Two first-year guards have added their names to the list of impressive newcomers in college basketball. Kingston Flemings of Houston Cougars and Mario Saint-Supéry of Gonzaga have started the 2025-26 season better than many anticipated, gaining early NBA Draft relevance.
Flemings, a five-star recruit, averaged 17.4 points, 5.2 assists and 2.8 rebounds in his first five games for the undefeated No. 2 Cougars. He's also 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 in the recent victory over No. 22 Auburn to go with seven assists in 35 minutes.
Saint-Supery arrived in the Pacific Northwest after playing professionally in Spain, averaged nearly 10 points, 4 assists and 2.3 steals per night, shooting 50% from three in limited minutes. But he's showing flashes and earned his first start in the 72-point win over Southern Utah.
Their respective emergence feeds to the shifting landscape of college basketball, where freshmen, even international ones, can make immediate impact. Programs are increasingly adjusting to accelerated timelines for first-year contributions. With both players on nationally relevant teams, their progress will be watched as the season unfolds and Draft projections for 2026 take shape.
More college basketball news:
Duke Basketball one-and-done makes NBA history, earns Player of the Week honors
Bruce Pearl becomes Auburn super fan during son's loss to No. 1 Houston