This is one of the best times of the year to be a sports fan. College Football is halfway through it’s season. The World Series creates all kinds of excitement. The NBA just began their season a few days ago.
Meanwhile, the road to March begins in just less than 2 weeks for the College Basketball world. Predictions for over 330+ College Basketball teams are coming in a rapid pace from the media.
College Basketball also features many stars that are made from previous seasons and some incoming Freshman.
It’s always fun to look at their adventure from where they begin to where the end throughout the season.
With that, these are the Preseason Top 20 players in College Basketball.
#20 Davide Moretti Guard Texas Tech
Last Season: 11.5 PPG, 49.8% FG, 45.9% 3FG. 92% FT.
The Italian superstar from Lubbock made waves in the NCAA Tournament last year. Moretti was a key player for Tech, especially on the defensive side.
Moretti has a sweet stroke and an elite free throw shooter. He was .2 away from being in the 50-40-90 club. Something very few college athletes have done.
Something to look for in Moretti is handling the ball better. He was good for most parts of the year, but sometimes carelessness can come around.
#19 Kaleb Wesson Center Ohio State
Last Season: 14.6 PPG, 6.9%, 50% FG.
Ohio State quietly had a very good season last year. That got turned down by a loss to Houston in the 2nd round of the Tournament.
Wesson had 6 games of double-doubles and more than 7 in 17 of those contests.
Wesson is a decent 3 point shooter, considering his size at 34%. Although, considering his size, he did only have 21 shots blocked last year.
That and being a more consistent shooter and implementing a mid range will be critical for Wesson. Something that could turn him into a potential All-American.
#18 Killian Tillie Forward Gonzaga
Last Season: (15 games) 6.2 PPG, 4 RPG, 50% FG, 43.9% 3FG.
The stats from last season is not what Tillie expected. With 2 lottery picks on the team, it was hard to feature Tillie.
Tillie didn’t play until January and was never quite in rhythm.
Tillie has been an elite 3 point shooter and with his height, is by far, the best shooting big man.
With Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura in the NBA, expect Tillie to climb this list.
Tillie will be featured more this year and average around 15-18 PPG.
#17 Vernon Carey Center Duke
Incoming Freshman
It’s hard to judge how good a Freshman is suppose to be without seeing him play college yet.
Whether it was Zion last year or someone like Nico Mannion from Arizona. Projection and potential is also used when evaluating incoming Freshman.
Something Carey does at a near elite level is grabbing rebounds and has good post moves. Carey thrives with a good hook shot and has a 3 point shot.
A similar issue Duke fans know about is his weight. Carey is coming in at 275 lbs. In this day in age in the NBA, players need to be fast and elusive. Carey doesn’t fit either of those.
Vernon Carey should be a consistent double-double guy at Duke.
#16 Payton Pritchard Guard Oregon
Last Season: 12.9 PPG, 41% FG, 83% FT.
Part of the reason why Oregon was so successful toward the end of the year was from Payton Pritchard.
Oregon had a stretch where they didn’t lose a game from February 23rd- March 28th. In that stretch, Pritchard didn’t have double figures once.
Although not the best 3 point shooter, Payton improved mightily over those stretch of games (shooting 40%).
Oregon has some good freshman coming in and a solid core returning. Washington was the favorite last year, but don’t be surprised if Pritchard is leading Oregon to another title.
#15 Ashton Hagans Guard Kentucky
Last Season: 7.7 PPG, 4.3 APG, 46.7% FG
Ashton shows a ton of potential through his ability to facilitate and score at the rim. The clear issue is past 20 feet, let him shoot.
Hagans shot a putrid 26% from 3 last season and looked uncomfortable at times.
Some one and dones want to leave, but need to stay another year. Hagans is making the smart decision by doing that.
Hagans is a very good defender and that could be his calling card at the next level. He needs to improve shooting if he wants to be a legit threat on offense.
#14 Devon Dotson Guard Kansas
Last Season: 12.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 48 FG%, 78.2% FT.
Dotson is a player that could’ve declared and a first round pick. Instead, he’s stuck in the black hole that is Lawrence right now.
He might not get impacted by potential sanctions, but the environments not the best there right now.
Dotson shines the most when attacking the rim. Controversial to popular belief, Dotson attacks the rim as well as Derrick Rose did.
Dotson is a good scorer and a solid on ball defender. He is similar in style to Tre Jones in that he is a game manager and more of a true point guard.
Dotson needs to improve from 3 (36%) if he wants to be considered a lottery pick this year.
#13 Jalen Smith Forward Maryland
Last Season: 11.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 49.2 FG%.
Jalen Smith’s freshman year was considered by many to be a success. The 6’10 Sophomore played very well against Belmont in the first round and showed flashes of dominance.
Smith was consistent from the field at times and his ability to score at the rim was effective at times.
Smith shrunk a few times in big games and was not consistent from the free throw line.
More consistency from the field and showing up for big games are keys to growth.
#12 Xavier Tillman Forward Michigan State
Last Season: 10 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 60% FG, 73% FT.
With Tillman coming off the bench last year, he was the best last year at it.
Tillman was efficient from the field and a very good rebounder. Tillman is also a very good blocker, despite his mere 6-8 height.
It is unknown as to whether he will continue to have this role or this year will be different.
Tillman’s 19 points and 9 rebounds against #1 Duke created a ton of buzz from the NBA.
If there is an increased role, it’ll be interesting to see if Tillman can keep up the production.
#11 Tristan Clark Forward Baylor
Last Season: (14 games) 14.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 73.7% FG.
Prior to a season ending injury, Clark was playing like the best forward in CBB. The Sophomore led the nation in FG% and was solid from the FT line (66.7%).
A lot of him being injured has created some hype for this upcoming season. It was an ACL injury, so I wouldn’t expect him to be firing come the first game.
Once it’s near the middle of the season, you’ll hear a lot more about the 6’9 240 stud.
#10 Tre Jones Guard Duke
Last Season: 9.4 PPG, 5.3 APG, 41.4% FG, 75% FT.
Tre Jones was apart of the Freshman 4 from last year. He is also the only one to return from last year’s team.
Tre was pretty good for Duke last year and flashed in his way to get the ball to Zion and RJ.
With that being said, Tre’s clear weakness is shooting from beyond the arc. Tre was an abysmal 26% from 3 last year, including a 1-8 performance against UCF.
Tre needed another year back in college, and most highly rated guys don’t come back. If Tre wants to take the next step, it has to be with his 3 point shooting.
#9 Udoka Azubuike Center Kansas
Last Season: (9 Games), 13.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 70% FG, 1.6 BPG.
Similar to Clark, Azubuike had his Junior season cut short in 2018-2019. Azubuike is not only scary efficient from the field. He is also an elite rim protector.
Over his first 3 seasons, he has averaged over 1.5 BPG. His free throws have to get better this season. Or else, that could dampen his chances at a national award.
It could also cost the Jayhawks a chance at a deep run late in the tournament when March rolls around.
#8 Cole Anthony Guard North Carolina
Incoming Freshman.
With Carey, it is cloudy to have a firm expectation for this year. However, with Anthony, he is a rare talent and has flashed more potential. Anthony is a two-way player, who at times, outshines on defense.
Anthony is very good at attacking the rim, but is also a threat from 3. Cole has an excellent motor, which makes him so good on defense.
One thing to see is if that energy is calmed down in college. Anthony could fall into turnover issues and potentially doing too much with the ball.
Anthony is expected to be a lottery pick this upcoming year. He is expected to lead Roy Williams this year and have a POTY type season.
#7 James Wiseman Center Memphis
Incoming Freshman.
Wiseman should flourish with the talent he has in the AAC. Wiseman’s calling card is getting down the floor very quickly. That could create easy opportunities for scores.
Wiseman has a good shot for a 7 foot big man and moves his feet well. Defensively, he isn’t a shot blocker, but does well for his height.
Continuous fighting for rebounding and shot blocking is needed improvements.
The McDonalds All-American could be the best center in the country. It’s how he improves is whether that will end up happening.
#6 Jordan Nwora Forward Louisville
Last Season: 17 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 44% FG, 76.5% FT.
Nwora made a huge jump from his Freshman to Sophomore season. he was named onto the All-ACC team and Most Improved Player.
The current Junior improved by 12 points and 9% from inside the arc.
Nwora is a good rebounder for his height (6’7) and flashed amazing performances.
Games against Indiana (23 points, 13 rebounds) and Duke (23 points, 12 rebounds) shows how he could be the best player in CBB.
Consistent playmaking and on-ball defense can be room for improvement for the up and coming talent.
#5 Anthony Cowan Guard Maryland
Last Season: 15.6 PPG, 4.4 APG, 40% FG, 80% FT.
What makes Maryland so scary this year is the 1,2 star power on defense. Smith is already a handful and was just a Freshman.
The Senior, Cowan, is coming off back to back 15 PPG seasons and in search of a Big 10 title. Cowan isn’t the best offensive scorer and turns the ball over quite a bit.
However, Cowan’s defense is his calling card and grabs a steal per game. The Big 10 All-Defender is also a good free throw shooter and reliable with the ball in his hands.
If Cowan can get to 44% from the field, no telling how far it carries this Terrapins team.
#4 Myles Powell Guard Seton Hall
Last Season: 23.1 PPG, 4 RPG, 44% FG, 84% FT.
Myles Powell was, at times, the most exciting player in CBB last year. The final 8 games of last year had Powell above 20 points in each.
Powell is also a good 3 point shooter and not a bad rebounder for his height.
However, Powell is a high volume shooter and can try to do too much. Powell shot 36% from 3 and disappeared at times in their bigger games.
Primarily, a 1-5 performance from the field on the road against Villanova.
If he can bring his 3 point percentage up to at least 40, he’s a lottery pick this year.
#3 Kerry Blackshear Jr. Forward Florida
Last Season: 14.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 50% FG, 73% FT.
By far, the biggest splash in the Transfer Portal was Blackshear Jr. The former Hokie played at times, like the best forward in the conference.
With the transition to a power like Florida, Blackshear should be given more opportunities to succeed.
Blackshear shined with a 19 point, 17 rebound performance against North Carolina. As well as a 22 point, 14 rebound game in a win at Notre Dame.
Florida has a lot of Freshman becoming Sophomores and adding Blackshear. There’s no secret Florida is the favorite in the SEC.
#2 Cassius Winston Guard Michigan State
Last Season: 18.8 PPG, 7.5 APG, 46% FG, 84% FT.
There is a case to be made for Winston to be the #1 player in the country. Although both are talented, Winston is more of a true Point Guard.
Cassius is a game manager and sees the floor like a QB would in Football.
Cassius is a much better facilitator of the ball than Howard. Something Cassius can’t do is shoot the ball as much and as efficient as Howard has proved to do.
Michigan State is near the top of the polls, and for good reason. With Winston at the helm, Michigan State is primed for a conference title and a deep run in the tournament.
#1 Markus Howard Guard Marquette
Last Season: 25 PPG, 4 RPG, 42% FG, 40% 3FG
Markus Howard is the definition of a walking bucket. Howard became idolized for his stat stuffing performances against quality teams.
Howard scored in double figures in 15 of his last 16 games last year. He scored 30 or more points 10 times and scored over 45 points on 3 separate occasions last year.
Howard could’ve easily declared for the draft and is a current first round talent.
However, he had different plans and decided to come back for his Senior year. The Senior has the chance to have another special season. One that may overshadow his 25 PPG from last year.
Image Credit: https://www.aseaofblue.com/2019/8/10/20791876/kentucky-basketball-ashton-hagans-uk-wildcats
