NCAA Basketball: Sensational sophomores of 2016

Last year’s NCAA basketball freshman class is a thing of the past. While some defected to the NBA, these 10 players chose to return to campus for a second helping.

Marquee players like LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram are gone. We knew their time in college would be short.

Players like Jaylen Brown and Jamal Murray didn’t shock us when they left their respective programs, Cal and Kentucky. Other players, like Florida State shooting guard Malik Beasley and Michigan State power forward Deyonta Davis were a little harder to predict.

And then there are those who chose to stay. Some underachieved according to their rankings and projections. Some just chose to stay when they could have left. And others remain nearly unknown due to their lack of exposure on a national level.

Many were surprised to see the return of Cal forward Ivan Rabb. He was solid in his first season with the Golden Bears, which seems to be the only prerequisite these days for making the early jump to the NBA.

And in the era of the one-and-done college basketball player, we watch each season as the influx of talent shifts back and forth. Players leave early for the NBA while their younger counterparts enter the college ranks, intent to do the same thing.

And while I appreciate a young player having the opportunity to go out and make a good living, it’s refreshing to see a young crop of talent return to college for another year or two rather than make the immediate leap to professional basketball.

These 10 players have done just that.

Next: 10. Dedric Lawson