Two first-year guards have added their names to the list of impressive newcomers to college basketball. Houston Cougars’ Kingston Flemings and Gonzaga’s Mario Saint-Superior have started the 2025-26 season better than many expected, gaining early NBA Draft relevance.
Advertisement
Flemings, a five-star prospect, averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds in his first five games for the undefeated No. 2 Cougars. He’s shooting 71.4 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-4 point guard also posted a career-high 22 points with seven assists in 35 minutes in a recent win over No. 22 Auburn.
Saint-Supéry arrived in the Pacific Northwest after playing professionally in Spain, averaging nearly 10 points, 4 assists and 2.3 steals per night, shooting 50% from three in limited minutes. But he has been showing flashes and got his first start in a 72-point win over Southern Utah.
Their respective emergences reflect the changing landscape of college basketball, where new players, even international players, can make an immediate impact. Programs are increasingly adjusting to the accelerated timeline for first-year contributions. With both players on nationally relevant teams, their progress will be monitored as the season begins and draft projections for 2026 take shape.
More college basketball news:
<a href=