Atlantic 10 Basketball: Breakout candidates from each team for 2020-21
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 12: A general view of the Barclay Center prior to the start of the 2020 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament - Second Round on March 12, 2020 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. Tournament games will be played without fans amid growing concerns of the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 12: A general view of the Barclay Center prior to the start of the 2020 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament - Second Round on March 12, 2020 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. Tournament games will be played without fans amid growing concerns of the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/cf814adc9f67730c225ef25dc939bdf22e170b2308819481aa48e5799eff4144.jpg)
G, Ibi Watson – Dayton
Ibi Watson is Dayton’s breakout candidate for the 2020-21 season. Watson will be a Redshirt Junior at Dayton in the Fall. He has shown glimpses of what he can do with possession of the ball this past season at Dayton. Watson didn’t get as many minutes as he would’ve liked as he had to share time with players like Obi Toppin, Jalen Crutcher, and Trey Landers. Watson will now have an opportunity to shine with more minutes on the court.
The Ohio Native, Ibi Watson played two seasons at Athens High School, averaging 17.5 points per game. Watson was a high school basketball teammate of Joe Burrow at Athens High. Watson finished his last two years of high school at Pickerington Central, averaging 19.2 points per game. Watson earned himself Associated Press Division I All-Ohio first team (2016), and honorable mention (2015) at Pickerington Central.
Watson played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Michigan. He played in 19 games as a freshman and 26 games as a sophomore, including a Big 10 and NCAA Tournament run before elected to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Watson sat out the 2018-19 season due to the NCAA underclassman transfer restrictions.
Last season, Watson played in all 31 games (one start), and averaged 10.1 points per game. The one start was against Grambling when Jalen Crutcher was out, and Watson erupted for 30 points and was then named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week. He was also named the Thomas Luppe Award, which goes to Dayton’s top newcomer.
Last season spotlight was on the Obi Toppin and Jalen Crutcher show, however, now there will be a lot of attention to several other players. This is the perfect time for Ibi Watson to break out as he and the Flyers look to take everything home next season.