Big 12 Basketball: Top 5 rising seniors for 2018-19

A senior has been named the Big 12 Player of the Year in four of the last five seasons, including three straight. Who are the conference’s top seniors this year?

It may seem like freshmen dominate the college basketball landscape today, but that is not the case in the Big 12. Sure, the conference (particularly Kansas) has seen its share of one-and-done players, but seniors still rule the Big 12 more than any other conference.

Four of the last five Big 12 Player of the Year awards have been won by seniors while the fifth was won by former Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield during his junior year (he won it again as a senior). In fact, there were three seniors on each of the three All-Big 12 teams last season.

That shows just how much talent and leadership are leaving the conference, but there are a number of rising seniors that are poised to fill that void in 2018-19.

Kansas, home of the last two conference players of the year in Frank Mason and Devonte’ Graham, has a track record of developing talented upperclassmen and are expected to do the same again. Meanwhile, their in-state rival, Kansas State, returns virtually everyone from their surprising Elite Eight run including two key seniors.

Which seniors will be at the top of the conference this season? Here are the top five that will likely be at the forefront of the Big 12 Player of the Year race.