My Top Ten Returners in CBB
Note: This was written before the opening week of games
RJDAVIS PHOTO
1.RJ Davis | North Carolina | Guard | Graduate
Despite a stacked group of returners, I find it hard to put anyone other than the 2023–24 ACC player of the year at # 1. Davis is the latest Tar Heel to win the award (16 total) and the first winner to return to college basketball since 2008. He’s also the only returning first team All-American after averaging 21.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 3.5 apg last year. He’s got a jaw-dropping ability to score and a fifth offseason means he can only get better. Davis showed he can lead UNC to the championship in 2022 and now that Hubert Davis has settled into the head coaching role I expect at least a final four appearance. Despite losing Armando Bacot to the NBA, a top 10 recruiting class, including the #8 ranked freshman Ian Jackson, will provide a strong supporting cast for Davis’ final season.
Fun Fact: In order to become UNC’s all time leader in points, Davis would need to score 784 this season. His total count last year? 784.
2. Mark Sears | Alabama | Guard | Senior
Like Davis, Sears also has that ability to score that puts them in a league of their own. Last year Sears averaged 21.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 4.0 apg, including a five game 24 ppg stretch in the NCAA tournament. This year Sears is playing in the best league in the country and will need to perform every week in order to compete. I don’t think he can shoot any better from behind the arc after an absurd 43.6% last year, but his ability to draw fouls (231 FTs last season) is an underrated part of his game. If he can improve on the defensive end and score on a level anywhere near last year’s I find it hard to believe he’s not the NPOY. Surrounded by the consensus #2 recruiting class Sears will lead a national championship contender come March.
Fun Fact: Mark Sears holds the Alabama record for most made free throws in a single season at 198.
3. Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton | Center | Senior
While the scoring of Sears and Davis puts them on another level, Kalkbrenner’s defensive impact makes him the best of the rest. Averaging 17ppg, 8rpg, and 3bpg last year, Kalkbrenner’s play was key to Creighton’s success. With his first full offseason under his belt he could easily be the best two way player in the country. Already a known force in the Big East, Kalkbrenner is looking to continue Creightons recent stretch of success in the NCAA tournament. The cherry on top? If he can win his 4th consecutive Big East Defensive POY , he will be the first person to do it since Knicks legend Patrick Ewing did it in 1985.
Fun Fact: Ryan Kalkbrenner got married this past summer. Congrats!
4. Johni Broome | Auburn | Forward/Center | Senior
Broome is the third preseason All American on this list and despite being a tier below Davis and Sears, he is still a prolific scorer (16.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.2 bpg). Broome seriously improved his 3-point shooting last year, doubling his attempts and was way more efficient going from 29 to 35%. If he can continue that improvement there’s nothing stopping him and Auburn from shattering expectations. However, with a tough schedule ahead of them Broome will be expected to step into an increased role and succeed. With the #22 ranked transfer class per 247 sports, head coach Bruce Pearl was more focused on keeping Broome and his teammate Chad Baker-Mazara (10ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.2 apg). Auburn will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing first round loss to Yale last year and Broome will need to improve if they want to make it past the first weekend.
Fun Fact: Morgan Freeman
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Hunter Sallis | Wake Forest | Guard | Senior
After two unproductive seasons at Gonzaga, the former five star recruit broke onto the national stage last year and was the ACC newcomer of the year. Sallis is a dark horse for this years NPOY award after performing on an unreal level last year, averaging 18.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg and shooting 40.5% from deep. This year I expect him to break into that upper echelon and really cement himself as one of the best players in the country. He is comfortable with and without the ball, is a great facilitator, and doesn’t miss from behind the arc. Wake forest are the clear number 3 in the ACC behind traditional blue bloods Duke and UNC, but don’t be surprised if they end up contending for a conference title. Steve Forbes has his best chance of making the tournament so far and Sallis is a big reason for that.
Fun Fact: Sallis was the first five star recruit to come out of Nebraska.
Kam Jones | Marquette | Guard | Senior
With Tyler Kolek off getting buckets for the Knicks, Jones now has the ultimate green light at Marquette. In the 6 games Kolek missed at the end of last season Jones averaged 21 points and 4.5 assists including a 30pt 9ast performance vs Xavier to finish out the regular season. Jones is expected to be the lead scorer but will also need to continue to distribute at a high level, something Shaka Smart is confident he can do “he’s a better passer than you think”. He could’ve hit the transfer portal and secured a massive NIL bag but instead chose to stick with the school that’s done him right so far. Marquette are looking to continue their three year tournament streak and despite Smart not utilizing the transfer portal he has faith in his developmental ability.
Fun Fact: Kam Jones’ father, Kevin Jones, is an Air Force master sergeant.
Alex Karaban | UConn | Forward | Redshirt Junior
Until UConn and Dan Hurley give me a reason to doubt them, they’re still my championship favorite. Karaban will play a lead role on this years iteration of the Huskies after playing a more supportive roles in his first two seasons. Despite playing alongside 4 NBA players last year (including 2 lottery picks) he still averaged a super efficient 13.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, with 49.5% from the field and 38% from 3. Hurley could’ve gone out and gotten whoever he wanted but chose to keep his incoming class small but mighty. Highlighted by 5 star freshman Liam McNeely and St. Marys transfer Aiden Mahaney Hurley’s confidence in his ability to develop within his system is clear.
Fun Fact: Karaban is 6’ 8” but boasts an impressive 6’ 11” wingspan.
Braden Smith | Purdue | Point Guard | Junior
Smith is a player that people have a lot of questions about but after being named the Big 10 preseason player of the year it’s clear the experts have faith in him. With Zach Edey playing for the Grizzlies this is a perfect opportunity for Smith to step into a bigger role and prove the doubters wrong. No one can deny that he benefitted a lot from Edey’s presence last year but given the opputunity to the run the offence I think his passing ability will really be put on display. The Big Ten is completely up for grabs right now and its up to Smith to put any others teams hopes to rest.
Fun Fact: Smith holds the Purdue single season assists record (292).
Hunter Dickinson | Kansas | Center | Graduate
Dickinson’s offensive efficiency gives him a good shot to be the best big in the country, though his lacking performances on the defensive end knock him down in my rankings. However I can’t deny his offensive ability after averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds last year shooting nearly 60% from inside the arc. He’ll be looking for his 3pt shooting to bounce back to the level it was at at Michigan after a rough season last year (35%). Kansas came in at 1st in the AP preseason poll and don’t let a rough performance in their exhibition match scare you (these scrimmages don’t mean much anyways) the strong group of transfers will take some time to gel.
Fun Fact: Dickinson eats Chipotle before every game (how?).
Wade Taylor IV| Texas A&M | Shooting Guard | Graduate
The most explosive player in college basketball is back for yet another season at Texas A&M where he’s been a prolific albeit somewhat inefficient scorer. After averaging 19.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 4 apg last year including seven 30+ point performances its hard to see him getting any better. That being said, this season he’s on one of the oldest rosters in the country and surrounded by four graduate students Taylor will be primed to succeed. After getting shut down by a suffocating Houston defense last year Buzz Williams and Texas A&M will look to overwhelm in SEC play and carry their momentum deep into March.
Fun Fact: Taylor only needs 402 points to become TAMU’s all time points leader, something easily doable for a scorer of his caliber.