and others. He’s a matchup nightmare as a 6-9, 210-pound wing.

Chris Cenac Jr., Houston

The No. 7 player in the class, Chris Cenac Jr. is a 6-foot-10 center who played at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri.

Cenac is a smooth-moving big man who is already good now, but his potential is what’s even more exciting. He’s from New Orleans and chose Kelvin Sampson’s squad over offers from LSU, Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Texas, UConn, UCLA and others.

Brayden Burries, Arizona

Ranked ninth in 247Sports’ ranking, Burries hails from Eleanor Roosevelt High in San Bernardino, California.

At 6-4, 200 pounds, Burries has the size and athleticism to make him a tough cover. He chose Arizona over offers from UCLA, USC, Texas, Michigan, LSU, Kentucky, Duke, Tennessee and others.

Koa Peat, Arizona

Make it back-to-back Wildcats, as Koa Peat is the No. 11 player in 247Sports’ ranking. He’s a 6-8, 235-pound power forward with an NFL pedigree. His father, Todd Peat Sr., was an NFL offensive lineman in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His brother, Andrus Peat, is a three-time Pro Bowl lineman who spent nine seasons with the Saints and this past year with the Raiders.

It should make sense then that Peat is a physical, walking double-double. He chose Arizona over North Carolina, Houston, Arkansas, Baylor, Duke, Florida, Michigan, LSU, Kentucky, Kansas Oklahoma State and others.

Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor

A 6-6 wing out of California, Yessoufou is the No. 14 player in 247Sports’ rankings with him picking Baylor over offers from USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and others.

He’s long, strong and plays hard which isn’t a fun combination to play against, and he’s only getting more skilled.

Isiah Harwell, Houston

A 6-foot-6, 200-pound guard out of Idaho, Harwell came in at No. 16 in 247Sports’ rankings and chose the Cougars over Gonzaga, Alabama, Texas, Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA and others.

He’s another tall, strong wing player who can do a lot of different things, which should see him fit into Sampson’s system rather smoothly.

Kingston Flemings, Houston

The third and final Cougar to appear in 247Sports’ top 20 is Kingston Flemings, a 6-3 points guard out of San Antonio. He chose Houston over Texas, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Louisville and others.

Flemings is fast and athletic, two skills that should fit in nicely to Sampson’s in-your-face style.

Where OSU’s Freshmen Rank in the Big 12

Although the Cowboys might not have a lock one-and-done type freshman coming in, their three-man class of Ryan Crotty, Ben Ahmed and Mekhi Ragland is a solid group.

Crotty is ranked the highest in 247s list. He’s the No. 81 player in the class, which makes him the No. 15 freshman in the Big 12 for the upcoming season. Ahmed isn’t too far behind at No. 105 nationally and No. 19 in the Big 12.