NCAA Basketball: 20 breakout candidates for 2016-17

5. Johnathan Motley (Baylor)

Taurean Prince is a member of the Atlanta Hawks.

Rico Gathers is a member of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad (yes, if you didn’t know, he is now in the NFL).

This means that Baylor is lacking experience up front – well at least other than forward Johnathan Motley.

Motley has played two seasons in Waco, showing a ton of potential as a scorer in the paint, rebounder and defender. The issue is that his role hasn’t always been concrete. He has also lacked the consistency to be a national name.

In fact, Motley has never averaged more than 21.5 minutes per game in a single season. In 2015-16, his average minutes per night actually fell from 21.5 to 20.9, his blocks per game decreased, and his free throw percentage was lower.

There were other areas that seemed to be pointed upwards for the 6’9″ big man from Houston, TX though, as he averaged 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and shot a very efficient 61 percent from the floor (a career high). He didn’t force shots from the perimeter (something he is not very good at) and he was an energizer off the bench.

Motley will be more than just an occasional rebounder and defender this upcoming season. His length, athleticism and mobility gives him the opportunity to play both the four and the five position, and he will become more of a focal point on offense.

He won’t be the bruiser that Gathers is or the floor stretcher that Prince is, but he has his own unique game that suits the Bears’ style of play.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Terry Maston, Nuni Omot and Mark Vital are the other forwards on the roster. There’s a lot of inexperience, so it’s Motley’s job to take the Bears’ front court to the next level.