New York, New York - The college basketball season is here, and with hundreds of newcomers stepping onto the hardwood floors, we are in for another wild season of hoops.

Hold on tight, ladies and gentlemen!

The college basketball season tipped off on Monday and a number of the nation's top newcomers have already made huge statements.

As many programs across the country are going through a series of roster changes, newcomers are being heavily relied on to perform in big ways.

Needless to say, the 18 and 19-year-old newbies – and sometimes 17-year-olds – are routinely stepping in and instantly making an impact at the highest level of the sport.

Even more, a lot of the freshman faces that have come onto the college basketball scene are so good, they only spend one season in college before going to the NBA like Zion Williamson and Chet Holmgren.

Without further ado, here are some of college basketball's top newcomers to watch for this season as teams vie for a spot in the March Madness tournament.

Kentucky is one of the best teams in the nation heading into the season and Wallace is a big reason for that.

Wallace, the combo guard Kentucky desperately needed, can shoot, defend, and add as a playmaker at an elite level.

His college debut as a Kentucky Wildcat on Monday night was nearly one for the history books. Wallace narrowly missed securing a triple-double by scoring 15 points, racking up nine assists, and securing eight rebounds in the Cats' 95-63 win over Howard.

Not only did the true freshman celebrate his first ever college basketball victory but also his birthday, as the star hooper turned 19-years-old.

As the No. 1 freshman in the country, Smith Jr. is a do-it-all guard who knows how to score and pass.

An All-American athlete who was named USA TODAY's National High School Boy’s Basketball Player of the Year last year as a high school senior, Smith averaged 26.5 points, eight rebounds, and 7.3 assists for North Little Rock High school out of Arkansas.

Back with Anthony Black as teammates on Arkansas' basketball squad, Smith will without a doubt lead the Razorbacks to try for their third straight Elite Eight appearance.

Replacing this year's No. 1 NBA draft pick Paolo Banchero and No. 15 pick Mark Williams in Duke's frontcourt this season shouldn't be too hard for this former high school No. 1 recruit.

Standing at a massive 7-foot-1, Lively II will be Duke's go-to-guy out of the gate this season as the Blue Devils enter The Jon Scheyer era following the retirement of the legendary Mike Krzyzewski.

Lively's mother, Katherine Drysdale, was a former baller herself who totaled 1,295 points while playing for Penn State from 1988–1992.

So, basketball domination is obviously in his genes and fans are sure to witness the magic this season.

As the Big 12's preseason Freshman of the Year, the hype surrounding Keyonte George is real, and the newcomer's first game with the Baylor Bears proved it.

In the Bears' opener on Monday, George's defensive skills served as a big help in Baylor's blowout 117-53 win against Mississippi Valley State.

The freshman finished with seven assists – all within the first half of the game – six rebounds, and one emphatic block.

George is pretty much the total package for the Bears, and a player that fans can expect to score big for Baylor throughout the season.

More than a year out from enduring a partially torn ACL, Clark should be at full health for Illinois and will undoubtedly take the Fighting Illini to the top of the Big Ten.

A former Kentucky commit, Clark will most likely be a starter right away with André Curbelo, Trent Frazier, and Alfonso Plummer all gone from the team.

A unique gem for Illinois on the court, head coach Brad Underwood hasn't had a guard as talented and versatile as Clark since Ayo Dosunmu, who now plays for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA.

The son of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard, Jett Howard recorded a monstrous 21 points and five assists – and did it in just 31 minutes of action.

The freshman was ranked in the top 50 as a high school senior, and is projected to play well beyond that ranking this season.

He is also expected to lead Michigan basketball to a potential conference title game and maybe even a spot in this season's March Madness tournament.

As the Gamecocks are currently undergoing a major rebuild to their roster, GG Jackson is going to be one of the leading names for the program this season.

Jackson is a former No. 1 recruit of the 2023 class and a former UNC commit who reclassified to 2022 and signed with his hometown school at South Carolina.

At just 17-years-old, GG will be one of the youngest players on the court as a starter, and will likely be the best player during Lamont Paris' first season as South Carolina's new head coach.