NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 100 senior players from 2019-20 season
100. Derryck Thornton (Duke, USC and Boston College)
Career stats: 7.9 ppg 2.2 rpg 2.9 apg
The college career looked promising for the former five-star recruit, starting half of Duke’s games as a freshman. He opted to transfer to USC in the offseason, in what ended up being a couple of forgettable years. Thornton did end things on a better note as a Boston College grad transfer, scoring 12.7 ppg and leading the team with 3.4 apg.
99. Prentiss Nixon (Colorado State and Iowa State)
Career stats: 10.8 ppg 2.7 rpg 1.8 apg
The 6’2 guard started out at Colorado State, where he became one of the better scorers in the Mountain West for a couple of seasons. Nixon transferred to Iowa State, scoring just under double-digits this past season as a starter. He ended his career on a bright note, scoring a season-high 25 points in the Big 12 Tournament loss to Oklahoma State.
98. Haanif Cheatham (Marquette, Florida Gulf Coast and Nebraska)
Career stats: 11.3 ppg 3.8 rpg 2.0 apg
After a pair of solid seasons as a power conference starter, Cheatham transferred to Florida Gulf Coast after just a few games played in 2017. He only played in 10 games for the Eagles before getting a shoulder injury and missing the rest of the season. The 6’6 guard ended up back at the p-5 level, starting for a rebuilding Nebraska Basketball squad, leading the team in 13.1 ppg.
97. Jordan Roland (George Washington and Northeastern)
Career stats: 10.9 ppg 2.0 rpg 1.2 apg
After two seasons with the Colonials, Roland found his scoring powers with Northeastern, averaging 14.6 ppg as a junior, before soaring up to 21.9 ppg this past season. That was good for 1st in the CAA and No. 10 overall in the country. Roland had several 30+ point efforts but the most notable was the career-high 42 in a win over Harvard.
96. Ivan Gandia-Rose (North Florida)
Career-stats: 12.7 ppg 3.1 rpg 6.1 apg
In his three seasons with the Ospreys, Gandia-Rose was the starting point guard for a North Florida program who consistently contended in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Puerto Rican ball-handler led the conference in assists per game all three years, while also providing quality scoring in his own right.
95. Jahlil Tripp (Pacific)
Career stats: 12.6 ppg 7.5 rpg 3.2 apg
The Tigers have been one of the worst offenses in the country the last three seasons but Tripp singlehandedly was able to keep them in games. Not only with his scoring but also on the defensive end, which he was rewarded by winning this season’s WCC Defensive Player of the Year Award. Tripp averaged 16.2 ppg and 8.9 rpg on the 4th placed squad, the best finish since entering the conference.
94. Tyler Sharpe (Louisville and Northern Kentucky)
Career stats: 11.4 ppg 2.2 rpg 1.5 apg
After walking-on at Lousiville as a freshman, Sharpe transferred nearby to Northern Kentucky, where he grew into a star in the Horizon League. He was a key piece on the Norse’s past two conference tournament championships, scoring over 14 ppg in the last couple of years. Sadly for Sharpe, his effort to get an extra year was denied by the NCAA in early March.
93. Lavelle Scottie (Air Force)
Career stats: 12.7 ppg 4.7 rpg 1.4 apg
The Falcons have been much more competitive in the Mountain West for the last couple of seasons, thanks to the two-time All-Conference forward Scottie. He averaged at least 15 ppg in the past two seasons and was a consistent double-digit scorer overall for Air Force. Without him, they may fall back towards the bottom.
92. Nathan Hoover (Wofford)
Career stats: 11.8 ppg 2.8 rpg 1.2 apg
While Flecther Magee gets the bulk of the credit for the historic 30-win season for Wofford a couple of years ago, the 6’4 Hoover also played a big role. That season, he made 47% of his three-point attempts, making four from deep in their NCAA Tournament win over Seton Hall. This past season, Hoover kept the Terriers competitive in the SoCon, leading the team with 14.7 ppg.
91. Tommy Funk (Army)
Career stats: 12.5 ppg 3.6 rpg 5.9 apg
One of the best point guards in the country this past season, Funk averaged 17.5 ppg and 7.1 apg, good for tops in the Patriot League and 7th nationally. As a four-year starter for the Black Knights, the 5’11 ballhandler racked up 728 career assists. Not only is that by far the most-ever for an Army player, but Funk is also now No. 1 overall in Patriot League history.