Who are some Big East Basketball breakout candidates for this upcoming season?
With so many question marks looming ahead of the upcoming NCAA Basketball season, one thing is for sure is that Big East Basketball deserves praise for rebuilding itself back to one of the most competitive leagues in the nation. The reunion with UConn was another positive move for the conference and will unquestionably add more viewers to tune in on a nightly basis.
With Markus Howard and Myles Powell no longer competing on the collegiate level, plenty of uber-talented scoring threats will vie for national attention, and perhaps BIG EAST Player of the Year.
These are five under-the-radar talents that could make noise in BIG EAST play this season:
Jermaine Samuels, Villanova
With the departure of first-round draft pick Saddiq Bey, Jay Wright’s squad will need to replace 20% of their scoring from a year ago. Jermaine Samuels finished the 2019-20 campaign, averaging 10.7 points per game and a field-goal percentage of 46%.
Opposing defenses will devote most of their attention to corralling senior point guard Collin Gillespie, opening the door for Samuels to be the Wildcats’ first option on offense. The Franklin, Mass native will, without a doubt, be heavily relied upon down the stretch in tight games. Last season, the 6’7″ senior showed glimpses of clutch play, scoring the game-winning points in wins over top-ranked Kansas last December and Georgetown on March 7.
Charlie Moore, DePaul
Charlie Moore seems to be one of the most enigmatic players in the BIG EAST. The senior point guard has bounced around, transferring twice in the past three years (California and Kansas). The Windy City native was the only player in the conference to wrap up the 2019-20 season in the top 10 in points, assists, and steals.
Moore could be one of the best point guards in the country this season, but he had some rough offensive games down the stretch last season and found himself shooting the ball more than he should have. If the Chicago native wants to prove he is an NBA caliber point guard, he will need to be more consistent this year on offense.
The addition of three incoming transfers – Ray Salnave (Monmouth), Javon Freeman-Liberty (Valparaiso), and Pauly Paulicap (Manhattan) – will undoubtedly take the weight off of Moore’s shoulders.
RJ Cole, UConn
Last year, RJ Cole had an awe-inspiring season in the nation’s capital, averaging 21 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per contest for Howard. Cole and James Bouknight will be one of the “can’t miss” backcourts to watch in the BIG EAST this season. If Cole can prove to be an efficient scorer and playmaker in his first season with the Huskies, Dan Hurley‘s squad can make a run for the top of the conference by season’s end.
Julian Champagnie, St. John’s
Julian Champagnie was everything Head Coach Mike Anderson could’ve asked for from a first-year starter. The Brooklyn native was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman team after finishing the season third on the Red Storm with 318 points and seventh in the conference with 6.5 rebounds per game.
In his sophomore campaign, Champagnie will have more responsibilities on the offensive end, given the departures of Mustapha Heron and LJ Figueroa. The 6’8″ winger will need to be a double-double machine and a lockdown defender if the Red Storm want to finish in the top half of the conference.
Bryce Aiken, Seton Hall
Bryce Aiken, the second incoming transfer to feature on this list, made headlines in the NYC area when he announced his decision to join the Pirates from Harvard. The former Ivy League standout averaged 22 points per game before being sidelined for the year with a sprained foot.
With Myles Powell departing for the NBA, Aiken can be the scoring threat that fills his void. Head Coach Kevin Willard depends on Aiken and senior forward Sandro Mamukelashvili to be the primary scorers this season.
Honorable Mentions
Jared Rhoden, Seton Hall
Rhoden was an overlooked scoring threat for the Pirates last season, and with Myles Powell no longer on campus, this can be the perfect opportunity for the junior to be the clutch scorer that Seton Hall depends on down the stretch.
AJ Reeves, Providence
After a disappointing season, Reeves will look to bounce back for Ed Cooley and the Friars and be the efficient frontcourt scorer from his freshman campaign. Reeves will be one of the primary scoring options alongside David Duke.
Rasheem Dunn, St. John’s
Dunn will be the primary facilitator on the floor for Coach Anderson this season. After a promising first campaign with the Johnnies in which the Brooklyn native averaged 11.9 points and 3.4 assists per game, Dunn can be a top point guard in the league if he limits turnovers on offense and shoots better behind the arc.
Eight of the 11 BIG EAST institutions will kick off their 2020-21 seasons on Wednesday, November 25.