NCAA Basketball: Top 25 international players of 2019-20 season

By TJ Miller | Feb 29, 2020

SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 08: Joel Ayayi #11 and Filip Petrusev #3 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs celebrate after Ayayi hit a 3-point shot to put Gonzaga up by 6 pois in the 2nd half at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on December 8, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mike Tedesco/Getty Images) /

6 of 14

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 11: Saddiq Bey #41 of the Villanova Wildcats (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

17) Omer Yurtseven (Turkey) – Georgetown

February has been a frustrating month for Yurtseven, who has struggled to stay on the court due to injury. With that being said, the North Carolina State transfer has been a difference-maker for the Hoyas whenever healthy. The 7′ 0″ junior is eighth in the Big East in scoring (15.8 PPG) and third in rebounds (10.0 RPG). The big man has collected thirteen double-doubles and has scored in double figures in all but three of Georgetown’s games.

It’s been a tumultuous season for Patrick Ewing’s team with the abrupt mid-season departures of James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc. But, anything is possible for the eighth place Hoyas in the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden, especially if Yurtseven can return to 100%. At their best, Georgetown has played through the tough, talented Turkish native, and Yurtseven should continue to improve if he’s back in 2020-21.

16) Lamine Diane (Senegal) – Cal State Northridge

If you haven’t heard of Lamine Diane there is no need to feel bad. Diane didn’t play CSUN’s first 15 games this season and therefore you won’t find his name atop most stat leaderboards. However, the sophomore Diane has picked up where freshman Diane left off. Here are his averages by year:

2018-19 (Fr, 33 games) – 24.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 2.2 blocks
2019-20 (So, 16 games) – 25.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.8 blocks

The last player to put up these kinds of ridiculous numbers was Kevin Durant, who averaged an almost identical stat line in his only season at Texas. Skeptics may be quick to point out the generally poor level of defense characteristic of a decent chunk of Big West teams combined with Diane’s extremely high usage rate amidst CSUN’s offensive attack. Sure, there’s some truth in both these claims. Does it make what Diane has done so far in his college career any less impressive? Nope. He may not be Kevin Durant, but an NBA team will certainly scoop up the 6′ 7″ Diane whenever he decides to make the jump. For now, enjoy what Lamine Diane is doing.

Home/NCAA Basketball News