NCAA Basketball: Top 100 returning players for 2022-23 season

40. Terquavion Smith – NC State Wolfpack

2021-22 stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 2.1 apg

The 20-point performance against Bucknell in his season debut was an indicator of how offensively talented Smith was going to be. The 6’4 guard had 12 games of at least 20 points, including a season-high 34 points at North Carolina. He shot under 40% from the field but made 37% of his three-pointers and with Dareon Seabron gone, the Wolfpack will be looking for Smith to be a nightly star.

39. Pete Nance – North Carolina Tar Heels

2021-22 stats (at Northwestern): 14.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.7 apg

One of the top transfers this offseason, Nance is a 6’11 forward that can move fluidly to play and guard both frontcourt positions. He shot 46% from three-point range and is a talented scorer, while underrated in the rebounding and passing categories. He’ll likely not put up the same numbers with the Tar Heels as he did last year but his impact will be felt in March.

38. Isiaih Mosley – Missouri Tigers

2021-22 stats (at Missouri State): 20.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 2.3 apg

The only NCAA Basketball player to score more than 15 ppg while shooting 50-40-90 splits, Mosley is an efficient scoring star from the Missouri Valley. The 6’5 guard had seven games of at least 30 points last season, including a career-high 43 points versus Northern Iowa. Few teams were able to slow Mosley down but now he goes to arguably the toughest conference in the SEC, where the tests will be plenty.

37. Jayden Gardner – Virginia Cavaliers

2021-22 stats: 15.3 ppg and 6.4 rpg

There were plenty of issues with the Cavaliers last season but Gardner wasn’t one of them, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding. He had 13 games of at least 17 points, including 29 versus Fairleigh Dickinson. The former ECU star was a consistent offensive force inside and should continue that in his 5th season.

36. DaRon Holmes – Dayton Flyers

2021-22 stats: 12.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 2.3 bpg

The former top-50 prospect was the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and made the all-defensive unit as well. Holmes’ offensive went into high gear in the last month of the season, scoring 28 points against UMass in the conference tournament and was becoming a consistent force inside. Assuming he keeps that up as a sophomore and has that breakout campaign many see coming, look for Holmes’ name to be among the top tier of NCAA Basketball centers in 2023.