NCAA Basketball: Best player from each of the 50 states for 2022-23

Montana – Jubrile Belo (Montana State)

Belo cleaned up last year, not only helping lead the Bobcats to the NCAA Tournament but winning Big Sky Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. The large forward averaged 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game for the Bobcats and has led the conference in blocks the last two seasons. He’s been one of the conference’s most efficient players during his career and will be a vital piece towards an attempt at a conference repeat for Montana State.

Nebraska – Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton)

He may not be the first person named when discussing the Bluejays’ success, but Kalkbrenner play a major role in Creighton’s emergence last season. He was Big East Defensive Player of the Year and lead the conference in shooting percentage, averaging 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds last year. He is a complete force at the back end of this defense and is clearly an efficient weapon on the offense. If he can stay healthy and continue that dominance, he may be one of the best big men in the nation this year; and there’s certainly plenty of competition for that title.

Nevada – Elijah Harkless (UNLV)

With many new faces at the two Nevada schools, expect big things from Harkless, who spent the last two seasons at Oklahoma. He joins Kevin Kruger’s squad, having played under his father with the Sooners, averaging 10.0 points and 4.1 rebounds last season. He’s coming back from a knee injury, but he’s an above-average defender who’ll look to have a strong shooting season, hitting a career-high 50% of his shots last year.

New Hampshire – Dame Adelekun (Dartmouth)

Year three should be a big one for Adelekun, who’ll finally be a full-time starter and major contributor for the Big Green. Last year he averaged just 7.8 points and 6.4 rebounds, but had solid metrics, and was among the Ivy League’s best rebounders and shot-blockers. He’s an important piece on the defensive end and this junior big man will have to take another big step forward for Dartmouth to contend for anything this year.

New Jersey – Caleb McConnell (Rutgers)

McConnell has been along for the ride during Rutgers’ recent emergence in basketball and he’s back for his fifth and final season with the Scarlet Knights. His offensive numbers don’t stand out, though he’ll have more chances this season, but it’s the defense that’s key for McConnell. Last year’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, he has a chance to repeat those honors and perhaps stand out as one of the nation’s best defensive players.