NCAA Basketball: Luka Garza, Drew Timme among top-10 POY contenders

3. Jared Butler | 6’3 Guard | Baylor Bears

Baylor Bears junior guard Jared Butler is one reason they’re ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll in the 2020-21 season. He’s a burden on the offensive and defensive end of the floor in the Baylor backcourt and has a high trajectory to finish at the top of the National Player of the Year race.

Butler is averaging 16.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest as Baylor is 3-0 on the young season. He’s used a blend of pesky defending and attacking all three levels to give his squad an edge in 2020-21.

He’s another heady guard that has a strong knack for sharing the ball and the backcourt with junior guard Davion Mitchell. Mitchell is leading the team in assists per game this season with 6.7 per contest. There’s also Presbyterian transfer Adam Flagler, who’s averaging 3.7 assists per game off the bench along with 15.7 points per game.

The Bears were due to play a rematch against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, since losing to them in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Butler had just 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting in that one. He’ll have to hold off on redeeming himself on that one, for now.