NCAA Basketball: Top 25 breakout sophomore players for 2020-21 season

3. Samuell Williamson – Louisville Cardinals

2019-20 stats: 4.4 ppg and 2.5 rpg

There really wasn’t a chance that Williamson was going to play more than 15 mpg last season on a Cardinals team filled with upperclassman and an All-ACC star in Jordan Nwora, who played the same position as the freshman. But with him gone, the 6’7 forward will have a massive chance to shine. He’ll have to improve on his perimeter shooting and defense but Williamson has all the tools to be a 15+ ppg leading scorer for Louisville and be an early entrant to the NBA Draft.

2. Scottie Lewis – Florida Gators

2019-20 stats: 8.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg

With Andrew Nembhard gone, Tre Mann is a legit breakout candidate at the point guard position. But I have a feeling that sit-out transfer Tyree Appleby will cut into some of his production next season. One Gator who will have a monster campaign regardless of the rotation will be Lewis, a 6’5 wing who has top-5 NBA Draft pick potential. He has all the tools to succeed and can score at all three levels efficiently. If the consistency improves, look for him to be a potential SEC Player of the Year contender.

1. Rocket Watts – Michigan State Spartans

2019-20 stats: 9.0 ppg and 1.7 apg

The former top-40 recruit had his ups and downs as a freshman, similar to previous Spartan guards under head coach Tom Izzo. That includes Cassius Winston, an All-American and former Big Ten Player of the Year point guard. With him gone, that leaves Watts as a likely starter to take over. He started some games alongside Winston off the ball but seemed to be best as the lead guard when given the opportunity.

Watts had four games of at least 18 points towards the end of last season and still has plenty of room to improve, particularly from three-point range. Between that and his ball-handling abilities, don’t be surprised if Watts ends up as an All-Big Ten player in his own right, now with the keys to the car of Michigan State Basketball.