100
100 Corey Davis
Houston
Houston
SR, Guard
With scoring machine Rob Gray gone, Davis will be asked to build on a junior season in which he averaged 13.1 ppg and made more three-pointers per game than any other player in the American Athletic Conference.
99
99 KeVaughn Allen
Florida
Florida
SR, Guard
Allen’s junior season was solid, but still something of a disappointment after an electric sophomore campaign. His scoring average (11.0 ppg) and field goal percentage (36.1 percent) were both career lows, but he did shoot an unreal 90.6 percent from the free-throw line.
98
98 Otis Livingston II
George Mason
George Mason
JR, Guard
Livingston is Atlantic 10’s third leading returning scorer after averaging 17.3 ppg last season. He also posted a team-best 4.3 assists per game for the Patriots in 2017-18.
97
97 Jalen Adams
UConn
UConn
SR, Guard
If Danny Hurley’s first season in Storrs is going to be anything resembling a success, Adams will have almost certainly been a large part of the reason why. The All-AAC performer led the team in scoring (18.1), assists (4.7) and minutes played (38.1) last season.
96
96 Naz Reid
LSU
LSU
FR, Forward
The talented freshman big man should serve as the perfect inside-outside accent to star guard Tremont Waters.
95
95 Ja Morant
Murray State
Murray State
SO, Guard
Murray State has become a mid-major factory of NBA talent in recent years, churning out both Isaiah Canaan and Cameron Payne. Whether it’s in 2019 or a year later, expect the remarkably gifted Morant to be next.
94
94 Jaylen Hands
UCLA
UCLA
SO, Guard
Hands was disappointing as a freshman, averaging 9.9 ppg along with a subpar assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.6 assists to 1.8 turnovers. Having better pieces around him should help the former five-star recruit relax and be more productive as a sophomore.
93
93 Lagerald Vick
Kansas
Kansas
SR, Guard
Vick and Bill Self had reportedly reached an agreement near the end of last season that 2017-18 would be the last time the talented 6’5 guard suited up for the Jayhawks. And yet here we are, entering yet another season where Vick is being described as the “x-factor” for the preseason No. 1 team in the country.
92
92 Bol Bol
Oregon
Oregon
FR, Center
The 7’3 son of the late Manute Bol, Bol Bol is one of the most intriguing freshmen in the country. He can score from the outside as effectively as he can in the paint, which will make determining the best way to utilize his skills a fascinating challenge for Oregon coach Dana Altman.
91
91 Dewan Hernandez
Miami
Miami
JR, Forward
Formerly Dewan Huell, Hernandez changed his last name prior to this season because he said he wanted to share the last name of his mother Christina. Hernandez is coming off a sophomore season in which he led Miami in rebounding at 6.7 boards per game and ranked second in scoring at 11.4 ppg.
90
90 Tyler Cook
Iowa
Iowa
JR, Forward
An honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season, Cook led Iowa in scoring (15.3 ppg), rebounding (6.8 rpg), field goal percentage (56.6 percent) and free-throws made (121).
89
89 Fletcher Magee
Wofford
Wofford
SR, Guard
Perhaps the best pure shooter in college basketball, Magee averaged 22.1 points per game last season and shot 43.9 percent from beyond the arc. He dropped 30 or more points six times, including a 45-point explosion against Chattanooga. Magee was sensational in an upset win over North Carolina last November, a feat he’ll have an opportunity to repeat when the Terriers open the season by hosting UNC on Nov. 6.
88
88 Bruno Fernando
Maryland
Maryland
SO, Forward
Fernando’s rare athleticism for someone his size will have NBA scouts paying close attention to his sophomore season. He averaged 10.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game despite playing just over 20 minutes per game as a freshman in 2017-18.
87
87 Jahvon Quinerly
Villanova
Villanova
FR, Guard
Jay Wright typically likes to bring his five-star freshmen guards around slowly, but he may not have that luxury with Quinerly, who figures to immediately step into the spot last occupied by National Player of the Year Jalen Brunson.
86
86 Yoeli Childs
BYU
BYU
JR, Forward
Childs quietly averaged 17.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game last season. As a junior, he’ll hope lead BYU back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015.
85
85 Devontae Cacok
UNC Wilmington
UNC Wilmington
SR, Forward
Cacok led the nation in field goal percentage as a sophomore (80.0 percent), and led the nation in rebounding (13.5 rpg) as a junior. His 22 double-doubles last season were the second most of any player in Division I.
84
84 Joe Cremo
Villanova
Villanova
SR, Guard
Cremo was one of the top mid-major players in the country last season, averaging 17.8 points per game for Albany. Landing the grad transfer became of paramount importance for Jay Wright once Donte DiVincenzo announced that he would be joining Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Omari Spellman in the NBA Draft.
83
83 Luwane Pipkins
UMass
UMass
JR, Guard
Pipkins’ breakout sophomore season saw the 5’11 guard average 21.2 points and 4.0 assists per game. He set the program record for most points scored in a UMass game and the most points scored in the Mullins Center when he dropped 44 in an overtime win over La Salle.
82
82 Josh Perkins
Gonzaga
Gonzaga
SR, Guard
One of the most reliable guards in the country, Perkins will likely leave Gonzaga as the winningest guard in program history, and has an outside chance to pass former Zag Przemek Karnowski as the winningest player in NCAA history.
81
81 Desmond Bane
TCU
TCU
JR, Guard
When Bane gets hot from the outside, there are few players in the country who are more exciting to watch. He led the Big 12 in three-point percentage (46.1 percent) last season, and hit at least one trey in all but three of TCU’s 32 games.
80
80 Myles Powell
Seton Hall
Seton Hall
JR, Guard
The lone returning starter from last year’s team that was beaten by Kansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Powell (15.5 ppg) will be asked to put up some monster numbers for a Seton Hall squad that hopes to avoid the dreaded “rebuilding” tag.
79
79 Jaylen Fisher
TCU
TCU
JR, Guard
If the oft-injured Fisher can stay 100 percent healthy this season (at least after he returns from his latest knee injury), then he’ll likely deserve to be higher on the year-end version of this list. When he’s healthy, there are few point guards in the country who are more effective.
78
78 Noah Dickerson
Washington
Washington
SR, Forward
Dickerson’s numbers have steadily increased in all three of his collegiate seasons to date. There’s no reason to believe that trend won’t continue on what should be the best Husky squad he’s suited up for.
77
77 Chris Lykes
Miami
Miami
SO, Guard
Expect the 5’7 Lykes to be one of the most exciting players in college basketball this season. Even with current pros Lonnie Walker and Bruce Brown around, Lykes started to demand his own share of the spotlight toward the end of last season, scoring in double digits in eight of Miami’s last 10 games.
76
76 Lamar Stevens
Penn State
Penn State
JR, Forward
Stevens is coming off of a monster March in which he averaged 19.2 points per game over five postseason contests and was named the Most Valuable Player of the NIT. He scored 28 points in the championship game of that tournament, connecting on 11 of 15 shots from the field.
75
75 B.J. Taylor
Central Florida
Central Florida
SR, Guard
Despite missing 16 games of his junior season because of a foot injury, Taylor still became the third-fastest player to reach 1,000 career points in UCF history. He was the media’s choice as the preseason AAC Player of the Year, and will be the unquestioned leader and star of a Central Florida squad that is the preseason pick to win the conference.
74
74 Jalen Hudson
Florida
Florida
SR, Guard
In his first season since transferring in from Virginia Tech, Hudson led the Gators in scoring at 15.5 points per game and hit a team-high 78 three-pointers. He also became the first Florida player to be named SEC Player of the Week three times in the same season.
73
73 Terance Mann
Florida State
Florida State
SR, Guard
A stellar junior season for Mann came to a bitter end when he scored just four points in the team’s 58-54 Elite Eight loss to Michigan. He, Phil Cofer, and Trent Forrest will serve as the nucleus for a Florida State team that has high hopes for doing damage in March once again.
72
72 Phil Cofer
Florida State
Florida State
SR, Forward
Cofer led the Seminoles in scoring (12.8 ppg) and was second in rebounding (5.1 rpg) last season, which is why him being granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA in May was such a monster deal in Tallahassee.
71
71 Jeremiah Martin
Memphis
Memphis
SR, Guard
Penny Hardaway has injected life back into the Memphis basketball program, but most of that enthusiasm is centered around how good the Tigers could be two or three years from now. If Year 1 under Penny is going to be an unexpected success, it’ll almost certainly be due in large part to the play of Martin, who averaged 18.9 ppg last season.
70
70 Austin Wiley
Auburn
Auburn
SO, Center
Wiley, who had been popping up in 2018 NBA mock drafts across the internet, missed all of last season after his name popped up in the FBI probe into college basketball. He was eventually cleared by the NCAA and opted to return to Auburn instead of jumping to the league with a limited body of work.
69
69 Jessie Govan
Georgetown
Georgetown
SR, Center
One of the most under-appreciated big men in the country, Govan made head coach Patrick Ewing proud last season by averaging 17.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
68
68 Quentin Grimes
Kansas
Kansas
FR, Guard
An extremely gifted five-star combo guard, it’s hard to pinpoint how heavily Grimes will be featured on a Kansas roster that is loaded with talent, especially in the frontcourt. If Bill Self opts to make Grimes one of the focal points of his offense like he has in recent seasons with similarly-talented guards, this ranking might wind up being far too low.
67
67 Justin Wright-Foreman
Hofstra
Hofstra
SR, Guard
The 2018 CAA Player of the Year, Wright-Foreman averaged 24.4 points per game as a junior, good for the fifth-most in the country.
66
66 Dylan Windler
Belmont
Belmont
SR, Forward
Windler was the only player in the country last season to average at least 17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and shoot 40.0 percent from three. He made national headlines with a 36-point, 20-rebound performance against Morehead State in February.
65
65 T.J. Gibbs
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
JR, Guard
Notre Dame’s injury-riddled 2017-18 forced Gibbs to step up as the team’s primary scorer and ball-handler a year earlier than expected. He finished the year with the third-most minutes played in school history (1,348), an experience that should help him as he begins his unquestioned reign as the face of Fighting Irish hoops.
64
64 Nick Ward
Michigan State
Michigan State
JR, Forward
The ultra-talented Ward has had something of an uneven college career to date, struggling at times with both conditioning and his relationship with head coach Tom Izzo. Both of those issues have reportedly been rectified during the offseason, as Ward looks to build off a 2017-18 in which he led the Big Ten in field goal percentage (64.8 percent) and ranked seventh in rebounding (7.1 rpg).
63
63 Jarron Cumberland
Cincinnati
Cincinnati
JR, Guard
With Jacob Evans, Gary Clark, and Kyle Washington all gone, Cumberland must become a star if Cincinnati is going to do damage in its ninth-consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. He was at his best in the Big Dance a year ago, dropping 27 in the team’s first round win over Georgia State, and 17 in the heartbreaking loss to Nevada two nights later.
62
62 Admiral Schofield
Tennessee
Tennessee
SR, Forward
In addition to having one of the best names in college basketball, Schofield joins forces with Grant Williams to form one of the most intimidating frontcourts in the country. The 6’6, 241-pound forward averaged 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a junior last season.
61
61 Marcquise Reed
Clemson
Clemson
SR, Guard
In Reed’s monster 2017-18 season he became the first Clemson player since Billy Williams in 1980 to post 500 points, 100 rebounds, 50 assists, and 50 steals in the same season.
60
60 Tres Tinkle
Oregon State
Oregon State
JR, Forward
The coach’s son was a First Team All-Pac 12 performer last season, averaging 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He was the only player in the conference to rank in the league’s top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.
59
59 Ty Jerome
Virginia
Virginia
JR, Guard
Kyle Guy might top him in production, and De’Andre Hunter might top him in talent, but Ty Jerome is the player Tony Bennett turns to when he finds his team in a must-score situation. The clutch guard was a Third Team All-ACC performer last season after averaging 10.6 ppg, and shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 90.5 percent from the free-throw line.
58
58 Jaylen Nowell
Washington
Washington
SO, Guard
As a freshman in 2017-18, Nowell led the overachieving Huskies in scoring 16.0 ppg while also shooting 45.1 percent from the field. His 545 points rank second on Washington’s freshman scoring list, trailing only Tony Wroten (559) and Dejounte Murray (548).
57
57 McKinley Wright
Colorado
Colorado
SO, Guard
Though his production dipped in the tail end of the season, Wright still produced one of the best freshman years in the history of Colorado hoops. He led the Buffs in scoring (14.2 ppg), assists (5.5 apg) and steals (1.0 spg), and also shattered Chauncey Billups’ freshman record for assists in a season by dishing out 175.
56
56 Jarrett Culver
Texas Tech
Texas Tech
SO, Guard
With Keenan Evans and Zhaire Smith gone, Culver is the only returning double-figure scorer (11.2 ppg) from last season’s Elite Eight squad. With so much production lost, Culver will need to have a monster season if the Red Raiders are going to make it back to the NCAA tournament.
55
55 Anthony Cowan
Maryland
Maryland
JR, Guard
Maryland’s leading returning scorer (15.8 ppg) and assist man (5.1 apg), Cowan should become the focal point of a Terrapin squad that will be adjusting to life without Kevin Huerter and Justin Jackson.
54
54 Clayton Custer
Loyola-Chicago
Loyola-Chicago
SR, Guard
He might not be quite as famous as Sister Jean, but Custer still has a solid case for big man on campus at Loyola-Chicago. The reigning Missouri Valley Player of the Year averaged 13.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per contest for a Rambler squad that made one of the most memorable Final Four runs in March Madness history.
53
53 Mustapha Heron
St. John’s
St. John’s
JR, Guard
Heron led Auburn to a stunning SEC championship last season, averaging a team-best 16.4 ppg. He then made the equally stunning decision to transfer to St. John’s, where he was granted a hardship waiver by the NCAA, making him eligible to compete immediately.
52
52 Barry Brown
Kansas State
Kansas State
SR, Guard
Brown will enter his senior season with 1,283 career points, good for No. 12 on Kansas State’s career scoring list. His streak of 83 consecutive games started is the fifth-longest in K-State history.
51
51 Daniel Gafford
Arkansas
Arkansas
SO, Forward
NBA scouts are in love with Gafford, who averaged 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocked shots per game as a freshman last season. As a sophomore, he’ll be the rare big man who serves as the focal point of a power conference team’s offense.
50
50 Oshae Brissett
Syracuse
Syracuse
SO, Forward
Brissett was the star of Syracuse’s improbable run to the Sweet 16, averaging 17.0 points and 9.3 rebounds over the Orange’s four NCAA tournament tilts. If that success carries over into his sophomore season, Jim Boeheim and company could be set up for another memorable March.
49
49 Chris Clemons
Campbell
Campbell
SR, Guard
After flirting with an early exit to the NBA draft, Chris Clemons is back at Campbell for his senior season. The electric 5’9 guard is the nation’s leading returning scorer with 2,232 career points, and has scored in double figures in 96 of his 97 career college games.
48
48 Cody Martin
Nevada
Nevada
SR, Forward
The less-heralded of the Martin twins, Cody will still figure heavily in whatever level of success Nevada enjoys this season. He averaged 14.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game last season, all career-bests.
47
47 Chris Silva
South Carolina
South Carolina
SR, Forward
Silva remains one of college basketball’s most under-appreciated players despite consistent evidence that he’s one of the best two-way players in the country. He led the Gamecocks last season in points per game (14.3), rebounds (8.0), field goal percent (46.7 percent), blocks (1.4), free throws attempted (283), and free throws made (213), and was also the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
46
46 Payton Pritchard
Oregon
Oregon
JR, Guard
One of the most reliable point guards in the country, Pritchard dished out 4.8 assists per game last season against 2.1 turnovers. He also led the Ducks in scoring at 14.5 ppg, and connected on 41.3 percent of his three-point attempts.
45
45 Udoka Azubuike
Kansas
Kansas
JR, Center
The lone consistent force in the paint for Kansas last season, Azubuike averaged 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He also shot 77.0 percent from the field, the second-best field goal percentage in the history of Division I basketball.
44
44 Bryce Brown
Auburn
Auburn
SR, Guard
A First Team All-SEC (AP) performer last season, Brown averaged 15.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. His workload will be even greater this season with last year’s leading scorer, Mustapha Heron, transferring to St. John’s.
43
43 Zach Norvell Jr.
Gonzaga
Gonzaga
SO, Guard
Norvell was Gonzaga’s best player in the postseason last year, averaging 17.5 points per game and never scoring fewer than 14 over six WCC and NCAA tournament contests. Expect that breakout March to carry over into his sophomore season.
42
42 D’Marcus Simonds
Georgia State
Georgia State
JR, Guard
UT-Arlington’s Kevin Hervey was supposed to run the Sun Belt last season. Instead, that distinction belonged to Simonds, who earned conference POY honors after setting a Georgia State single-season record with 742 points. He needs 689 points this season to pass the great R.J. Hunter as Georgia State’s all-time leading scorer.
41
41 Bennie Boatwright
USC
USC
SR, Forward
A knee injury limited the junior season of Boatright, who still managed to average 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds over 23 games. The versatile 6’10 forward has averaged double figures in each of his three collegiate seasons, and will be serving as USC’s captain for the third straight year.
40
40 Lindell Wigginton
Iowa State
Iowa State
SO, Guard
One of the most explosive offensive players in the Big 12, Wiggington is coming off a season in which he broke Iowa State freshman records for for points per game (16.7), 20-point games (13), and three-point field goals made (69).
39
39 Jordan Murphy
Minnesota
Minnesota
SR, Forward
An All-Big Ten selection for the second time last season, Murphy led the nation with 24 double-doubles. He also posted a new school record for rebounds in a season (361), leading the conference and ranking fifth in the nation in that category.
38
38 Jon Elmore
Marshall
Marshall
SR, Guard
Only two players in the country last season ranked in the nation’s top 10 for both points and assists. One was Oklahoma superstar Trae Young, and the other was Elmore (22.7 ppg, 6.8 apg), a relative unknown before Marshall stunned Wichita State in the NCAA tournament. His numbers won’t catch anyone by surprise this season.
37
37 Quinndary Weatherspoon
Mississippi State
Mississippi State
SR, Guard
Weatherspoon was a model of consistency in 2017-18. He scored in double figures 30 times, but never went off for more than 22. His 14.4 ppg average led the Bulldogs and ranked 14th in the SEC.
36
36 Kellan Grady
Davidson
Davidson
SO, Guard
He’s not Stephen Curry, even though the eye-popping numbers and the school affiliation are going to make the comparison unavoidable. As a freshman, Grady scored in double figures 29 times and breached the 30-point plateau three times.
35
35 Justin Robinson
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech
SR, Guard
A Second Team All-ACC performer in 2017-18, Robinson dished out the most assists by a junior in school history (185) and the second-most in program history.
34
34 James Palmer Jr.
Nebraska
Nebraska
SR, Guard
Palmer averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. His return has Nebrasketball fans expecting to see the Huskers in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014.
33
33 PJ Washington
Kentucky
Kentucky
SO, Forward
The rare talented Kentucky big man who opted to put the NBA on hold, Washington is back after being UK’s third-leading scorer (10.8 ppg) as a freshman.
32
32 Kris Wilkes
UCLA
UCLA
SO, Guard
A former five-star recruit, Wilkes finished his freshman season as UCLA’s second-leading scorer (13.7) and second-leading rebounder (4.9). Expect his production to make a sizable jump in Year 2.
31
31 Jordan Caroline
Nevada
Nevada
SR, Guard
The Wolfpack’s second-leading scorer (17.7 ppg) and leading rebounder (8.6 rpg), Caroline flirted with the NBA before ultimately opting for one final season of college ball. He was forced to be an undersized center for much of last season, but the additions of 6’10 Trey Porter and 6’11 McDonald’s All-American Jordan Brown should allow Caroline to move back to his more natural position of small forward.
30
30 Reid Travis
Kentucky
Kentucky
SR, Forward
Almost certain to be the most impactful grad transfer in the country this season, Travis comes to Kentucky after becoming one of just three players in Stanford history to notch at least 1,400 points and 700 rebounds in fewer than 100 games played. He figures to provide the experience and leadership that John Calipari’s best teams in Lexington have always had.
29
29 Killian Tillie
Gonzaga
Gonzaga
JR, Forward
One of the more versatile forwards in the country, Tillie can get buckets around the rim, and he also shot 47.9 percent from three last season. He was an outrageous 13 of 14 from deep during Gonzaga’s run to the West Coast Conference tournament title.
28
28 Sagaba Konate
West Virginia
West Virginia
JR, Forward
Known for his signature two-handed swat, Konate blocked a whopping 116 shots last season. While he was on the court, he swatted away a ridiculous 15.6 percent of the shots attempted by the other team. Konate also posted solid averages of 10.8 points and 7.6 rebounds.
27
27 Charles Matthews
Michigan
Michigan
SR, Guard
In his first season after transferring from Kentucky, Matthews averaged 13 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on his way to helping Michigan to the national championship game. He flirted with an early jump to the NBA before ultimately opting to return for one more season in Ann Arbor.
26
26 Juwan Morgan
Indiana
Indiana
SR, Forward
Morgan made Archie Miller’s first season in Bloomington much more tolerable than it could have been by averaging 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He and freshman sensation Romeo Langford should combine to form arguably the best 1-2 punch in college basketball this season.
25
25 Kamar Baldwin
Butler
Butler
JR, Guard
Baldwin’s 893 points through two seasons are the fourth-most in Butler history, trailing only Gordon Hayward (992), Chad Tucker (948), and Shelvin Mack (918). With Kelan Martin gone, Baldwin figures to be the unquestioned star of LaVall Jordan’s 2018-19 squad.
24
24 Cassius Winston
Michigan State
Michigan State
JR, Guard
Winston shot 49.7 percent from three and 90.0 percent from the free-throw line as a sophomore this season. He’s the leader of, and should be the best player for a Michigan State squad that is the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten.
23
23 Tyus Battle
Syracuse
Syracuse
JR, Guard
Battle’s somewhat surprising decision to return to school last spring took Syracuse from likely ACC also-ran to preseason top 20 squad. Battle averaged 19.2 ppg last season and was on the court for 96.2 percent of Syracuse’s minutes, the highest percentage of any player in the country.
22
22 Markus Howard
Marquette
Marquette
JR, Guard
A darkhorse candidate for national Player of the Year, Howard averaged 20.4 ppg last season and shot 46.4 percent from beyond the arc with an effective field goal percentage of 57.2. He’ll be relied on even more heavily this season with Andrew Rowsey graduated.
21
21 Eric Paschall
Villanova
Villanova
SR, Forward
With the top four scorers from last season’s national championship squad gone, this is Paschall’s team now. Expect his always-solid numbers to jump, and expect Nova to continue to build its case as the strongest program in the sport at the current moment.
20
20 Kyle Guy
Virginia
Virginia
JR, Guard
A Third Team AP All-American last year, Guy (14.1 ppg) was the leading scorer on a Virginia team that entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. He once again figures to be the focal point of a UVA offense that will thrive on efficiency.
19
19 Keldon Johnson
Kentucky
Kentucky
FR, Forward
There’s little doubt that Kentucky is going to be one of the best teams in the country this season, but figuring out which player on Coach Cal’s roster is going to be his top performer is a much taller task. Here’s a guess that it’s Johnson, whose motor, enthusiasm, and ability to do a little bit of everything should drive the Cats.
18
18 Ky Bowman
Boston College
Boston College
JR, Guard
As a sophomore last season, Bowman was the only player in the country to average at least 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. That’s also a feat that only 10 players have accomplished since 1990. The scary thing is that all those numbers could go up this season now that backcourt mate Jerome Robinson is suiting up for the LA Clippers.
17
17 Mike Daum
South Dakota State
South Dakota State
SR, Forward
Entering his senior season with 2,232 career points, Daum has an opportunity to leave the sport as one of its top 15 all-time scorers.
16
16 Cameron Reddish
Duke
Duke
FR, Guard
The most enigmatic of Duke’s outrageously talented group of freshmen, Reddish is being pegged by many as the x-factor on a Blue Devil squad that has legitimate national championship aspirations. He’s almost certain to have multiple games where he looks to be far and away the best player on the court, but consistency is going to be key as far as his team’s success is concerned.
15
15 Dean Wade
Kansas State
Kansas State
SR, Forward
Wade didn’t play in Kansas State’s Elite Eight loss to Loyola-Chicago, and it has to be hard for Wildcat fans to not imagine how different things might have gone if he had. Wade, who averaged 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season on his way to first team All-Big 12 honors, will likely leave K-State as the program’s all-time leader in career starts.
14
14 Rui Hachimura
Gonzaga
Gonzaga
JR, Forward
Hachimura’s extreme potential was on full display last March when he lit Ohio State up for 25 points in a 90-84 win that propelled Gonzaga on to the Sweet 16. Born in Toyama, Japan, Hachimura spent the summer posting massive numbers for his home country (and raising his NBA draft stock) in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers.
13
13 Romeo Langford
Indiana
Indiana
FR, Guard
Langford is the first Indiana Mr. Basketball to sign with the Hoosiers since Cody Zeller, and he might be the most ballyhooed recruit to come out of the basketball-obsessed state since Damon Bailey in 1990. During Langford’s signing ceremony, which lasted nearly an hour, he was referred to as “an icon” and compared to both Oscar Robertson and Abraham Lincoln. That’s the level of hype he’s bringing with him to his first, and more than likely only, season of college basketball.
12
12 Ethan Happ
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
SR, Forward
Wisconsin’s struggles last season weren’t the fault of Happ, who averaged 17.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. He led the Badgers in all five of those categories.
11
11 Shamorie Ponds
St. John’s
St. John’s
JR, Guard
The Big East preseason Player of the Year, Ponds led the conference in scoring last season at 21.7 ppg. He scored 30 or more points six times, and also posted averages of 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
10
10 Zion Williamson
Duke
Duke
FR, Forward
Williamson is both one of the most freakish athletes, and one of the most famous freshmen college basketball has ever seen. He’ll be the most talked about player in the country this season, and it’s probably not going to be close.
9
9 Tremont Waters
LSU
LSU
SO, Guard
A dynamic performer on both ends of the court, Waters averaged 15.9 points and 6.0 assists per game as a freshman last season. His return to Baton Rouge is the biggest reason the Tigers will begin 2018-19 with a national ranking.
8
8 De’Andre Hunter
Virginia
Virginia
SO, Forward
Expect Hunter to make the massive sophomore leap that has happened under Tony Bennett since his days at Washington State. Hunter played fewer than 20 minutes per game last season, but still had people talking about him as a future lottery pick by the end of the year. Don’t be surprised if this is your 2019 ACC Player of the Year.
7
7 Luke Maye
North Carolina
North Carolina
SR, Forward
A preseason First Team AP All-American and the preseason ACC Player of the Year, Maye is coming off a monster junior year in which he averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Those numbers came just two years after Maye was a freshman walk-on averaging a little over five minutes of court time per game.
6
6 Grant Williams
Tennessee
Tennessee
JR, Forward
One of the most physically imposing post players in the country, Williams was the biggest reason for Tennessee’s surprisingly stellar 2017-18 season. He’s also the first reigning SEC Player of the Year to return to school since another Volunteer star, Chris Lofton, did so in 2007-08.
5
5 Nassir Little
North Carolina
North Carolina
FR, Forward
Luke Maye is the North Carolina player cleaning up all the preseason awards, but Little is the top talent on Roy Williams’ roster and a likely top five pick in next summer’s NBA draft. Come March, he’ll be the Tar Heels’ best overall player.
4
4 Dedric Lawson
Kansas
Kansas
JR, Forward
Kansas might be the biggest preseason favorite to win the national title, and the addition of Memphis transfer Dedric Lawson is one of the primary reasons why. Bill Self recently referred to Lawson — who averaged 19.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2016-17 — as the best passer he’s ever had at KU.
3
3 Caleb Martin
Nevada
Nevada
SR, Forward
The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year, Martin is a super athletic 6’7 forward who can score from virtually any spot on the floor. He averaged 18.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season — numbers which had most assuming he was bound for the NBA. Instead, both he and twin brother Cody are back to try and lead the Wolfpack past the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
2
2 Carsen Edwards
Purdue
Purdue
JR, Guard
The most consistent pick for preseason National Player of the Year, Edwards is back at Purdue after a breakout sophomore season in which he averaged 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. His 97 made three-pointers were the second-best single-season total in the history of Boilermaker basketball. The biggest question mark surrounding Edwards is whether or not he’ll have enough playmakers around him to keep opposing teams from dedicating their entire gameplans to slowing him down.
1
1 R.J. Barrett
Duke
Duke
FR, Forward
The early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft, there are few things that Barrett doesn’t do well. He’s an elite finisher, he can overpower or blow by just about any defender who attempts to get in his way, he’ll knock down the outside shot with consistency, and he can guard four positions on the other end of the court. Zion Williamson might be the player that most of America is tuning in to see when they watch Duke games this season, but Barrett is the one who will ultimately determine whether or not the Blue Devils are good enough to claim their sixth national championship.
Honorable Mentions
Tevin Mack, Alabama
Tacko Fall, Central Florida
Jarrey Foster, SMU
Nick Emery, BYU
Jalen Smith, Maryland
Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky
Jordan Goodwin, Saint Louis
Brad Davison, Wisconsin
Aric Holman, Mississippi State
Desean Murray, Western Kentucky
Torin Dorn, NC State
Tyler Hall, Montana State
Jeremiah Tilmon, Missouri
Markis McDuffie, Wichita State
Jalen McDaniels, San Diego State
Kevin Porter Jr., USC
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
K.J. Lawson, Kansas
Tre Jones, Duke
Isaiah Reese, Canisius
Anthony Lamb, Vermont
Milik Yarbrough, Illinois State
Joshua Langford, Michigan State
Quentin Goodin, Xavier
Sam Hauser, Marquette
Phil Booth, Villanova
Quade Green, Kentucky
Matisse Thybulle, Washington
C.J. Massinburg, Buffalo
Amir Coffey, Minnesota
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Zavier Simpson, Michigan
Tyler Herro, Kentucky
Alpha Diallo, Providence
Max Strus, DePaul
Marial Shayok, Iowa State
Courtney Stockard, St. Bonaventure
Cameron Johnson, North Carolina
Markell Johnson, NC State
James Thompson IV, Eastern Michigan
Shelton Mitchell, Clemson
Darius Garland, Vanderbilt
Nathan Knight, William & Mary
99•KeVaughn Allen
SR, Guard, Florida
Allen’s junior season was solid, but still something of a disappointment after an electric sophomore campaign. His scoring average (11.0 ppg) and field goal percentage (36.1 percent) were both career lows, but he did shoot an unreal 90.6 percent from the free-throw line.
93•Lagerald Vick
SR, Guard, Kansas
Vick and Bill Self had reportedly reached an agreement near the end of last season that 2017-18 would be the last time the talented 6’5 guard suited up for the Jayhawks. And yet here we are, entering yet another season where Vick is being described as the “x-factor” for the preseason No. 1 team in the country.
92•Bol Bol
FR, Center, Oregon
The 7’3 son of the late Manute Bol, Bol Bol is one of the most intriguing freshmen in the country. He can score from the outside as effectively as he can in the paint, which will make determining the best way to utilize his skills a fascinating challenge for Oregon coach Dana Altman.
91•Dewan Hernandez
JR, Forward, Miami
Formerly Dewan Huell, Hernandez changed his last name prior to this season because he said he wanted to share the last name of his mother Christina. Hernandez is coming off a sophomore season in which he led Miami in rebounding at 6.7 boards per game and ranked second in scoring at 11.4 ppg.
89•Fletcher Magee
SR, Guard, Wofford
Perhaps the best pure shooter in college basketball, Magee averaged 22.1 points per game last season and shot 43.9 percent from beyond the arc. He dropped 30 or more points six times, including a 45-point explosion against Chattanooga. Magee was sensational in an upset win over North Carolina last November, a feat he’ll have an opportunity to repeat when the Terriers open the season by hosting UNC on Nov. 6.
84•Joe Cremo
SR, Guard, Villanova
Cremo was one of the top mid-major players in the country last season, averaging 17.8 points per game for Albany. Landing the grad transfer became of paramount importance for Jay Wright once Donte DiVincenzo announced that he would be joining Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Omari Spellman in the NBA Draft.
83•Luwane Pipkins
JR, Guard, UMass
Pipkins’ breakout sophomore season saw the 5’11 guard average 21.2 points and 4.0 assists per game. He set the program record for most points scored in a UMass game and the most points scored in the Mullins Center when he dropped 44 in an overtime win over La Salle.
79•Jaylen Fisher
JR, Guard, TCU
If the oft-injured Fisher can stay 100 percent healthy this season (at least after he returns from his latest knee injury), then he’ll likely deserve to be higher on the year-end version of this list. When he’s healthy, there are few point guards in the country who are more effective.
77•Chris Lykes
SO, Guard, Miami
Expect the 5’7 Lykes to be one of the most exciting players in college basketball this season. Even with current pros Lonnie Walker and Bruce Brown around, Lykes started to demand his own share of the spotlight toward the end of last season, scoring in double digits in eight of Miami’s last 10 games.
76•Lamar Stevens
JR, Forward, Penn State
Stevens is coming off of a monster March in which he averaged 19.2 points per game over five postseason contests and was named the Most Valuable Player of the NIT. He scored 28 points in the championship game of that tournament, connecting on 11 of 15 shots from the field.
75•B.J. Taylor
SR, Guard, Central Florida
Despite missing 16 games of his junior season because of a foot injury, Taylor still became the third-fastest player to reach 1,000 career points in UCF history. He was the media’s choice as the preseason AAC Player of the Year, and will be the unquestioned leader and star of a Central Florida squad that is the preseason pick to win the conference.
73•Terance Mann
SR, Guard, Florida State
A stellar junior season for Mann came to a bitter end when he scored just four points in the team’s 58-54 Elite Eight loss to Michigan. He, Phil Cofer, and Trent Forrest will serve as the nucleus for a Florida State team that has high hopes for doing damage in March once again.
71•Jeremiah Martin
SR, Guard, Memphis
Penny Hardaway has injected life back into the Memphis basketball program, but most of that enthusiasm is centered around how good the Tigers could be two or three years from now. If Year 1 under Penny is going to be an unexpected success, it’ll almost certainly be due in large part to the play of Martin, who averaged 18.9 ppg last season.
70•Austin Wiley
SO, Center, Auburn
Wiley, who had been popping up in 2018 NBA mock drafts across the internet, missed all of last season after his name popped up in the FBI probe into college basketball. He was eventually cleared by the NCAA and opted to return to Auburn instead of jumping to the league with a limited body of work.
68•Quentin Grimes
FR, Guard, Kansas
An extremely gifted five-star combo guard, it’s hard to pinpoint how heavily Grimes will be featured on a Kansas roster that is loaded with talent, especially in the frontcourt. If Bill Self opts to make Grimes one of the focal points of his offense like he has in recent seasons with similarly-talented guards, this ranking might wind up being far too low.
65•T.J. Gibbs
JR, Guard, Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s injury-riddled 2017-18 forced Gibbs to step up as the team’s primary scorer and ball-handler a year earlier than expected. He finished the year with the third-most minutes played in school history (1,348), an experience that should help him as he begins his unquestioned reign as the face of Fighting Irish hoops.
64•Nick Ward
JR, Forward, Michigan State
The ultra-talented Ward has had something of an uneven college career to date, struggling at times with both conditioning and his relationship with head coach Tom Izzo. Both of those issues have reportedly been rectified during the offseason, as Ward looks to build off a 2017-18 in which he led the Big Ten in field goal percentage (64.8 percent) and ranked seventh in rebounding (7.1 rpg).
63•Jarron Cumberland
JR, Guard, Cincinnati
With Jacob Evans, Gary Clark, and Kyle Washington all gone, Cumberland must become a star if Cincinnati is going to do damage in its ninth-consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. He was at his best in the Big Dance a year ago, dropping 27 in the team’s first round win over Georgia State, and 17 in the heartbreaking loss to Nevada two nights later.
62•Admiral Schofield
SR, Forward, Tennessee
In addition to having one of the best names in college basketball, Schofield joins forces with Grant Williams to form one of the most intimidating frontcourts in the country. The 6’6, 241-pound forward averaged 13.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a junior last season.
59•Ty Jerome
JR, Guard, Virginia
Kyle Guy might top him in production, and De’Andre Hunter might top him in talent, but Ty Jerome is the player Tony Bennett turns to when he finds his team in a must-score situation. The clutch guard was a Third Team All-ACC performer last season after averaging 10.6 ppg, and shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 90.5 percent from the free-throw line.
57•McKinley Wright
SO, Guard, Colorado
Though his production dipped in the tail end of the season, Wright still produced one of the best freshman years in the history of Colorado hoops. He led the Buffs in scoring (14.2 ppg), assists (5.5 apg) and steals (1.0 spg), and also shattered Chauncey Billups’ freshman record for assists in a season by dishing out 175.
56•Jarrett Culver
SO, Guard, Texas Tech
With Keenan Evans and Zhaire Smith gone, Culver is the only returning double-figure scorer (11.2 ppg) from last season’s Elite Eight squad. With so much production lost, Culver will need to have a monster season if the Red Raiders are going to make it back to the NCAA tournament.
54•Clayton Custer
SR, Guard, Loyola-Chicago
He might not be quite as famous as Sister Jean, but Custer still has a solid case for big man on campus at Loyola-Chicago. The reigning Missouri Valley Player of the Year averaged 13.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per contest for a Rambler squad that made one of the most memorable Final Four runs in March Madness history.
50•Oshae Brissett
SO, Forward, Syracuse
Brissett was the star of Syracuse’s improbable run to the Sweet 16, averaging 17.0 points and 9.3 rebounds over the Orange’s four NCAA tournament tilts. If that success carries over into his sophomore season, Jim Boeheim and company could be set up for another memorable March.
49•Chris Clemons
SR, Guard, Campbell
After flirting with an early exit to the NBA draft, Chris Clemons is back at Campbell for his senior season. The electric 5’9 guard is the nation’s leading returning scorer with 2,232 career points, and has scored in double figures in 96 of his 97 career college games.
47•Chris Silva
SR, Forward, South Carolina
Silva remains one of college basketball’s most under-appreciated players despite consistent evidence that he’s one of the best two-way players in the country. He led the Gamecocks last season in points per game (14.3), rebounds (8.0), field goal percent (46.7 percent), blocks (1.4), free throws attempted (283), and free throws made (213), and was also the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
42•D’Marcus Simonds
JR, Guard, Georgia State
UT-Arlington’s Kevin Hervey was supposed to run the Sun Belt last season. Instead, that distinction belonged to Simonds, who earned conference POY honors after setting a Georgia State single-season record with 742 points. He needs 689 points this season to pass the great R.J. Hunter as Georgia State’s all-time leading scorer.
41•Bennie Boatwright
SR, Forward, USC
A knee injury limited the junior season of Boatright, who still managed to average 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds over 23 games. The versatile 6’10 forward has averaged double figures in each of his three collegiate seasons, and will be serving as USC’s captain for the third straight year.
38•Jon Elmore
SR, Guard, Marshall
Only two players in the country last season ranked in the nation’s top 10 for both points and assists. One was Oklahoma superstar Trae Young, and the other was Elmore (22.7 ppg, 6.8 apg), a relative unknown before Marshall stunned Wichita State in the NCAA tournament. His numbers won’t catch anyone by surprise this season.
31•Jordan Caroline
SR, Guard, Nevada
The Wolfpack’s second-leading scorer (17.7 ppg) and leading rebounder (8.6 rpg), Caroline flirted with the NBA before ultimately opting for one final season of college ball. He was forced to be an undersized center for much of last season, but the additions of 6’10 Trey Porter and 6’11 McDonald’s All-American Jordan Brown should allow Caroline to move back to his more natural position of small forward.
30•Reid Travis
SR, Forward, Kentucky
Almost certain to be the most impactful grad transfer in the country this season, Travis comes to Kentucky after becoming one of just three players in Stanford history to notch at least 1,400 points and 700 rebounds in fewer than 100 games played. He figures to provide the experience and leadership that John Calipari’s best teams in Lexington have always had.
28•Sagaba Konate
JR, Forward, West Virginia
Known for his signature two-handed swat, Konate blocked a whopping 116 shots last season. While he was on the court, he swatted away a ridiculous 15.6 percent of the shots attempted by the other team. Konate also posted solid averages of 10.8 points and 7.6 rebounds.
27•Charles Matthews
SR, Guard, Michigan
In his first season after transferring from Kentucky, Matthews averaged 13 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on his way to helping Michigan to the national championship game. He flirted with an early jump to the NBA before ultimately opting to return for one more season in Ann Arbor.
26•Juwan Morgan
SR, Forward, Indiana
Morgan made Archie Miller’s first season in Bloomington much more tolerable than it could have been by averaging 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He and freshman sensation Romeo Langford should combine to form arguably the best 1-2 punch in college basketball this season.
23•Tyus Battle
JR, Guard, Syracuse
Battle’s somewhat surprising decision to return to school last spring took Syracuse from likely ACC also-ran to preseason top 20 squad. Battle averaged 19.2 ppg last season and was on the court for 96.2 percent of Syracuse’s minutes, the highest percentage of any player in the country.
19•Keldon Johnson
FR, Forward, Kentucky
There’s little doubt that Kentucky is going to be one of the best teams in the country this season, but figuring out which player on Coach Cal’s roster is going to be his top performer is a much taller task. Here’s a guess that it’s Johnson, whose motor, enthusiasm, and ability to do a little bit of everything should drive the Cats.
18•Ky Bowman
JR, Guard, Boston College
As a sophomore last season, Bowman was the only player in the country to average at least 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. That’s also a feat that only 10 players have accomplished since 1990. The scary thing is that all those numbers could go up this season now that backcourt mate Jerome Robinson is suiting up for the LA Clippers.
16•Cameron Reddish
FR, Guard, Duke
The most enigmatic of Duke’s outrageously talented group of freshmen, Reddish is being pegged by many as the x-factor on a Blue Devil squad that has legitimate national championship aspirations. He’s almost certain to have multiple games where he looks to be far and away the best player on the court, but consistency is going to be key as far as his team’s success is concerned.
15•Dean Wade
SR, Forward, Kansas State
Wade didn’t play in Kansas State’s Elite Eight loss to Loyola-Chicago, and it has to be hard for Wildcat fans to not imagine how different things might have gone if he had. Wade, who averaged 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season on his way to first team All-Big 12 honors, will likely leave K-State as the program’s all-time leader in career starts.
14•Rui Hachimura
JR, Forward, Gonzaga
Hachimura’s extreme potential was on full display last March when he lit Ohio State up for 25 points in a 90-84 win that propelled Gonzaga on to the Sweet 16. Born in Toyama, Japan, Hachimura spent the summer posting massive numbers for his home country (and raising his NBA draft stock) in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers.
13•Romeo Langford
FR, Guard, Indiana
Langford is the first Indiana Mr. Basketball to sign with the Hoosiers since Cody Zeller, and he might be the most ballyhooed recruit to come out of the basketball-obsessed state since Damon Bailey in 1990. During Langford’s signing ceremony, which lasted nearly an hour, he was referred to as “an icon” and compared to both Oscar Robertson and Abraham Lincoln. That’s the level of hype he’s bringing with him to his first, and more than likely only, season of college basketball.
8•De’Andre Hunter
SO, Forward, Virginia
Expect Hunter to make the massive sophomore leap that has happened under Tony Bennett since his days at Washington State. Hunter played fewer than 20 minutes per game last season, but still had people talking about him as a future lottery pick by the end of the year. Don’t be surprised if this is your 2019 ACC Player of the Year.
7•Luke Maye
SR, Forward, North Carolina
A preseason First Team AP All-American and the preseason ACC Player of the Year, Maye is coming off a monster junior year in which he averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Those numbers came just two years after Maye was a freshman walk-on averaging a little over five minutes of court time per game.
6•Grant Williams
JR, Forward, Tennessee
One of the most physically imposing post players in the country, Williams was the biggest reason for Tennessee’s surprisingly stellar 2017-18 season. He’s also the first reigning SEC Player of the Year to return to school since another Volunteer star, Chris Lofton, did so in 2007-08.
4•Dedric Lawson
JR, Forward, Kansas
Kansas might be the biggest preseason favorite to win the national title, and the addition of Memphis transfer Dedric Lawson is one of the primary reasons why. Bill Self recently referred to Lawson — who averaged 19.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2016-17 — as the best passer he’s ever had at KU.
3•Caleb Martin
SR, Forward, Nevada
The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year, Martin is a super athletic 6’7 forward who can score from virtually any spot on the floor. He averaged 18.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season — numbers which had most assuming he was bound for the NBA. Instead, both he and twin brother Cody are back to try and lead the Wolfpack past the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.
2•Carsen Edwards
JR, Guard, Purdue
The most consistent pick for preseason National Player of the Year, Edwards is back at Purdue after a breakout sophomore season in which he averaged 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. His 97 made three-pointers were the second-best single-season total in the history of Boilermaker basketball. The biggest question mark surrounding Edwards is whether or not he’ll have enough playmakers around him to keep opposing teams from dedicating their entire gameplans to slowing him down.
1•R.J. Barrett
FR, Forward, Duke
The early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft, there are few things that Barrett doesn’t do well. He’s an elite finisher, he can overpower or blow by just about any defender who attempts to get in his way, he’ll knock down the outside shot with consistency, and he can guard four positions on the other end of the court. Zion Williamson might be the player that most of America is tuning in to see when they watch Duke games this season, but Barrett is the one who will ultimately determine whether or not the Blue Devils are good enough to claim their sixth national championship.
Credits
Developer: Frank Bi
Editor: Ricky O'Donnell