Atlantic 10 Basketball: Non-conference viewer’s guide for 2022-23 season

Top Five Players To Watch

These are all big X-Factors and a great season would significantly raise their team’s ceiling.

G Devin Dinkins, George Mason

All George Mason’s offense is missing is a quality point guard. Dinkins wasn’t the highest-rated freshman for the Patriots but the hype is building and he is the highest-ceiling solution at the position if he can handle the difficult task of become comfortable leading the team early. And if Dinkins (or Saquan Singleton) give the team a jolt, then George Mason is looking like a Top 3 offense in the league.

G Kobe Elvis, Dayton

Elvis is massively important to the Dayton defense but he was a very streaky shooter last season and will have to fill it at point guard to start the year with Malachi Smith’s injury. Elvis deeply struggled at the position last year until a pair of nice performances in the NIT.

F Saint Thomas, Loyola Chicago

Thomas barely played in his freshman season but the Ramblers’ entire forward rotation needs replaced and Coach Drew Valentine sees Thomas as a potential cornerstone defender. He was a great shooter and distributor in high school who turned down Power 5 offers to go to Loyola.

F Matt Cross, UMass

Cross never found a proper role at Miami or Louisville. He is the most talented player on the UMass roster but he needs to make an impact off the bat to prove that he won’t disappear like he did at his last two stops.

C Neal Quinn, Richmond

Quinn is being referred to as the best passing center in the country and if that’s true then Richmond’s entire offensive expectations will skyrocket.  Chris Mooney’s design will be able to weaponize Quinn to improve every single player around him.

Six More

G Will Richardson, Fordham

The freshman Richardson will be tasked with replacing Josh Colon-Navarro at the head of the Rams’ attacking defense.

G Zeb Jackson, VCU

Elite athlete who transfers in from Michigan but VCU is incredibly deep on the wing and Jackson will need to bring a defensive impact early to earn big minutes.

G Grant Huffman, Davidson

Potentially the key to Davidson’s defense, Huffman needs to show he can be an important three-point threat to become a major two-way contributor.

G Javonte Perkins, Saint Louis

I just want to see how quickly Perkins gets back to full speed after last year’s torn ACL.

F Kevin Easley Jr, Duquesne

Can Easley be a go-to scorer like he was at Chattanooga now that he has much better guards right around him or is he simply just an inconsistent shooter?

C DaRon Holmes II, Dayton

Holmes should be on every watchable list but he added significant muscle this summer and we’ll see if his offseason work can put him on a possible trajectory to be an All-American and/or first-round pick.