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

20. Jamal Cain – Oakland Grizzlies

2021-22 season stats: 20.9 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 0.7 apg

In four seasons as mostly a reserve at Marquette, Cain averaged around 6.0 ppg and was out of the radar in the offseason when he transferred to Oakland of the Horizon League. His production has literally tripled so far this season, putting up absurd scoring numbers on 52% shooting from the field.

Cain has scored at least 14 points in every game, including 31 points and 10 rebounds against Alabama. He’s good for 20 and 10 in any game and has turned Oakland from a projected mid-tier team in the Horizon to the co-favorite to win the league alongside Cleveland State. The former Golden Eagle has become the prime example of “transferring down” from the power conference to the mid-major level.

19. Chet Holmgren – Gonzaga Bulldogs

2021-22 season stats: 13.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.2 bpg

The 7’0 forward has been one of the best defenders in the country, ranking in the top-5 nationally in blocks per game while dominating the paint. Holmgren also has been virtually unstoppable in the paint offensively, shooting 61% from the field overall and a whopping 74% from inside the arc.

While Holmgren isn’t putting up any gaudy stats compared to the other star freshmen, his two-way impact is just as good. And if his three-point shooting continues to improve and his fit in the offense continues to get better, there’s a chance he can rise up the rankings.