The College Basketball Top 100by Mike Rutherford

Sulaimon might be the first player in the brief history of these rankings to make an appearance at the start of all four of his collegiate seasons. He debuted at No. 92 back in 2012, rose all the way to No. 28 before his sophomore season, and then fell back to No. 83 before the start of a junior campaign that would ultimately see him dismissed from the Duke program. His SB Nation Top 100 swan song includes both a new team and the countdown's lone triple-digit ranking.

The preseason Player of the Year in the Colonial, Green averaged 17.1 points per game last season and ranked ninth in the nation in assists (6.5 APG). The next step for Green and childhood friend Ameen Tanksley is to lead Hofstra into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 -- not a bad turnaround from three years ago, when the team had nearly as many arrests (6) as wins (7).

Despite posting a losing overall record for the season, Fresno State found its stride during Mountain West play and surprisingly won 10 conference games. The biggest reason was the play of Harris, who averaged 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals on his way to earning first team all-conference and All-Defensive Team honors. In October, he became the first Bulldog since Melvin Ely in 2001 to be named preseason conference Player of the Year.

A 38.9 percent three-point shooter for his career, Forte suddenly finds himself as the only proven returning scorer on an Oklahoma State team that collapsed down the stretch last season and went one-and-done in the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight trip. Disrupting that trend will likely require Forte stepping up and emerging as more of both a leader and versatile offensive threat.

Named the 2015-16 Horizon League preseason Player of the Year, Felder was the only player in the country last season to average at least 17.0 points and 7.0 assists per game, and his average of 7.6 dimes per game was the second-best mark in college basketball. What's next for Felder? Oakland head coach Greg Kampe says his 5'9 star has the potential to lead Division I basketball in both points and assists in his junior year.

Irvin was one of the few Wolverines who wasn't bitten by the injury bug in 2014-15, ending the season as the only U-M player to start all 32 games. His luck did not extend to the offseason, when he was forced to undergo surgery after suffering a back injury in early September. Irvin is expected to be good to go at the start of the season, and he'll be looking to build off a sophomore year in which he ranked 14th in the Big Ten in points per game (14.3) and fifth in three-pointers made per game (2.4).

No player in the country posted more double-doubles last season than Warney, who averaged 16.4 points per game and led the nation with 409 total rebounds. The two-time defending America East Player of the Year now has his sights set on leading Stony Brook to its first ever NCAA Tournament, a goal the Seawolves saw ripped away last March when Albany's Peter Hooley buried a Robert Horry-esque game-winner in the closing seconds of the league championship game.

Lo is coming off a sensational junior season in which he averaged an Ivy League-best 18.4 points per game and shot 43.1 percent from three-point range. He enters 2015-16 just nine made treys shy of breaking the program's all-time record. Lo spent his summer starring for Germany at the World University Games in Berlin, where he reportedly caught the attention of a number of the pro scouts in attendance.

Whitehead arrived at Seton Hall last season being hailed as the program's potential savior. He ended his freshman campaign being looked at by many as the main reason for a massive late-season collapse that saw the Pirates lose nine of their final 10 games. Redemption will be there for the taking in Whitehead's second season, as the departures of Sterling Gibbs and Jaren Sina (both of whom reportedly clashed with the former McDonald's All-American before transferring) have left no doubt as to whose team this is in 2015-16.

A torn ACL that forced him to miss the final 29 games of his junior season may also keep Poythress from ever becoming the NBA player most thought he would blossom into when he first arrived in Lexington. That doesn't mean the 6'8 wing -- who can score both inside and out -- won't play a major role in Kentucky's quest to get John Calipari his second national championship.

Webb III might be the most versatile player in the country who few outside of college hoops junkies are familiar with. The 6'8 forward is an outstanding defender and defensive rebounder who can also score from any spot on the floor. You may not have heard of him, but the scouts of your favorite NBA team have.

An All-ACC honoree during his time at Boston College, Anderson is expected to be the forward who fills the void left behind by Pac-12 Tournament MVP Brandon Ashley. Anderson went a long way toward proving he's worthy of those expectations when he led all players in scoring and rebounding during the Wildcats' "Red-Blue Game" in October.

Fairly or unfairly, Zimmerman will play his first and potentially only season of college basketball as the face of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. The big left-hander might be the most important player yet when it comes to Dave Rice's ongoing effort to shed the stigma of being a coach who can win big on the recruiting trail but not on the actual court.

There's a cycle that's been going on at San Diego State. Unheralded player becomes star. Unheralded player who became star is referred to as irreplaceable. Unheralded player who became star and who was referred to as irreplaceable is replaced by a formerly unheralded player who becomes a star.

First it was Kawhi Leonard, then it was Xavier Thames, now it's supposed to be Shepard ... or Malik Pope. Getting to the rim has never been an issue for Shepard, but finishing or capitalizing at the free throw line have been entirely different stories. If he can remedy those issues as a senior, then we're probably talking about a guy who's finally fully filling the shoes he was presented with a couple of years ago.

One of the best pure scorers in the game, Balentine enters his senior season with 1,766 career points after pouring in 20.1 per game as a junior. While most expect Wichita State to run through the Missouri Valley this season, it might be Balentine and Evansville who are the squad best-equipped to prevent that from happening.

Even though his numbers actually dipped from his sophomore season, Tarczewski will start his senior year as Arizona's leading returning scorer (9.3 PPG) and rebounder (5.2 RPG). The 7-footer is one of the best big men in the country when it comes to getting to the free throw line, where he shot just a hair under 70 percent in 2014-15.

Carter was one of the best rebounders in the ACC during his final season at Georgia Tech, where he came down with a whopping 18.3 percent of all missed shots. He'll have to assume that same role in a Maryland uniform if the Terps want to live up to their lofty preseason ranking.

No one questions Blakeney's ability to put the ball in the basket. What people do question is his ability to adjust to life on a loaded LSU roster that also features the player who just might be the top pick in next June's NBA Draft. If he can clear that hurdle, then every other part of his freshman season ought to be smooth sailing.

Miami was at its best in 2014-15 when Rodriguez was also at his. The Kansas State transfer was the star of the 'Canes signature victory of the season, a 90-74 trouncing of eventual national champion Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Rodriguez dropped 24 points and recorded five steals in the game and seemed to be the guy who provided the answer every time the Blue Devils started creeping back. If he can cut down on the turnovers and defer some of his leadership duties, both on and off the court, to fellow star Sheldon McClellan, then there's no reason for Jim Larranaga's team not to be back in the Big Dance.

With Juwan Staten now being paid to play the game, there's no question that West Virginia is Williams' team in 2015-16. The junior forward averaged 11.6 points last season and led the Mountaineers in rebounding at 8.1 boards per game, good for third in the Big 12.

The big point guard will be back at the Carrier Dome this winter, as Jim Boeheim will reportedly turn to Gbinije rather than incumbent starter Kaleb Joseph to run the show for Syracuse in 2015-16. The 6'7 senior might not be Michael Carter-Williams, but he holds the key when it comes to both executing an effective Boeheim 2-3 zone and helping the Orange return to the NCAA Tournament.

People already knew that Brimah could block shots (he led the nation with 121 last season), but what the big man proved in 2014-15 was that opposing teams must also keep track of where he is on the other end of the floor. Brimah finished his sophomore campaign more than doubling his points per game average (4.1 to 9.1), and shooting 67.4 percent from the field, the highest average in the history of UConn basketball.

The biggest offensive weapon on a mid-major powerhouse loaded with them, Bradshaw averaged 18.3 points per game last season and scored in double-figures in all but three of the 30 games he played. His talent was on full display when he grabbed nine boards and scored 25 points against Virginia in the NCAA Tournament. The 25 points were the most any opposing player scored against the Cavaliers in 2014-15.

Meeks' weight has been a major topic of conversation since the forward arrived in Chapel Hill more than two years ago. After beginning his college career at 317 pounds, Meeks slimmed down to 270 before the start of his sophomore season. He proceeded to average 13.0 points on 57.8 percent shooting and 8.3 rebounds per game during UNC's first 21 contests last season, but saw all those numbers dip when he began to gain weight again during the second semester. Meeks is now down to 255 pounds, and claims he's finally ready to play big minutes for an entire season as a Tar Heel.

Playing in Tim Cluess' perpetually up-tempo system, English exploded in his junior season, ranking 14th in the nation in scoring (20.1 PPG) and 46th in three-point field goal percentage (38.7). English was also the only player in college basketball to average better than 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season. In fact, he's just the fifth college basketball player since 1999 to achieve that feat.

Despite scoring in double-figures just four times in his freshman season, there are many who believe Pope could wind up being a lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. A lot of things need to happen for that prediction to come to fruition, the most important being the 6'10 forward playing a full season with no injury issues.

There's not a player in the country with a skill set similar to the one Jones possesses. The 6'4 guard has attempted 942 field goals in his college career, and only three of them have been traditional jump shots. When it comes to offense, Jones, who is known most for his on-ball defense and passing, lives either at the rim or with a 10-foot floater that he has mastered after years of practice. If it works, it works.

When Scott's back gave out on him during his junior season, so did the 6'10 forward's hopes of making an early jump to the NBA, as did Colorado's streak of three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. Despite being bitten by the injury bug, Scott still averaged a respectable 14.5 PPG and 8.4 RPG in 2014-15, numbers that have the rest of the Pac-12 wondering what he'll be able to do at 100 percent this season.

It's safe to say that Selden's Kansas career has been a disappointment up to this point. After seeing himself on everyone's "breakout player" list last offseason, Selden responded by averaging a pedestrian 9.4 PPG and shooting just 38.2 percent from the field as a sophomore. He still has the potential to be one of the best players in the country this season, but he's going to have to prove it before anyone fully buys the hype this time.

Finney-Smith took a monster step forward during a season where his program took an equally large one in the other direction. The sensationally athletic senior averaged 13.1 points and 6.2 rebounds last season, but Florida missed the tournament for the first time since 2009. Billy Donovan then bolted for the NBA, a move which left Finney-Smith admittedly frustrated and upset. Even with those emotions still around, he has the potential to thrive in the system of new head coach Mike White.

Advanced statistics love Sheldon McClellan, who scored effectively from all areas of the floor last season and shot one of the highest percentages (48.4) in the ACC. Expect his numbers (14.5 PPG/4.7 RPG) to jump even higher this season as he assumes more of a leadership role as a Hurricane senior.

Whether he admits it or not, it has to be at least a little bit hard for Arcidiacono to read and listen to all the attention being heaped upon freshman backcourt mate Jalen Brunson heading into this season. After all, it's not like Arcidiacono is just some experienced senior guard, he's the reigning Big East Co-Player of the Year.

After playing just seven games in 2014-15 before an ankle injury derailed what was supposed to be his final season of college basketball, Drmic is back for one final run with the Broncos. He'll start that final run just 416 points shy of becoming Boise State's all-time leading scorer.

Butler's leading scorer in each of the past two seasons, Dunham has evolved to the point where there's not a place on the court where he can't light up an opposing defense. A career 35 percent three-point shooter heading into last season, Dunham improved dramatically from beyond the arc, where he connected on 77 of his 188 (41.0 percent) attempts as a junior.

Despite starting only 12 of the 25 games he suited up for after becoming eligible for Iowa State in Dec. of last season, McKay posted averages of 11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. He'll step into an even larger role this season on a Cyclone team that lost its head coach but returns plenty of star power.

The SEC's leading returning scorer, Moody earned first team all-conference honors as a junior after averaging 16.6 points, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season. Rebel head coach Andy Kennedy expects those numbers to improve in spite of the fact that Moody missed much of the summer after having surgery to repair a stress fracture to his left leg.

Illinois head coach John Groce was always going to rely on Malcolm Hill carrying a heavy load for his team this season. With the rash of injuries the Illini has suffered this offseason, however, it might be that Hill has to carry the entire load for at least the first part of the year.

The preseason Player of the Year in the Sun Belt, Long averaged averaged 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season. Those numbers likely would have been even gaudier had it not been for a nagging foot injury that slowed him down during the season's first two months. With the Cajuns returning all eight of their top scorers from a season ago, it's a safe bet that the college basketball world will get a chance to see Long's arsenal on full display come March.

Allen might have played just 9.1 minutes per game as a freshman last season, but he gave the sports world a glimpse into the future when he exploded for 16 points in just 21 minutes against Wisconsin in the national championship game. Even with another elite group of newcomers joining the fold in Durham, Allen won't be a forgotten man as a sophomore.

Maryland coach Mark Turgeon made it a point to say during the Terps' media day that Stone would not be handed the starting center job just because of his high school accolades. Even if he starts slow, which is often the case with freshmen big men, Stone is the player who has the potential to take Maryland from legit Final Four contender to legit national title contender.

With Aaron White graduated, Iowa fans are hopeful that Uthoff will emerge as the star who can carry the Hawkeyes back to the NCAA Tournament. The Cedar Rapids native averaged 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocked shots per game last year. He was the nation's only player with more than 55 blocks, 50 three-pointers and 35 steals.

There aren't many, if any, college basketball players who overcame more obstacles to get where they are than Swanigan did. Now that the NCAA has gotten out of the way, the question is just how soon the freshman can become a star for Matt Painter.

Koenig was thrust into a larger role than most expected last season when starting point guard Traevon Jackson fractured his right foot in January. Koenig responded when he was given the keys to the Bo Ryan offense, averaging fewer than one turnover per game, connecting on 40.5 percent of his 3-point attempts, and helping guide the Badgers to their first national championship game appearance since 1941. Now, suddenly, he's the third-oldest player on a team without a scholarship senior, and he's walking into a season where he knows he's going to be relied on for added production and leadership.

If Rhode Island becomes the breakout team of 2015-16 like many are predicting, Matthews will undoubtedly have a significant amount to do with it. He flourished in his second season as Dan Hurley's star, averaging just under 17 points per game.

It should come as little surprise that the son of one of the best on-ball defenders in NBA history just so happens to be the best on-ball defender in the Pac-12. Payton II notched 95 steals last season, the third-highest total in Division-I. Just don't call him "The Mitten." Apparently, the younger Payton prefers "The Thief."

After averaging 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds last season, Layman flirted briefly with the idea of making the jump to the NBA before ultimately deciding on one last run as a Terrapin. Layman's experience and leadership will be a huge boon for a team that will rely heavily on transfers and freshmen. His ability to shoot the three at 6'9 is also helpful.

Without question the defining recruit of the Steve Wojciechowski era to date, Ellenson could spend just one season in Milwaukee and his college career would still have a lasting impact on the Marquette program. The incredibly skilled big man's potential was on full display this summer when he suited up for Team USA in the FIBA World Championships.

Brown is probably the best dunker in college basketball, but he's also far more than just a mid-major freak show you might see for a handful of seconds on SportsCenter this winter. Brown averaged just under 20 points per game for a second straight season in 2014-15, and if the three-time preseason Big South Player of the Year earns first team all-conference accolades as expected, he'll become just the second player in league history to achieve the feat in all four of his college seasons.

Rabb may well fall into the familiar role of unpolished freshman who is viewed during his short stint in college as a better NBA prospect than current player. The lanky 6'11 man in the middle is still developing his offensive game, but his natural ability should allow him to put up some sparkling numbers in Pac-12 play just by taking care of business around the rim.

Hamilton is a burgeoning star who was the only freshman in the country last season to score 380 points, grab 267 rebounds and dish out 128 assists. He has no trouble getting into the lane, but making the right decision once he gets there is the next step in his evolution.

Team USA's MVP at the U19 World Championships this summer, Brunson is going to be a problem for the rest of the Big East. He's the highest-rated recruit that Jay Wright has brought to Villanova since 2007, and could be the next-level player who finally gets the Wildcats over the hump and into the second weekend of the big dance. Villanova is associated with star guards in the same way that Georgetown is associated with dominant big men, and Wright has never been afraid to go small if he believes it gives his team the best opportunity to win. Even with the Wildcat backcourt already seeming crowded before his arrival, Brunson is too good and too fierce a competitor to not be the player who has the biggest say in whether or not 'Nova can break its recent trend of March disappointments.

In an era where Kanas has become about as synonymous with one-and-done talent as any program outside of Kentucky, Mason is the exception. The former three-star recruit emerged as the Jayhawks' rock last season, averaging 12.6 points, 3.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. How Bill Self chooses to utilize Mason and backcourt mate Devonte' Graham will be one of the more interesting things to watch during the season's first two months.

Everyone knows that Michigan State wins with defense and rebounding, but Tom Izzo now has the benefit of having a proven go-to scorer in Harris, who transfers in after averaging 17.2 PPG for West Virginia in 2013-14. Harris is not an elite defender and also had turnover issues during his time in Morgantown, which is why sitting out last season was probably the best thing that could have happened to his college career.

Long advertised as the savior of Purdue basketball in the post-recruiting class of '07 era, Hammons has improved steadily throughout his career as a Boilermaker, which is now about to come to an end. There have been instances over the past three years when Hammons has looked like a player capable of competing with the best centers in the country, and other times where he's shown the same symptoms of the infamous highly touted college big man who "needs time to develop." The defense has always been there, and having Caleb Swanigan as a frontcourt mate should also free up some extra space for Hammons to work more when the ball is in his hands this season.

There might not be a faster player in college basketball with the ball in his hands than Barber, whose star turn near the end of his sophomore season coincided with NC State's first Sweet 16 appearance since 2012. He'll be asked to do even more on an NC State team that will have to fill the void left behind by Trevor Lacey.

One of the most exciting players in the country, it's a safe bet that Williams' third season in Bloomington is his final one. Williams isn't the most polished offensive player, but Indiana doesn't need him to be. All the Hoosiers need from Williams is for him to keep using his otherworldly athleticism to grab rebounds, finish around the rim, and make things happen in transition.

For all the talk about the Cal freshmen, people forget that one of the Pac-12's best scorers was already at Berkeley when those guys were high school sophomores. Wallace averaged 17.1 points per game last season and is more than capable of being the Bears' leading scorer again even with Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb joining the party.

No one needed a fresh start after last season more than Gibbs. The noted bucket getter shot 43.6 percent from beyond the arc last season at Seton Hall and at times looked like he might be the best guard in the Big East, but reported clashing with teammate Isaiah Whitehead and a two-game suspension for a nasty cheapshot against Villanova derailed what at one point looked like it could be an All-American season. Expect Gibbs to take full advantage of both his clean slate and the talented roster that will surround him for the next five months.

When he's in the zone, there are few players in the country who can change the tide of a game like House. The Houston transfer was having a huge second half of his first season at Texas A&M before a foot injury forced him to miss all but one of the Aggies' games in March. If he can stay healthy, House will be the leading scorer on the best A&M team since Acie Law was wearing maroon and white.

Auguste was at his best last season when the stakes and the competition were the highest. He more than held his own against the vaunted frontcourt of Kentucky, hitting 10-of-13 shots, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds as the Fighting Irish nearly stunned the unbeaten Wildcats in the Elite Eight. That performance left the folks in South Bend eager to see the ACC treated in a similar fashion during Auguste's senior season.

College basketball's leading returning scorer (21.4 PPG), Lee became the nation's most highly sought-after transfer when he announced last spring that he intended to play his final season of college ball somewhere other than Drexel. He ultimately settled on Louisville, which is looking to replace 80 percent of its scoring from a 2014-15 squad whose biggest issue was, well, scoring. The offensive burden on Lee's back will be just as heavy as it's been the last three years, it's just that the stage he carries it on is going to be much, much larger.

A do-it-all combo guard for the Hawks, Bembry ended his sophomore season by becoming the first Saint Joseph's player ever to win the Atlantic 10 scoring title. He also led Phil Martelli's club in rebounding (7.7 RPG), assists (3.6 APG) and steals (1.9 SPG), and also led the nation in minutes played per game at 38.6.

North Carolina's second-leading scorer (12.9 PPG) and leading rebounder (7.8 RPG) last season, Johnson has certainly had his moments as a Tar Heel. However, he still has yet to evolve into the household name Roy Williams believes he can be. The skill to make that transition happen is certainly within Johnson's possession, but it's consistency and some added toughness that the fans in Chapel Hill are hoping to be hit with once this season starts.

Gill's numbers are never going to wow more than say, London Perrantes' do, but he is exactly the type of player that Tony Bennett has to have in order for his team's to be highly successful. The 6'8 senior is a terrific defender, he is a tremendous offensive rebounder and, when given the opportunity, he is a highly efficient scorer. There's a reason advanced statistics love him.

Ben Howland wasted no time in bringing a five-star recruit with him to Starksville. Newman will be the face of Mississippi State basketball from day one this season, and without a whole lot around him down there, could wind up being one of the leading scorers in the country. Enjoy the next few months of watching Newman in a Bulldog uniform, because it's not likely that you're going to get any more.

Obviously, this ranking is contingent on the fact that Diallo winds up being declared eligible by the NCAA. If he doesn't, well, I guess just slide everyone behind him up one spot and we'll give No. 100 to DePaul as a lifetime achievement award. Diallo has the potential to be the best athlete, the best rim protector and the best NBA prospect in the Big 12 this season. The Jayhawks would be good without him, but I'm not sure they would be as good as they need to be to end their season in Houston.

The major question surrounding Prince this preseason isn't how good he can be or how vital he is to Baylor's success -- it's how his head coach plans to use him. Despite putting up some ridiculous numbers per 40 minutes in 2014-15, Scott Drew insisted on bringing Prince in off the bench and playing him (on most nights) fewer than 30 minutes. The result was that Prince was named the national Sixth Man of the Year, which is great, but Baylor needs him to put up bigger numbers as a senior. That should start with playing bigger minutes.

Poeltl's freshman numbers for the Utes won't floor anybody, but there's a reason why just about everyone thinks the 7-footer from Australia is going to be a force in the Pac-12 this season. He shot nearly 70 percent from the field a season ago, and with Delon Wright gone, he figures to be much more of a focal point for the Utah offense as a sophomore. There is not a better big man in the country when it comes to catching and finishing.

Hamilton is putting in some major work on the recruiting trail right now. But if he wants to get Florida State back into the dance (and as a major contender) for the first time since 2012, he's going to need his sophomore star to shoulder the bulk of the scoring load this season. A year ago, Xavier Rathan-Mayes became the first player in ACC history to score 30 or more points in three different games as a freshman. The second of those three performances was the most memorable, as Rathan-Mayes scored 30 points in the final 4:38 of an 81-77 loss to Miami. He scored 26 consecutive points for the Seminoles without missing a shot, and finished with a game-high 35.

Moore will be forced to play the entirety of his senior season with the knowledge that his SMU squad has already been banned from participating in any sort of postseason tournament. It's an especially bitter pill to swallow for the talented point guard given the fact that his lone taste of the NCAA Tournament is now going to wind up being last season's absolutely brutal first-round loss to UCLA.

One of the most valuable players in the entire country, Smith-Rivera is another classic Georgetown star of the JT III era. He puts the system first, but his skill is also undeniably apparent, especially when it comes to shooting. Smith-Rivera might be the best outside shooter in the Big East, and is nearly automatic at the free throw line, a place where he attempted just under five shots per game last season.

There's no point in leading with anything else here: Gathers is the most intimidating player in college basketball. The massive power forward led all power five conference players in rebounding last season at 11.6 boards per game.

The proverbial clicking seemed to take place for Jackson at the end of his freshman season, when he hit double figures in 11 of North Carolina's final 12 games, shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 44.7 percent from long range along the way. That surge will need to carry over into his sophomore season if he wants to generate some All-American buzz to go along with the "potential lottery pick" chatter that always follows him around.

He started just one game as a freshman last season, but Domantas Sabonis still may be the most polished big man on the West Coast. There's no guarantee that Arvydas' boy is even going to start as a sophomore, but he'll still be the biggest reason why Gonzaga will once again possess one of the most intimidating frontlines in the country.

He needs to improve defensively for it to happen, but don't be surprised if James Blackmon Jr. makes a surprise run at Big Ten Player of the Year. The sophomore guard is the most versatile scorer Tom Crean has at his disposal, which means he has the potential to put up some outrageous numbers in IU's up-tempo system.

Few players in college basketball had more disappointing seasons in 2014-15 than Taylor. First there was a wrist injury in November that forced him to sit on the sidelines for 10 non-conference games. Then there was a disappointing return in which Taylor seemed to be consistently trying to do too much. Finally there was the end of the season thud, in which Taylor was a combined 11-of-31 from the field in disappointing Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament losses to Iowa State and Butler, respectively. The miserable four-month stretch had Taylor ready to pack his bags and leave Austin, but then Steve Patterson hired Shaka Smart. Now, Taylor will be the front man as Smart attempts to bring his famous "Havoc" style to Texas.

Jones is a lottery pick in virtually any 2016 NBA mock draft that you can find on the Internet right now. The 6'10 center was the driving force behind Vandy's coming of age in the final third of the 2014-15 season, a season in which he averaged 14.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. The first team All-SEC honoree flirted briefly with foregoing his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility in favor of turning pro, but announced in late March that he loved Vanderbilt too much to leave without making one more run at the big dance.

Bill Self will have plenty of new and exciting weapons at his disposal in 2015-16, but Ellis will likely remain his most consistent, and most utilized option. Despite being one of the most reliable and productive performers in the country for the past two seasons, Ellis is still known more for his "that guy's still playing?" status than he is as one of the best country's best college basketball players. That will change if he's leading a legitimate national championship charge from the Jayhawks in February and March.

You can't talk about Collinsworth without bringing up the outrageous fact that he recorded six triple-doubles in a single season last year. While that shattered the previous single-season record of four, Collinsworth's next triple-double will also make him the career leader in the category, breaking a current tie with Michael Anderson and Shaquille O'Neal.

Over the past four seasons at Indiana, Ferrell has evolved seamlessly from classic pass-first point guard, to the Hoosiers' only legitimate scoring option and finally one of the nation's most well-rounded floor generals. Ferrell's final act at Indiana will be to try and lead a talented Hoosier team to its first regional final in 14 years.

It might take him a while to get his footing, but before the end of the year, the natural talent that is going to make Ingram a lottery pick will be on full display for the rest of the sports world to see. Ingram models his game after Kevin Durant, and while it's unlikely that we'll see him post the same types of insane numbers that KD did during his one season at Texas, the similarities will still be apparent to all who tune into Blue Devil games this season.

A broken foot derailed what was supposed to be Levert's breakout season (and in turn derailed Michigan's NCAA Tournament hopes), but the 18 games the Wolverine star did play as a junior proved that the preseason hype he had received was warranted. The 6'7 guard shot 40.5 percent from deep, and averaged 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists before breaking his foot against Northwestern on Jan. 17.

Baker, an Associated Press honorable mention All-American last season, may have been the best player on the United States' Pan American Games team that captured the bronze medal this past summer. Baker, who averaged 14.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals as a junior in 2014-15, kicked around the idea of foregoing his final season at Wichita State, but quickly changed his mind when head coach Gregg Marshall announced he wasn't going anywhere.

At this point, it's safe to assume that pigeonholing Baker is a mistake. First, he was the kid who couldn't really play, then he was the spot-up shooter. Next, it was the guy who did everything sufficiently but nothing extraordinarily, and now he's the guy some people are surprised didn't leave school a year early, so he could be selected in the draft. At least that glorious hair has remained a constant.

Valentine was not a first or second All-Big Ten selection last season, but he was the biggest reason why Michigan State crashed the Final Four for a second straight year. Valentine averaged 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a junior, and was especially sensational in the big dance. He was the Spartans' lone bright spot in its national semifinal loss to Duke, scoring 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting and also grabbing 11 rebounds.

A season after setting an NCAA record with a 4.79 assist to turnover ratio as a freshman, Morris nearly did himself one better. The Iowa State point guard finished his sophomore campaign with an assist to turnover ratio of 4.63, which was the best in the country. He's bulked up and he plans to attack the rim more for new head coach Steve Prohm, but Morris is also going to keep doing what he does better than any other point guard in the country -- take care of the ball and get it to teammates in a position where they can score.

California might be the most fun team in the country to watch this season, and future NBA stud Brown is probably the biggest reason why. Brown is a dominant athlete who can play just about any position on the court, but who will likely hold down the small forward position for Cuonzo Martin for the next five months. Seriously, stay up late for these weeknight Pac-12 games. Plan ahead. Do whatever you have to do.

The Harrison twins are currently suiting up in the NBDL, which means the "Tyler Ulis doesn't start, but he's actually Kentucky's best point guard" talk can finally rest peacefully. Ulis himself had an opportunity to jump to the league, but made the decision to return to Lexington, so he could make another run at a national title, but do so as a leader this time. The importance of the point guard position under John Calipari has been well documented, so it's a good thing for BBN that they have one of the best in the country ready to run the show full-time.

Hayes may have been best known last season for his humorous love of stenography and stenographers during the Badgers' NCAA Tournament. That reputation overshadowed the fact that he was likely Wisconsin's second-best player (Sam Dekker wasn't himself when he was hobbled by an ankle injury during the early part of the season) for most of the year. Hayes will have to morph from solid role player and funny man into star captain quickly if Wisconsin wants to contend for another Big Ten title, let alone another national championship.

Yeah, the stats are there, but what makes VanVleet truly great is that he sees the game the same way a mathematician sees a half-finished equation. He recognizes exactly what the present situation is, he knows exactly what the next three moves need to be in order to produce the desired result and he knows what that desired result is. Programs like Wichita State don't find themselves in the midst of a run like the one the Shockers are currently on without a special player like that. Do yourself a favor this winter and spend one evening watching a Wichita State game from start to finish without any interruptions. The point guard for the Shockers will undoubtedly reward you for your effort.

He may not have been the first team All-American that many had him pegged as before the season, but the notion that Paige had a "disappointing" junior year seems unfair. For starters, he was the leading scorer on a pretty good North Carolina team and wound up making more three-pointers by himself than the rest of his teammates did combined. A bolstered supporting cast figures to make Paige even more effective in his final season of college ball.

Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton are both gone, but the other major player who led Notre Dame to within one shot of crashing the 2015 Final Four is headed back to South Bend for another run at a title. Jackson became a leader on the court for the Irish last season, but with those two senior stars gone, he's spent his summer working on how to become a better team captain in all respects. The lightning quick 6'1 floor general will also enter his junior year with a major chip on his shoulder after playing likely his worst game in months when Notre Dame fell to Kentucky 68-66 in the Midwest Regional final last March.

It's a bit mind-blowing to think that Wiltjer, one of the trendy preseason picks for national Player of the Year, was once a classmate of Anthony Davis' on Kentucky's 2011-12 national championship team. After seriously considering a jump to the professional ranks, Wiltjer elected to extend his fascinating college career by one more season. The Zags also return the talented inside duo of Przemek Karnowski and Domantas Sabonis, but it's Wiltjer who will undoubtedly have the largest say in how successful the team can be without Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr. and Byron Wesley.

Will Labissiere wind up being the fifth John Calipari Wildcat to be taken No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft? It's certainly a very real possibility, but that doesn't mean Labissiere is the best player in the country. That doesn't even mean he's the best player in Lexington.

After a monster freshman season that few, if any, saw coming, Trimble now finds himself in a position where he could wind up becoming the most popular Maryland player since Juan Dixon. Anyone remember how far Dixon took the Terps?

Brogdon is the lone first or second team Associated Press All-American from last season who is back for another round in the college ranks. He is unquestionably the most talented player on Virginia's roster, and there's little doubt that he would be putting up more impressive numbers if he were suiting up for a team with a more aesthetically pleasing style of play. If that thought ever crosses Brogdon's mind, he certainly doesn't show it. He is the quintessential Virginia basketball player. The most gifted cog in the system, yes, but still fully aware that there is no system if he doesn't fit in effectively with the other parts.

Hield was one of the few players in college basketball last spring who had a legitimate chance to be selected in the NBA Draft and still chose to return to school. The native of the Bahamas had a monster junior season, averaging 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on his way to earning Big 12 Player of the Year and third team AP All-American honors. Lon Kruger's team will miss TaShawn Thomas, but Hield's return is what makes them a serious threat to Kansas' throne in the Big 12.

Seven months after he ended his junior season with a third team AP All-American nod, Niang is beginning his senior campaign as a first teamer. The similarities in Ames end there. Head coach Fred Hoiberg bolted for the Chicago Bulls at the beginning of June, leaving former Murray State head coach Steve Prohm to inherit a loaded Cyclone roster headlined by Niang. After averaging 15.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season, Niang begins his final run in college as the only player in the country with 1,500 points, 450 rebounds and 300 assists for his career.

As good as Kentucky was a year ago (and 38-1 is remarkably good), they were a Murray away from being unstoppable. Murray is the high-volume, can score from anywhere threat that the Cats were noticeably lacking at times last season, especially when the Harrison twins were comprising the UK backcourt. Murray will fill it up early and often this season, and will also be the biggest reason why John Calipari will let his team play at a faster pace as opposed to being content to settle into halfcourt offensive sets. As good as Skal Labissiere, Tyler Ulis and Isaiah Briscoe may be, Jamal Murray will be the showstopper in Lexington this winter.

Simmons has been pretty open about his desire to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and if LSU is going to win the national championship -- a proclamation already made by fellow five-star freshman Antonio Blakeney -- he'd better be ready to live up to that hype. Easily the most highly touted player to come to LSU since Shaquille O'Neal, Simmons was being used in advertising campaigns for season tickets before he even arrived on campus. The versatile 6'10 forward can do just about everything imaginable on a basketball court, and his complete skill set will need to be on full display if the Tigers are going to win a game in the big dance (let alone six) for the first time since 2009.

Everybody's preseason All-American stunned the college basketball world last spring when Dunn passed on the opportunity to be a likely lottery pick in favor of returning to Providence for one more season under Ed Cooley. Dunn's college career has been riddled with injuries, this will be his fourth year on the PC campus, and there's no guarantee, even with his return, that the Friars are going to make the NCAA Tournament. All of these factors combined make Dunn's decision to return one of the most surprising in recent memory. Simply put, there's nothing that Dunn doesn't do well. He averaged 15.6 points, 7.5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals last season, and was both the Big East co-Player of the Year and co-Defensive Player of the Year.