NCAA Basketball: 9 players primed for breakout seasons in 2018-19

While freshmen are often the new stars on the NCAA basketball scene, these nine players are ready to break through and step into the spotlight this year.

In today’s one-and-done era, talented freshmen seemingly rule the college basketball world and steal the headlines, but teams like Villanova and North Carolina have relied on the growth and development of upperclassmen to lead them to success.

There are a good number of incoming freshmen who will make a major impact this year, but this incoming class is not as deep as the past few have been. Expect several rising sophomores and upperclassmen to fill that void. These next nine players are supremely talented but have waited their turn and are poised to become team leaders this season – and their teams will be better for it.

The season is still months away but preseason rankings and team previews are already out in full force. Although we do not know for sure which players will explode for big years, there are a few that exhibit all the signs of a potential breakout season. It is impossible to know who will eventually pan out but these are some names that you should get acquainted with if you haven’t already. Who will be the next big thing who seemingly “came out of nowhere” to dominate the nation?

Here are some returning players that are set to have breakout seasons in 2018-19 and will become household names.