Start or sit down (AFC home game)
Covers the impact of the coronavirus on the sports world
The offseason of college basketball (almost) officially enters the 2021-22 college basketball season. We are now less than two weeks away from the game, because the drums of the season opener are getting louder and louder. Now that the Associated Press polls have fallen, Noland’s rankings 1-358 are out of the game, our national team has been nominated, and a difficult task remains: to rank top college basketball players.
As we do every year, our employees combine intelligence and list votes to select the person we think (from 1 to 101) will be the best in the sport this season. Not the best draft prospect, not even the most productive-but the best player. Think about it if you will be our highest preseason strength ranking before the upcoming season.
As usual, this is a list strewn with veterans. The upper grades and super senior grades lead, accounting for nearly half of the seats, followed by the lower grades or the red shirt lower grades. Less than 20% of our list includes sophomores or red shirt sophomores, followed by 10 freshmen or red shirt freshmen.
Our list is broken down by category as follows:
If you want to know who you need to know, you have come to the right place. Behold, this season's top 100 CBS sports and 1 college basketball player rankings.
Tim was the only CBS Sports First Team All-American player to return to college basketball last season, making him the most logical player on the list. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged a team-high 19.0 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds in his sophomore year, while leading the Zag team to a 31-1 record. He is the biggest reason for Mark Fuer's plan to become a favorite to win the 2022 NCAA Tournament. --Gary Parish
Fighting Illini has a big beast, a man who averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game before the season, and this season will definitely strengthen these statistics. One case of Coburn is the toughest one-on-one matchup in college basketball-at both ends of the court. The Illini team has three players on our roster and they are must-sees. But their path to the semi-finals must be forcibly opened by the big man. - Matt Noland
Few highly touted recruits-even five-star-step in and immediately become the leader of their team. Banchero may be one of the few exceptions. On a talented Duke team, the 6-foot-10 forward can do anything and should be shown a lot in the Duke team, which has the ability to retire Coach K in a high profile. -Kyle Boone
Ju Zang scored an average of 22.8 points with a 50.9% shooting percentage in six NCAA tournaments, becoming one of the main stars of the 2021 playoffs. The 6-6 flank is a sophomore from the Bruins who transferred from the University of Kentucky. He will become the best player in this year's national championship contender. --David Cobb
According to data from 247Sports, Holm Glen is the number one in the 2021 class and is considered to be the legal candidate for the number one pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He is a 7-foot center forward who can easily float around the perimeter on offense, while acting as a rim protector on defense. His only real long-term concern is whether his weight loss will prevent him from being pushed down by stronger players. -- general practitioner
7'Chet Holmgren and Steph's crossover is still one of the dirtiest highlights of the big men we photographed! pic.twitter.com/TehfUzsp30
In the history of Boilermakers, only a few other seasons are as optimistic and exciting as this one. Williams (15.5 points per game, 9.1 rebounds per game) shot 36.7% from Purdue last season (KenPom.com says so), which is the highest in the sport. His offensive rebound rate is also among the top five. The boiler manufacturer can be great. It started with Williams, who worked hard to build a great college career, as we used to see from players a generation or two (or three) years ago. --MN
For Abmas, nothing goes too deep. A year ago, as the number one scorer in the country, he returned to ORU as a junior to defend his throne as the most fearless shooter maker in the sport. The Golden Eagles co-star Kevin Obanor was lost by the transfer portal, so Abamas should see the green light every time he plays. - Knowledge Base
Jackson Davis averaged 19.1 points and 9 rebounds during his sophomore year at Indiana University last season and returned to the inaugural lineup of first-year coach Mike Woodson. If he can expand his shooting range, Jackson-Davis may be the most difficult player to defend in college basketball. --DC
Gillespie is the Player of the Year in the Big East. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to take advantage of the NCAA's extra year of qualification for all players. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 14.0 points, 4.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game last season. He is Villanova's main return scorer, which should be enough to help Jay Wright compete for his third national championship. --GP
Collin Gillespie (@Colling1021) won a career-high 30 PTS (6-11 3PT) in @NovaMBB's victory over Georgetown#BIGEASThoops. Highlights: pic.twitter.com/wCmVGg7BG4
Take a look at our top 10, you will find that there are too many big people here. This will be the season of the major leagues, and Dickinson (average 14.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 60.7 points and 2 points per game) will become a major factor in the top ten leagues in the country and even the best leagues. There are many new works in Michigan, but it was Dickinson's appearance and decision to return to the sophomore season that made Wolverines a strong contender for the preseason national championship. --MN
In his sophomore year, Liddell ranked among the top ten players in scoring, field goal percentage, rebounds and 20 points total. He is already a star. Now, as Duane Washington Jr. enters the NBA, he returns after testing the NBA draft waters, ready to become a truly talented and experienced Ohio State University star. --KB
After scoring 1,754 points in four seasons at Arizona State University, Martin chose to give college basketball the final blow. The 6-foot guard will become the main organizer of the Kansas team and is expected to demonstrate his key organizational skills for the first time after the first round of the NCAA tournament. --DC
Carl is a late member of the Texas roster and the biggest player who can make the Longhorns a legitimate national championship contender. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 19.4 points, 4.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds in Minnesota last season. How he will adapt in the backcourt with UT veterans Andrew Jones and Courtney Ramey will be an interesting thing that deserves attention at the beginning of the season. --GP
Crimson Tide, a junior point guard who has the opportunity to become the SEC's most valuable player, appeared. Quinelli averaged 12.9 points and 3.2 assists a season ago. Backcourt partner Jaden Shackelford prevented double overload, looking for Quinerly to improve his stats almost across the board as he tried to keep Crimson Tide at the top of their meeting. --MN
Boeheim became a supernova in the playoffs. Syracuse scored 58 points in two ACC tournaments, then scored 31, 30, and 25 points in three NCAA tournaments, and then cooled off in a sweet 16 loss. In the process, he scored the third highest score for an Orange player in two NCAA tournaments in history. He should be able to start where he left this season and become one of the best shooters not only in Syracuse but also in college basketball as a whole. --KB
Since joining Jayhawks, Agbaji has been climbing steadily, becoming a relatively unknown prospect in the 2018 class. Last season, he hit 37.7% of his three-pointers in his junior year and was ahead of the Jayhawks in scoring. He is also a reliable defender and will join forces with Martin to make Kansas one of the best backcourts in the sport. --DC
Jaquez's improved performance in the NCAA tournament is one of the reasons why the Bruins unexpectedly broke into the semi-finals. The 6-7 winger has scored 27 points in the first four wins over Michigan State University and averaged 15.0 points and 6.3 rebounds in six NCAA tournament games. He is only 330 points less than the club that scored 1,000 points in his career. --GP
We invested a lot in Bacot here because the big man stayed in school, loyal to his new coach Hubert Davis-and made some changes to his game in the process. Bacot (12.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg) made 217 two-pointers last season; but only one three-pointer. The latter is expected to increase by at least 40 times, as Bacot will be the focus of one of the most interesting teams in the country this season. --MN
At only 17 years old, Bates was once considered the first rookie in the class. He was reclassified this offseason and immediately became one of Memphis' most talented players. The 6-foot-9 forward is a shooter at all levels of competition. For the Tigers, his ability to shoot, shoot and create shots anywhere on the court should change the team's potential better. traces of. --KB
Tennessee has struggled offensively for the past two seasons without a natural pass-first point guard. Chandler should solve this problem. The overall prospect of No. 8 in 2021 is a general on the field. He will play a leading role in the offense of the 20th volunteer in the preseason, while also winning many opportunities for himself. --DC
Despite the loss of Jaylen Saggs, Nebhard's return is the reason why the Zaggs team can still maintain an outstanding performance in the backcourt. The 6 wins and 5 losses West Coast League Sixth Man of the Year as a part-time point guard last season averaged 4.4 assists and 1.2 turnovers per game. --GP
Senior leaders. It's that simple and cherish. Terps is a delicious top ten dark horse, led by Ayala's scoring (15.1 points per game) last season. If he can improve his accuracy from outside the three-point line (169 shots, 34% shooting) by 5 to 6 percentage points, he has a chance to become the best player in the United States. Why? More than half of his shots last season were three-pointers. --MN
Ivey is a human firecracker, his game hissing and unparalleled passion. The real difference maker. He can create his own offense and has the instinct to continue to bring energy and enthusiasm to Purdue's defensive end. The top five players on my list, they are easily on our list as the waiting breakthrough star. --KB
With Ayo Dosunmu going to the NBA and Adam Miller moving to LSU, it is expected that Curbelo will enter the starting lineup and become the focus of Illinois' offense after winning the top ten rookie and sixth man of the year honors. The 6-1 guard averaged 4.2 assists per game last season, ranking sixth in the Big Ten, despite playing only 21.5 minutes. --DC
Davis led the U.S. Athletics Conference in points (19.0) and assists (7.6) last season, and helped SMU reach 56th in KenPom. According to KenPom's data, his assist rate is 46.4, ranking first in the country. Memphis coach Penny Hardaway called him the most difficult opponent player in the AAC. --GP
Of course, the younger brother Evan is a seductive bachelor, now in the Cavaliers, but did you know that Isaiah is also writing a good resume for himself? The Trojans can once again claim to have one of the best players in the Pac-12, because Mobley (9.9 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, 43.6 points and 3 points per game) will enter the spotlight as a junior and he will become the best player. One of the good quarterbacks is in college basketball. --MN
Baldwin is the only top 10 rookie in the 2021 class to choose mid-level players. He chose to play for Milwaukee and his head coach father instead of Duke University and other teams. The 6-9 combo forward is a skilled shooter and one of the most talented prospects entering the sport next season. It's easy to be the best player in the Horizon League—and so is the Panthers team that can participate in the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years. --KB
Champagnie averaged 19.8 points per game last season, leading the Big East and seventh in rebounding. Now, the versatile 6-8 forward is back. He developed into an accurate outside shooter last season. If Champney can add passes and assists to his repertoire, he can become a rookie in the first round of the draft. --DC
Meyer is only a fringe prospect in the top 100 high school graduates, but is now a legitimate NBA prospect for the defending national championship. Considering that Baylor lost four starters from the championship team, the 6-9 flanks will play a bigger role this season. He is a sizeable shooter, averaging 8.1 points per game can increase by more than 50%. --GP
He ranks 30th on our list, but please remember my words: Eddie (8.7 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game) will play like a fringe all-American player and will become the beginning of the NCAA tournament 1A and 1B provided by Trevian Williams for Purdue University. At 7-4, Edey will become the biggest big man among the top ten. The "breakthrough season" does not fully cover it-he will grow like He-Man in the 21-22 season. --MN
Chris Beard is gone, but thanks to the return of skilled left-handed Terrence Shannon Jr., Texas Tech, now led by former assistant Mark Adams, should be handled properly. After testing the NBA draft waters, he came back and immediately put himself in the mix of the top 50 players in the sport. A cunning scorer who likes to go downhill and create drama around the rim-and highlights. --KB
With the departure of Dejon Jarreau and Quentin Grimes, Sasser is expected to attack in his third season in Houston. The 6-1 guard is the Cougars' top return scorer and a pitcher who can stride forward as a ball handler. --DC
After the end of the 2019 season, Aruma followed coach Mike Young from Wofford to Virginia Tech and became his best player last season after being absent from the (old) NCAA transfer rules last season. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged a team-high 15.2 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game, representing the Virginia Tech team in the NCAA tournament. His appearance gave the Hokies a chance to become an amazing team in the ACC. --GP
Etienne (AAC's best partner of the year) averaged 16.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and at the same time grew into the team's Alpha player in the 2020-21 season. He has a knack for helping win the game and doesn't make many mistakes. In 9 of the past 10 seasons, the Shockers have a team worth participating in the NCAA tournament. Etienne can be the one who maintains this trend. --MN
Pippen Jr. ushered in an excellent sophomore season. He averaged 20.8 points and 4.9 rebounds for Vanderbilt University. He was named the SEC Player of the Year in the 2021 preseason by the media and should be the leader in scoring ahead of the league. --KB
Durham is ranked 5th in the overall outlook for 2021 and is entering a league known for its quality front games. This should allow the 6-10 athletic player to enjoy the paint and follow in the footsteps of Precious Achiuwa, who won the AAC freshman and player of the year honors for Memphis in the 2019-20 season. --DC
In his first two seasons with the Wildcats, Moore averaged double-digit points per game. The 6-4 defender provides an offense in the backcourt next to Collin Gillespie. If Moore can restore his three-point shooting percentage to the level it was two years ago—his three-point shooting percentage was 39.6% in his freshman year and 31.0% in his sophomore year—he will become a bigger weapon for the Big East. favorite. --GP
With Jared Butler, Davyn Mitchell, Marcio Teague and Mark Vital emerging from the 2021 national championship, who is the best bear on the list? Mayer has a slightly higher rating, but we also really like Flagler (9.1 points per game). He has performed well throughout the preseason, averaging 3.5 shots per game and shooting 43.4% from three points per game. The junior sharpshooter is ready to spend his time on a larger stage. --MN
In the Kentucky team coached by John Calipari, no matter from any point of view, they are veteran and experienced. Brooks is the most experienced player on the Wildcats. In a turbulent season, he became the leader of the British team in his sophomore year. After missing the first nine games, he helped guide the Kentucky team with a stable performance, averaging 10.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in 16 games. --KB
Mills was selected to the AAC rookie team for the 2019-20 season and leads Houston in scoring. His transfer after four games last season should be a good fit for Florida State University's plan, which prioritizes defense and selfless offense like Houston. --DC
Harper averaged 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Rutgers University team last season. This is the first time since 1991 to participate in the NCAA tournament. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 27.0 points in three games against Syracuse, Maryland and Illinois. In addition to being a scorer, he is also an excellent defender. --GP
There may not be any games, but this does not mean that we can't enjoy some of Ron Harper Jr.'s wonderful performance. 😲@__RHJR | @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/iLNe97Ze3s
You won't find someone as tall as CBS Sports on Bagley. The sophomore forward averaged 10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season, but if he is the main player in the Sun Devils lineup this season, his performance in both categories has improved by 75%. It's strange. We can only hope that his father will not ask him to leave the team on Twitter as he did to big brother Marvin and the Kings earlier this month. --MN
Texas Tech’s loss is Houston’s gain after joining Keller Edwards. Last season he averaged 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Red Raiders and entered the melee of the Houston team. They played in the semi-finals and looked forward to revisiting this paradise. --KB
Smith is ranked 6th in 2021 and will merge with North Carolina transfer center Walker Kessler to create a potential elite frontcourt for Auburn. If his outside shooting is as good as it is advertised, then a 6-10 Smith may be the most difficult task for opponents to defend in the SEC. --DC
McCormack had a breakthrough junior season. He averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. This is enough for him to win the 12 most improved player award. Among players averaging at least double digits per game, his field goal percentage is 51.5%, ranking third in the league. --GP
Long-term readers of this list will recognize Grady's existence because he has been here for the third consecutive season. As a Davidson graduate transfer, we expect Grady (14.1 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game) to become the most outstanding perimeter player in the reorganized Kentucky squad, which requires a three-point threat, not the bulls and grass. Grady made 644 shots in four seasons and made 36% of his three-pointers. --MN
Oregon lost two outstanding players in the league a season ago, but Richardson's return should give the team a steady senior player to readjust. A season ago, he averaged 11.3 points and 3.9 assists per game in a supplementary role, and entered the season as the Ducks player with the most starters in the plan. --KB
Matulin won a starting role in the middle of last season and showed his modest hiring bill in his freshman year. He is now back in the perimeter position of first-year coach Tommy Lloyd and should build on his average 10.8 points and 4.8 rebounds last season. --DC
Scott started 27 games last season, averaging 11.0 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds. The 6-foot-8 forward made 43.8% of 3.6 three-pointers in his sophomore year. This is the fifth-best single-season three-pointer percentage in Maryland history. --GP
If Duke is to participate in the NCAA tournament, Paul Banchero will need a front runner to relieve some of the pressure, and Williams is that man. To paraphrase the words of a person familiar with Williams' game and potential: If he is not a top 10 center this season, then things are grossly wrong. A season ago, Williams averaged 15 minutes per game and scored 7.1 points, becoming one of the candidates for ACC breakthrough. --MN
An ankle injury derailed Lex’s another boom year in Miami last year, but it may just postpone the satisfaction of Arkansas’ new addition. After averaging 15.8 points per game in his last three years with the Hurricanes, he joined a fast-paced Razorbacks team. Under the leadership of Eric Musselman, he was successful in driving speed and deploying guards. --KB
After Jones led the Longhorns with 14.6 points per game last season, he will enter his sixth season in Texas. For first-year coach Chris Beard, it is huge to get the 6-4 guard back for another year, otherwise he will rely on a lot of transfers. --DC
Williams was one of only six players who averaged at least 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season. Memphis led 16-5 after qualifying, losing only 15 points in all five games. If the 6-9 forward did not miss the first seven games of the season, it is reasonable to suggest that the Tigers participate in the NCAA tournament. --GP
In the past five months, few players have raised their stocks like the big shots in Ruston, Louisiana. Loveton is a key figure in the U19 team of the United States. C-USA's best freshman can become C-USA's best player because Lofton will almost certainly improve his stat line in his sophomore year (12.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 56.7 field goal percentage)... Considering that he only played 22.8 minutes per game last season. Basketball diehards already know this cumbersome player well. --MN
As the Heat’s top scorer before the season, Wong was one of the breakthrough stars of the college basketball team. After playing an unexpectedly important role, he averaged 17.1 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Hurricanes. The 6-3 guard leads all ACC players in total points and is sure to lead Miami in this category again this season. --KB
As Oklahoma State University's second scorer, Anderson averaged 12.2 points per game, second only to the final first overall pick Cade Cunningham. In a game that Cunningham missed in March, Anderson exploded with 31 points. Maybe this is a preview of the 2021-22 season. --DC
Murray played mainly as a role player in his freshman year, averaging 7.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in only 18 minutes per game. In any case, his ability to defend in space at a 6-8 speed has made him the focus of the NBA. It is expected that the second year of the Hawkeyes will usher in a breakthrough season. --GP
Of course, Kentucky is experiencing one of the worst seasons ever. But looking at our rankings, you will find that the United Kingdom once again has a large number of outstanding players. Tshiebwe (career: 10.6 points per game, 8.9 rebounds, 27.2 PER) was a top 10 freshman two years ago, but things took a turn for the worse in West Virginia last year. Now a junior, he is positioned to be the best rebounder and one of the most intimidating in the sport. --MN
Russell is a well-known figure in the college basketball circle - he averaged at least 14.2 points per game in each of his three seasons in Rhode Island - but he still gave him the bonus in Maryland after the transfer. The new team left a deep impression. The fast 5-11 guard is the organizer on both ends of the court because he left the Rams to become the sixth leader in steals and assists in history. --KB
Shackleford led Alabama's scoring list last season and returned after entering the NBA draft and transfer portal during the offseason. He should be one of the SEC's best offensive players, and an important part of Crimson Tide's offense at No. 14 in the preseason. --DC
Wilson entered the season as a nearly forgotten player after missing last season due to injury-but he ended the season with Kansas' top rebounding and third scoring leader. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 11.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, even though he cooled off late and did not reach double-digit scoring in each of his last four games. His return is one of the most popular reasons for KU in Big 12. --GP
Any coach in this country will put this guy in their starting lineup. The 6-5 year old senior averaged 14.0 points, 5.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 21 games last season. The Big East has the most assists per game. What's impressive about the way Scruggs conducts business is that he makes room for others. You will easily see him and the Musketeer in the NCAA tournament. --MN
As a preseason ACC player of the year before the season, Brooks did not fully meet the expectations of UNC as a junior because he averaged 10.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game with the Tar Heels. But playing at Mississippi State University for the project he signed with him when he originally graduated from high school and his father (he was an assistant coach for the Bulldogs) should give him the opportunity to play an important role in the frontcourt immediately. --KB
Retaining Lamy is another major victory for Texas coach Chris Beard's first year. He averaged 3.9 assists per game for the Longhorns last season and hit 41.4% from three points. He and Andrew Jones will partner with the upcoming Minnesota transfer to Marcus Carr to form a tried-and-tested veteran backcourt. --DC
Kessler played in a numbers game at the University of North Carolina last season, averaging only 8.8 minutes per game. But when the 7-1 center played at least 20 minutes, he averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks per game. Therefore, if he is a sophomore this season, don't be surprised. --GP
See how many people Mississippi State University has on this list, right? Molinar is no longer a kept secret in the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He will be at the helm of the Bulldogs team, which is very hopeful to participate in the second NCAA tournament since 2009. The 6-3 junior (average 16.7 points, 43.6 points 3-PT%) is the most improved player season in the last SEC and a classic example of how deep the college basketball talent pool is each year. You may not be familiar with Molinar yet, but look at him and see how well DI guards perform outside of the top 25 teams. --MN
Aquincho played on his third team in three years. His all-Pacific 12th season in Arizona ended, where he led the team in scoring, steals and assists. For Baylor, he entered a backcourt losing Jared Butler and Davyn Mitchell, and Scott Drew seemed uniquely qualified to play the best in Aquincho After his most efficient season, as the defending national champion's scorer and promoter, he averaged 15.6 points, 5.4 assists and a 40.8% three-point field goal per game. --KB
Tubellis entered the starting lineup in the seventh game of his freshman season, and scored 31 points against the University of Southern California and the Mobley Brothers in January, consolidating his rising star. Now, after averaging 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, the 6-9 inside is expected to become the number one scorer in the sophomore year at the University of Arizona. --DC
Campbell started 32 games last season, averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 5.4 assists. The 5-11-year-old point guard has four times in two seasons with the Bruins and has at least 10 assists in a game. He and Ju Zang formed one of the best backcourts in college basketball. --GP
You might be wondering where Kentucky freshmen are on such a list. Usually suitable for at least two people, right? Not this year. Washington is the only British rookie to break our 101. His task is to share the responsibilities of the lead guard with the Georgia transfer Savile Wheeler. According to 247 Sports, Washington is the 14th player in 2021, but we expect him to easily become one of the top 10 freshmen in March. --MN
Bradley has dominated the University of California’s Pac-12 with 17.7 points per game in the past two seasons, and in the case of San Diego State University, he is seeking to replace the top three scorers a season ago. The 6-foot-4 guard ranked third among all Pac-12 players in scoring last season, and ranked in the top ten in free throw percentage and three-point field goal percentage. - Knowledge Base
Castleton became one of the biggest surprises of last season after he moved from Michigan, where he hardly played a game, and became the dominant force of the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He is the league's leading back pass scorer in blocks per game (2.3), and after averaging 12.4 points on a 59.7% field goal percentage, he became the Florida State's highest pass scorer. --DC
Alexander is the Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East. The 6-foot guard averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game last season. He is the fourth player to win the Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman-the other players are Alan Iverson, Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing from the Naismith Hall of Fame Memorial. --GP
Last season's Sun Belt Player of the Year is one of the best defensive guards in the sport. Jones averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game for the Carolina Coast (18-8). This is a fair question: If Jones is still wearing the Chanticlers uniform, will he be on this list? I'm not sure about this, it explains more about how Power Conference players benefit from suspicion more frequently than statistics compilers in single bid leagues. However, now Ann Arbor’s buzz is that the senior will be ready for upward transfer adjustments. --MN
Davis is the only player in the United States who has ranked among the top five college basketball players in scoring per game in each of the past three seasons. The sharpshooter averaged a career-low 24.0 points per game during the season, and is still the second only scorer in the sport after Max Abmas. --KB
Sheffield became part of Wichita State University's mass exile after the 2019-20 season and shined in his new home. He led the Western Mountain with 6.1 assists per game and ranked second with 18.6 points last season. Now, as a junior, he is the league's preseason player of the year. --DC
Allen moved to Texas after starting 82 games in three seasons in Utah. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game last season. He is the only top five player except Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu to average at least 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. --GP
This is one of the more interesting transfers. Junior Wahab was one of the most improved players last season (12.7 points, 8.2 rebounds per game), but he left Georgetown for potential opponent Maryland. According to Hoop Math, he has made 103 shots at the basket in 26 games; this number will rise. Mark Turgeon's Terps has a lot of speed, toughness, shooting and age. In Wahab, they also have scale now-and are another quality big man among the best big man conferences in the country. --MN
Obano scored the Sweet 16 for Oral Roberts as the No. 15 seed. This is unlikely. He has three consecutive double-doubles, including in the first round against No. 2 seed Ohio State. The university's high score is 30 points. The 6-8-year-old senior entered a new environment at Texas Tech University, where his height and outside shots paired with Terrence Shannon Jr. will be red. The Raiders provide strong offensive defense. --KB
After Noli transferred from Virginia Tech, he shined on the perimeter, where he was appointed as a small forward. The 6-foot-7 Gunner averaged 6 shots per game and made 38.7 percent of his 3-pointers. He is also the main return scorer for the 12th Memphis team at the start of the season. --DC
Hustein was reclassified to 2021 in July 2020 so that he could enter Michigan early. Most people expect McDonald's All-American Player to be a lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Two seasons ago, he started on a high school team at Montverde College in Florida, and in the 2021 NBA Draft with three lottery picks-Cade Cunningham and Scotty Barnes With Moses Moody. --GP
If you don’t know Mr. Kinsey, please teach yourself as soon as possible. The senior averaged 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 60.2% true shooting percentage in Dan D'Antoni's zipper offense. A large-scale meeting athlete who is very calm when making plans and has a lot of acceleration built in. Next year may also become an interesting NBA prospect. We like to put this list together, partly because we can show players like Kinsey, and in doing so, let you get to know them before a hopeful season. --MN
The Big East is Villanova's loser, and Samuel will play an indispensable role in helping the Wildcats as the regular season champion for four consecutive championships. He is one of the three outstanding players who returned to "Rising Stars" who averaged double figures last season, and ushered in the best year of his career in his junior year. He averaged 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Lin Gillespie entered the playoffs as the protagonist with an injury. - Knowledge Base
Watson averaged 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds for Providence last season and had a breakthrough season during his senior year. Now, after reaching double digits in 23 of the 26 games last year, he is back in a bonus season. --DC
After moving from Arizona in his sophomore year, Barcelo averaged a team-high 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season. In the past two years, the 6-2 guard has made at least 47% of his three-pointers each year. Last season, his true shooting percentage was 64.7%, ranking 41st in the country. --GP
Our trickiest ranking, because Auburn's top return scorer needs surgery on his right Achilles tendon in early September-an operation that will keep him out for at least the first six weeks of the season. But the prediction is good enough, and his performance last season (14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists per game) is enough for us to include him on our list. If he can almost fully recover before the end of February, then Auburn should become the top 30 team. --MN
We have quite a few transfer records on this list, and this former Syracuse player is another. If anyone is going to challenge UCLA this season, it's probably Oregon. Having Guerrier (13.7 points per game, 8.4 rebounds) on the court is huge; Dana Altman has gained more from his transfer than any other coach (the data also supports this). Guerrier is a 6-7 two-way youth wing, who was Syracuse's most comprehensive player last season. --MN
As a top 40 national rookie, Garcia averaged 13.0 points and 6.6 rebounds during his freshman year at Marquette, and then moved to North Carolina after a coaching change during the offseason. The change in scenery should help highlight his all-around skills in Chapel Hill, as a floor spacer and versatile offensive weapon. He made 35.6 percent of his three-pointers with the Golden Eagles, and the new University of North Carolina coach Hubert Davis has been talking about his potential to influence the game on both ends of the court. --KB
Frazier (an elite guard) has made steady contributions to 127 appearances and 107 starts in four seasons in Illinois. Now, the 6-2 guard is back to take some extra balls, and with Illini replacing star guard Ayo Dosunmu, he may have his best offensive year. --DC
Clark is the only member of the 2019 National Championship team in Virginia's plan. The 5-10 year-old point guard averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 assists per game last season. In the 2019 Elite Eight victory over Purdue University, he passed the ball to Mamadi Diakite in the last few seconds of the rules, which is still a classic March Madness moment. --GP
The Tigers have to meet many needs, and Days-after paying three years of dues-will be the top data compiler of the Will Wade project. Last season, Days averaged 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds, 130 shots, 66.4% of two-pointers and 40% of three-pointers. If you make a list like this, it's hard to say that you are underestimated, but in general, Days may be the most underestimated person in the SEC entering November. --MN
Harb’s average points per game (14.8), assists (5.8), rebounds (3.2), field goal percentage, free throw percentage and average minutes per game for the University of Notre Dame set a career high last season. He became a full ACC player, which makes him one of the underrated players in our rankings. --KB
Love's position on this list is a vote of confidence that the former five-star guard will make great progress after a difficult freshman season. A year ago, Love's shooting percentage was only 31.6%, averaging more than 3.1 passes per game, and at the same time showing great flashes that need to be displayed more often. --DC
Devoe is Georgia Tech's best return player to participate in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010. The 6-10 year old senior averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last season. In the three years in college, he made 41.4% of his three-pointers. --GP
This is the most anticipated season for Bonnies in years, and Lofton will lead this team to become the best NCAA tournament seed in the history of the project. Lofton (14.4 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.5 rpg) is an alpha combo guard. Although his height is 6-3, according to Hoop Math, he shot 38% from the field last season. We like this confidence. By the way, we almost put his teammate, center Osun Osunniyi (Osun Osunniyi) on this list. --MN
As a former McDonald’s All-American player, Moore is one of the Duke’s veterans, who recently selected him as the team's joint captain. After a disappointing sophomore season, he is a true enthusiast, entering his third season in Durham. We look forward to his continued growth in his second year with the Blue Devils. He averaged 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Duke team that missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1995. --KB
Gilyard started 117 games in his Richmond career and is already the historical assist king of the plan. His assist-to-turnover ratio was among the best in the country last season, and he led the country with 3.6 steals per game. --DC
Davidson is the top 10 rookie and one of the highest-rated basketball recruits in Alabama's history. The 6-foot-3 point guard is McDonald's best player in the United States and two-time Alabama basketball player. -- general practitioner
JD Davison shaking under Tide Tipoff’s basket@jddavison10: 1 Gravity: 0 (from @AlabamaMBB) pic.twitter.com/KkHoA0AVIu
The Panthers’ main problem inducer for opponents is hip surgery, otherwise his ranking would be higher. (Last year he was ranked 55th in our ranking.) Green's career statistics: 17.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 88.5% free throw percentage and 37.3% three-pointer percentage per game. Green is a senior, qualified for another year after that, he is the main starter in the mid-term conference. --MN
This is my captain's choice, and I will wear it proudly and peek behind the scenes: in fact, I am ranked 54th in my personal ranking. He had an excellent freshman in TCU. He is one of only five freshmen in the country who averaged at least 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game. He also spent an important summer in the FIBA U19 World Cup team, where he won the gold medal and averaged 9.1 points and 3.9 assists in 7 World Cup games. He entered the 2021-22 season and became the fifth-ranked return scorer in Big 12. I hope for a breakthrough in the sophomore year. --KB
Withers shooting 54.9% from the field, as a freshman in the red shirt, he flashed out of the field, averaging 7.7 rebounds per game. Now, the 6-foot-8 forward is the leading return scorer of the Louisville team and is eager to participate in the NCAA tournament. --DC
© 2004-2021 CBS Interactive. all rights reserved.
CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc.
Image courtesy of Getty Images and US Presswire