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

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - MARCH 07: Guard Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders handles the ball during the second half of the college basketball game against the Kansas Jayhawks on March 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

4 of 14

PISCATAWAY, NJ – FEBRUARY 09: Myles Johnson #15 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) /

22. Myles Johnson – Rutgers Scarlet Knights

2019-20 stats: 7.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg

The 6’10 center was promoted to a starter last season, ultimately leading the team in rebounding, including 13 games of at least 10 boards in a single game. He had an outstanding month stretch, that included several double-doubles and a 14-point, 14-rebound performance against Pittsburgh.

Johnson did end up getting benched towards the end of the regular season after struggling in Big Ten play, with Shaq Carter taking over. But with him now gone, the center position is all his and with the bulk of the roster returning, look for Johnson to be the key frontcourt weapon for Rutgers. And with more consistency could become a daily double-double threat.

21. Kessler Edwards – Pepperdine Waves

2019-20 stats: 13.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg

Pepperdine was a three-headed monster last season, led by 20 ppg point guard Colbey Ross and the Edwards brothers, Kameron and Kessler. The older broth Kameron, who averaged 16.4 ppg and 7.5 rpg last season, has graduated. So expect a ton of that production to fall to the very versatile younger brother Kessler.

The 6’8 forward had a number of great performances as the third option, including a career-high 30 points against Central Arkansas and a 24 and 11 effort against BYU. He and Ross will be one of the most productive duos and don’t be surprised if Edwards becomes an NB Draft candidate since he basically can do it all.

Home/NCAA Basketball News