Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: 16 best shooters entering 2020-21 season

By Jacob Zinkula

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 12: Marcus Zegarowski #11 of the Creighton Bluejays shoots the ball against the Seton Hall Pirates during a Big East Conference game at Prudential Center on February 12, 2020 in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 12: Marcus Zegarowski #11 of the Creighton Bluejays shoots the ball against the Seton Hall Pirates during a Big East Conference game at Prudential Center on February 12, 2020 in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 08: Saddiq Bey #41 of the Villanova Wildcats (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 08: Saddiq Bey #41 of the Villanova Wildcats (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Group 1: The Best (Statistically)

Dru Kuxhausen – McNeese State

Kuxhausen’s 125 made threes and absurd 45.8% long-range shooting made him not only one of the best freshmen shooters, but one of the best marksmen in the entire country (shot 91.2% percent from the line as well). Only two players last season made at least 97 threes AND at least 43.5% of their 3-pointers: Kuxhausen and Cal State Northridge’s Terell Gomez.

If Kuxhausen simply replicates 125 made threes over his next three collegiate seasons, he would finish with 500 for his career. This would put him 3rd all-time behind Oakland’s Travis Bader (504) and Wofford’s Fletcher Magee (509). Kuxhausen has a shot at becoming the sport’s new 3-point king before it’s all said and done.

Terell Gomez – San Diego State

Along with his aforementioned stellar shooting, Gomez should enter next season as the best free throw shooter in the nation (101-107, 94.4%). He was arguably #1 this past season as well, as only Boise State’s Justin Jessup shot a higher percentage (67-70, 95.7%), albeit on fewer attempts.

Next season, Gomez also has the chance to join the elite “40-40-40-40 club,” reserved for players that shoot at least 40% from three in ALL FOUR of their collegiate seasons. Only four players entered last season with a chance to join the club: Marquette’s Markus Howard, Nebraska’s Matej Kavas, Dartmouth’s Brendan Barry and Michigan State’s Josh Langford.

Langford and Barry missed the entire season due to injury, Kavas shot 33.8%, and only Markus Howard punched his ticket (shot 41.2%). This upcoming season, both Gomez and Northern Iowa’s Trae Berhow have a chance to join the club. Berhow didn’t qualify for the above list of 16 (made 70 threes), but he deserves to be regarded as one of the best returning shooters (shot a blistering 44.6% last season).

Jaheam Cornwall – Gardner-Webb

There’s a statistical argument to be made that Cornwall will be the best-returning shooter next season. Only one other returning player shot better than 44.4% from three on at least 6.0 attempts per game: Dru Kuxhausen.

Saddiq Bey – Villanova 

At 45.1%, Bey shot the 2nd-best percentage of any of the 16 players (behind Kuxhausen) on 5.6 attempts per game (made 175 on the season). He was an efficient 50.0% on two-pointers as well.

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