Men’s College Hoops Preview: The Top 20 Newcomers

12. D.J. Wagner, Kentucky

Wagner’s recruitment was the most followed of the 2023 cycle as rivals Kentucky and Louisville duked it out for his services. The winner: Calipari, who sees Wagner as part of a backcourt play revival that could help the Wildcats break through this March. While not a true point guard, Wagner is capable of leading an offense thanks to his scoring ability, and he’ll be an essential piece in a UK backcourt rotation that also features the likes of Antonio Reeves, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham.

13. Walter Clayton Jr., Florida

This was an offseason-defining recruiting win for Todd Golden and the Gators, beating Clayton’s former coach Rick Pitino and St. John’s to land the Florida native. Clayton had a huge sophomore season at Iona that piqued the interest of NBA scouts, averaging better than 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. A former high-level football recruit, Clayton’s learning curve on the hardwood has been rapid, and he has a chance to be a premier guard in the SEC from Day 1. 

14. Cam Spencer, UConn

Proven above-average starters at the high-major level aren’t found often in the transfer portal, but Spencer fits that mold and plugs in nicely for the defending national champions. While not quite as dynamic an off-movement shooter as first-rounder Jordan Hawkins was last season, Spencer did knock down an impressive 43% from beyond the arc for a Rutgers team that came up just short of the NCAA tournament a season ago. Plus, he’s a ballhawk defensively who has averaged two or more steals per game in back-to-back years. 

15. Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor

Walter and elite transfer point guard RayJ Dennis make for quite the new backcourt duo for Scott Drew in Waco. Walter is a score-first wing capable of carrying an offense with his shot-making ability. He helped lead a loaded Link Academy to the championship at Geico Nationals. If he can improve his efficiency, he’ll be among the best freshmen in college basketball this season. 

16. Max Abmas, Texas

I’m not quite there on Abmas as a potential All-American, but the former Oral Roberts star and 2021 March Cinderella should have a strong season in Austin. Abmas has put up big numbers even against tough competition (see his games against Ohio State, Florida and Arkansas in the ’21 NCAA tournament) and seems poised to play a central role offensively for a reloaded Texas team under Rodney Terry. 

17. Jordan Dingle, St. John’s

Few guards are more wired to score than Dingle, who averaged more than 23 points per game last season at Penn and was recruited at the highest level after hitting the transfer portal this spring. The winner of the sweepstakes: Pitino and St. John’s, which will undoubtedly rely on him heavily to generate offense this season. His big performances against high-major opponents should give fans confidence that his production can translate to the highest level.

18. Graham Ike, Gonzaga

This one is contingent on health, as Ike has missed the majority of the three of his last four basketball seasons dating back to his senior year of high school. The one healthy year: 2021–22, when he averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds per game to lead Wyoming to a surprise trip to the NCAA tournament. A full-strength Ike would give Gonzaga the type of interior scoring presence it needs to not miss a beat from the Drew Timme era. 

19. Elliot Cadeau, North Carolina

Cadeau is one of the best pure passers to come out of high school basketball in a long time. And while there have been several examples over the years of reclassified point guards struggling to adapt to the college game as freshmen, Cadeau has the tools to beat that trend. Hubert Davis seems intent on putting the ball in his hands and pushing RJ Davis off the ball, surrounding Cadeau with shotmakers like Davis and Cormac Ryan as well as a star big in Armando Bacot.

20. Jared McCain, Duke

One of the things that will make Duke such a dangerous team in 2023–24 is its ability to play smaller with multiple ballhandlers on the floor at any given time. McCain and fellow freshman Caleb Foster can unlock so much for the Blue Devils offensively. Zooming in on McCain, the California native is a lights-out shooter with a game-ready body able to impact winning as a shot maker either as a fifth starter or in a super-sub role.