NCAA Basketball: Top 100 returning players for 2022-23 season
100. Paul Mulcahy – Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2021-22 stats: 9.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 5.3 apg
The 6’6 guard has slowly developed into one of the best all-around players in Big Ten, as well as a leading passer. Mulcahy had a career-high 12-assist game against Michigan State, which came after a 31-point performance versus Northwestern. He’ll have an even larger role now that Geo Baker is gone and this should be the year that his name gets on the national radar.
99. Andre Jackson – UConn Huskies
2021-22 stats: 6.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3.1 apg
The 6’6 guard can play and defend four different positions and is the definition of versatility. Jackson’s scoring doesn’t have a high ceiling but he’s a strong rebounder for his size, including 16 in one game against St. John’s. The junior guard will have a big role once he gets back from a broken finger in November.
98. Dylan Penn – Vermont Catamounts
2021-22 stats (at Bellarmine: 16.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.0 apg
The 6’3 guard turned the former D-I newcomer into a solid mid-major program in the past couple of years, putting up some big stats in all the main categories. That includes a career-high 38 points versus Central Arkansas and multiple games of 10+ assists and rebounds. He joins one of the top mid-major NCAA Basketball teams in Vermont and Penn should be a frontrunner for America East Player of the Year.
97. Fousseynyi Traore – BYU Cougars
2021-22 stats: 9.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg
The 6’7 forward got extended minutes as a freshman due to injuries and produced in a big way. Traore had 19 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Liberty, as well as a season-high 25 and 19 versus Pepperdine. Although he’s undersized as a forward, Traore is highly athletic, physical, and energetic and is primed for a breakout sophomore campaign.
96. Jesse Edwards – Syracuse Orange
2021-22 stats: 12.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.8 bpg
Despite being the 4th or 5th option on offense last season, the 6’11 center still managed to be an effective post scorer. Edwards had a couple of 20+ point games, including 22 points, eight rebounds, and seven blocks against Miami. He fouled out 12 out of 24 games so if he can avoid foul trouble, Edwards can have a big year with the Orange.
95. Tyrece Radford – Texas A&M Aggies
2021-22 stats: 10.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 1.4 apg
After transferring over from Virginia Tech, Radford became a much better three-pointer shooter (40%), while also remaining a strong defender and rebounder in a system that fit him well at Texas A&M. The senior guard became a consistent scorer in the second half of the season and should again be a focal point of the offense this year.
94. Kerr Kriisa – Arizona Wildcats
2021-22 stats: 9.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 4.7 apg
In his first full year as a starter, Kriisa was an inefficient dynamic playmaker for the Wildcats. He had a triple-double against Utah, along with eight games of at least 16 points. He also shot under 35% from the field and had a bunch of games with five or fewer points as well. There are times when he has looked like a top-40 player in the country and other times when he’s outside the top 200. More consistency from Kriisa is needed for Arizona to succeed.
93. Fardaws Aimaq – Texas Tech Red Raiders
2021-22 stats (at Utah Valley): 18.9 ppg, 13.6 rpg, and 1.7 apg
The former WAC Player of the Year (and multiple Defensive POY) put up some major stats at UVU in the past couple of years and is one of the top frontcourt transfers from this offseason. He joins a Texas Tech system that thrives on defense and while he’s currently out with a foot injury until late December, the team will need him if they want to make a run in March.
92. Wendell Green – Auburn Tigers
2021-22 stats: 12.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 5.1 apg
Despite coming off the bench last season, Green not only led the Tigers in passing but also did his fair share of scoring, including scoring at least 19 points on eight different occasions. The former Eastern Kentucky guard proved he can play at the SEC level and with more efficiency can be an all-league level scorer as well.
91. Brandon Slater – Villanova Wildcats
2021-22 stats: 8.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg
The 6’6 forward was a full-time starter for the first time last season and had 10 games of at least 15 points, although his production was fairly inconsistent. But Slater earns his reputation on the defensive end, capable of guarding all five positions on the court. With five-star freshman Cam Whitmore likely out to start the season, look for the 5th-year senior to be a key part of the offense.