Ranking The Top 10 College Basketball Players In The Big 12

The Big 12 Conference is as competitive as any year with 6-8 potential tourney teams in the mix and the talent level is once again deep across the board. Players like Sagaba Konate and Dean Wade have the ability to be Top 5 players on this list, but we’re removed due to injury.

Honorable Mentions: Kouat Noi (TCU), Lindy Waters (OKST), Jaxson Hayes (UT), Cameron McGriff (OKST), James Bolden (WVU), Dylan Osetkowski (UT).

10: Makai Mason SR Baylor

18-19 Stats: 15.5 PPG 2.8 RPG 2.9 APG 0.6 SPG .440 FG% .348 3PT%

Mason doesn’t consistently effect the game from multiple aspects which hurts his ceiling, but man can he score. He’s hit double digits in all but one game when he put up 9 in Wichita State. Despite his low assist numbers, you can expect at least one or two highlight worthy dimes in every game.

9: Kerwin Roach Jr. SR Texas

18-19 Stats 14.3 PPG 4.7 RPG 3.5 APG 1.3 SPG 0.3 BPG .433 FG% .347 FG%

Roach has gotten progressively better in all four seasons with the longhorns and has NBA potential. An elite athlete, Roach can lockdown opposing guards on defense and posterize them on the other side of the court.

8: Desmond Bane JR TCU

18-19 Stats: 15 PPG 5.7 RPG 2.8 APG 1.1 SPG 0.7 BPG .502 FG% .351 3PT%

Bane has became a much more consistent player this season for TCU bringing range and athleticism on a nightly basis. He has done well with a much heavier workload on offense this season, but his 3PT numbers have dipped a bit. He has really improved on the boards at 5.7 per game.

7: Lagerald Vick SR Kansas

18-19 Stats: 14.8 PPG 4.0 RPG 1.9 APG 1.3 SPG 0.2 BPG .476 FG% .455 3PT%

Vick’s stats may not jump off the page, but his impact is outside the box score. He is shooting at a ridiculously efficient clip from behind the arc and making 3 a game. He has the talent to be much higher on this list but has never really been one to hunt for shots. He is also one of the better perimeter defenders in the conference with long arms that are active in passing lanes.

6: Alex Robinson SR TCU

18-19 Stats: 12.9 PPG 3.8 RPG 7.7 APG 1.7 SPG 0.3 BPG .455 FG% .345 3PT%

Robinson is the best playmaker in the conference and its really not even close. He’s putting up a monster 7.7 assists to and igniting an offense thats among the best in the Big 12. His impact as a scorer as well as nearly 2 steals a game make him arguably the best PG in the conference.

5: Barry Brown Jr. SR Kansas State

18-19 Stats: 15.2 PPG 4.2 RPG 2.5 APG 2.0 SPG 0.2 BPG .434 FG% .286 3PT%

Barry Brown clamps down on opposing Big 12 guards like nobody else in the conference. He has active hands and forces turnovers like crazy. Limited as a shooter, Brown uses his speed and athleticism to get easy baskets in transition and off timely cuts.

4: Christian James SR Oklahoma

18-19 Stats: 16.8 PPG 7.4 RPG 2.0 APG 1.1 SPG 0.4 BPG .436 FG% .336 3PT%

Oklahoma was projected as the worst team in the Big 12 by many preseason polls. As of January 28th they’re sitting at a cool 15-5 thanks to Christian’s breakout year. James has developed from a solid complimentary piece to the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. He uses his strength to bully smaller guards in the post and can spread the floor at a decent clip. NBA scouts are beginning to take notice.

3: Marial Shayok SR Iowa State

18-19 Stats: 19.7 PPG 5.1 RPG 1.9 APG 1.0 SPG 0.2 BPG .514 FG% .410 3PT%

Non-Iowa State fans may not have even noticed Shayok’s transfer announcement a few months back. He averaged about 6 PPG in 3 years at a very solid team in Virginia. Alright. Now he’s the conference leading scorer, he’s putting up an insanely efficient FG/3PT/FT clip of .514/.410/.865, and he’s doing it all for a 15-5 team that has been ranked for a good part of the year. Not bad.

2: Jarrett Culver SO Texas Tech

18-19 Stats: 18.5 PPG 6.9 RPG 3.9 APG 1.4 SPG 0.5 BPG .525 FG% .382 3PT%

Jarrett Culver has developed tremendously across the board in his sophomore campaign and made Texas Tech a contender in the Big 12 and in March. He can effortlessly get a good shot at the rim on any possession and is a phenomenal playmaker with the ball in his hands. TTU is one of the best defensive teams in the nation and it all starts with Culver’s length and activity on the perimeter. If anyone not named Dedric Lawson has a chance at Big 12 POTY, its Culver.

1: Dedric Lawson JR Kansas

18-19 Stats: 19.5 PPG 11.1 RPG 1.9 APG 1.1 BPG 1.2 SPG .520 FG% .294 3PT%

Dedric Lawson has been a monster in the paint this season. As a nightly 20-10 threat, apposing defenses have been doubling and tripling him the second he gets the ball on the block. It hasn’t worked. Big 12 big men aren’t as good as in years past and Lawson has been feasting on 3 and 4 Guard lineups. Baring an injury or a significant stretch from Culver or Shayok, Lawson will be the 2018-2019 Big 12 POTY.

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