Atlantic 10 Basketball: Ranking of top 50 returning players for 2020-21 season

#5: Jordan Goodwin, Guard (Saint Louis Billikens)

Goodwin’s defining characteristics as a player are consistency and versatility. He’s not a particularly electric playmaker or aesthetically-pleasing scorer like the other players in the top 10 of this list likely are, but he’s the best bet to come away with a double-double (he had 16 of them last season) out of all of them. He averaged 15.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on the year while shooting a very respectable 47.3% from the floor last season.

His three-point percentage left something to be desired (28%), but he knows his weaknesses in that regard and maintains fairly strong discipline in his shot selection — there was only one game in which he attempted more than four threes. Although Goodwin stands at an unimposing 6’3”, because of his strength and toughness he’s also an extremely versatile defender.

There are a few other areas where he could stand to improve in his final season; he’s an abysmal free-throw shooter (53.8%) and his 1:1 assist/turnover ratio is barely passing, but as Yuri Collins continues to develop as the team’s primary ball-handler, Goodwin won’t have to play as much hero-ball to the detriment of his numbers. At the end of the day, despite his flaws, he’s too well-rounded to leave out of the top 5 on this list.

#4: Kyle Lofton, Guard (Saint Bonaventure Bonnies)

Lofton has been one of the A10’s most consistent floor generals from the moment he stepped into the league two seasons ago. He’s not the type of player that will put up 30 points every other night, but that’s not who Mark Schmidt recruited him to be. He was brought in to do exactly what he’s been doing — consistently get to double-digit scoring numbers (14.1 per game last season), effectively spread the ball around (a league-leading 6.0 assists per game), limit turnovers and reliably shoot in the mid-30’s % from deep.

Lofton’s real bread and butter is his consistency though, as he had only six single-digit scoring performances in this past season, and he shot less than 25% from the floor on just four occasions. This time around, he should have more talent surrounding him than he’s ever had, so don’t be surprised if his assist numbers eclipse their already-league-leading mark.

He ended up with a spot on the all-conference first team in March, and could easily find himself in contention for conference Player of the Year next award season.

#3: Jacob Gilyard, Guard (Richmond Spiders)

First and foremost, Gilyard is an absolute monster on the defensive end of the floor. A quick look at his game log will tell you everything you need to know about why he is the reigning A10 Defensive Player of the Year. He tallied at least 5 steals on six separate occasions, and that includes a 7-steal performance in an OT win over Vanderbilt.

Those abilities are primarily what has him this high up on the list, but he’s among the league’s most prolific weapons on the other end as well, averaging 12.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game and doing it efficiently; he shot better than 47% from the field, 37% from deep and 80% from the line, and his assist/turnover ratio was 3:1. One area in which he can improve in his final season is in his consistency; there were 10 games in which he scored eight points or less, and he shot just 17/65 from the floor in all of those games combined.

Still, the fact that his averages for the season were as good as they were shows how lethal he can be when he’s hot (he hit at least 4 three-pointers on eight separate occasions too). Because of how deep the Spiders roster is shaping up to be this season, he could have his best season yet leading one of the nation’s premier offenses.

#2: Jalen Crutcher, Guard (Dayton Flyers)

Crutcher proved that he can be one of the best players on a national contender last season by putting up 15.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game running point for a Flyers team that will go down in the annals of A10 history. They should be able to maintain contender status this year, and the main reason for that is #10 in the backcourt.

In terms of his all-around game, it takes a lot of digging to find any real flaws. He’s clutch (watch Dayton’s games against Kansas and Saint Louis for examples of that), he’s one of the best three-point shooters in the conference (42.4% on the year), and he’s easily maintained a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio throughout his 94 career games. His defensive abilities aren’t out of this world, but he’s more than adequate on that end as well.

Crutcher won’t have to fill the scoring void left by Obi Toppin and co all by himself, but he has the talent to shoulder much of that load regardless. Between his projected usage rate and how talented the rest of the Flyers’ roster is shaping up to be, Crutcher is a very good bet to win Player of the Year.

#1: Tre Mitchell, Center (UMass Minutemen)

The case for Tre Mitchell as the top returning player is fairly simple. The A10 Rookie of the Year averaged over 20 points and 8 rebounds per game in conference play last season, and his most impressive performances came against the most respected opposing big men on the schedule.

Mitchell scored at least 20 points in all four of his combined matchups with Cyril Langevine and Hasahn French, put up 26 on projected lottery pick Obi Toppin; and similarly dismantled the likes of Marcus Santos-Silva, Osun Osunniyi, and Michael Hughes to name a few others. In UMass’ final game of the season, a 3-point loss to Rhode Island, he finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds while connecting on 6/8 threes.

That’s not a stat-line that one is used to seeing out of freshman big men in the A10, and it’s exciting to think about what he could become this season with just a few improvements in his ball-handling and shot selection. UMass’ rotation is set to be deeper than it was in his debut campaign, so his numbers may not drastically improve even if he himself has as a player, but he should be more efficient on the whole and tally multiple 30-point performances regardless of roster circumstances.

Though improved, the team will is likely still a year away from a top 4 finish, which could hurt Mitchell’s case for A10 Player of the Year, but in terms of talent and ceiling, he is the class of the league.