NCAA Basketball: 20 sophomores under pressure to break out in 2020-21

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 12: Matthew Hurt #21 of the Duke Blue Devils takes a three-point shot against the Central Arkansas Bears during the first half of their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 12, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 03: Ismael Massoud #25 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Hyunjung Lee – Davidson Wildcats

The season didn’t go well for the Wildcats but the play of Lee, who averaged 8.4 ppg in 20 mpg off the bench. The 6’7 wing had several high-level performances as a freshman, including going for 20 points against VCU and a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double versus Coppin State. The All-Atlantic 10 freshman made 38% of his three-point attempts and 87% from the charity stripe and could very well end up as a rare 50-40-90 performer for Davidson when it’s all said and done.

Lee will have to provide much more production with all-around star guard Jon Axel Gudmundsson having graduated. Leading scorer Kellan Grady will need plenty of help and with Luke Frampton off to Western Kentucky, look for Lee to be inserted as a starter and be at least, a double-digit scorer with all-conference potential.

Ismael Massoud – Wake Forest Demon Deacons

There was a ton of roster turnover after the head coaching change from Danny Manning to Steve Forbes, including several grad transfer pickups on the perimeter. The frontcourt wasn’t addressed much, leaving an underclassman such as Massoud a great opportunity to become a key piece on the new-look team.

As a freshman, the 6’8 combo forward only averaged 4.8 ppg but already showed that he can shoot the lights out of the ball, going for 40% from three-point range. Massoud only had four double-digit scoring campaigns last season but expect it to become a normal occurrence in 2020-21.

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