Atlantic 10 Basketball: Top 5 rising sophomores for 2018-19

BOISE, ID - MARCH 15: Kellan Grady #31 of the Davidson Wildcats reacts in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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SPOKANE, WA – MARCH 18: Shavar Newkirk #1 and Aaron Brown #2 of the Saint Joseph’s Hawks celebrate their 78-76 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 18, 2016 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

4. Taylor Funk, St. Joseph’s

St. Joseph’s Hawks forward Taylor Funk started his freshman season coming off the bench but by Jan. 3 that changed permanently. He started 21 of his 32 appearances during the 2017-18 season, averaging 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest.

Funk paid dividends for St. Joseph’s as a 3-point specialist and clean up man on the glass. He made at least five 3-pointers in three games for the Hawks, pouring in a career-high 23 points against the Princeton Tigers on Nov. 18. The 6-foot-9 stretch forward went 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) from behind the arc.

Saint Joseph’s Taylor Funk showed flashes of deadly three-point shooting as a freshman and is also an underrated rebounder. The Hawks’ success in 2018-19 could hinge upon Funk’s ability to step-up as a playmaker and not just a role-player as a sophomore. #SJUWeek pic.twitter.com/WBrD7bAKaN
— A10 Talk (@A10Talk) July 3, 2018

The rising sophomore shot 39.4 percent from 3-point land and the 42.6 percent from field goal range. He put up just 1 double-double, but that should change with an increased role in 2018-19. With the Atlantic 10 title up for grabs, he’ll be one to watch for St. Joseph’s this upcoming season.

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