NCAA Basketball: Top 25 Player of the Year candidates in 2021-22 season

22. Kameron McGusty – Miami Hurricanes

2021-22 season stats: 18.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.1 apg

The 6th-year senior transfer has been a double-digit contributor for the Hurricanes the past couple of years. But he’s taken a big leap so far this season, leading them in scoring and producing at career-high percentages. McGusty has scored at least 12 points in all but one game this season, including 29 points against Lipscomb, 28 versus UCF, and three 20-point double-doubles.

McGusty also had 14 points in last weekend’s win against Duke which put Miami in first place in the ACC and in position for a potential NCAA Tournament spot. In the backcourt trio of McGusty, Isaiah Wong, and Charlie Moore, it’s the super-senior that has stood out as the most impactful to this point.

21. Isaiah Mobley – USC Trojans

2021-22 season stats: 15.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.9 apg

Even with Evan Mobley off starring as a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, the Trojans have been a top-10 team this season and were one of the last two remaining unbeaten NCAA Basketball teams before losing to Stanford this week. Older brother Isaiah Mobley has developed into a star and best player for USC, leading them in scoring and rebounding while expanding his game to become a legitimate good shooter from deep.

Mobley had three straight games of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds at one point and dropped 21 points in a conference win over Utah. He’s also been an anchor to the defense remaining in the top-tier of NCAA Basketball as well. He hasn’t had as much publicity as the stars of UCLA and Arizona yet but Mobley deserves consideration for Pac-12 Player of the Year.