NCAA Basketball: Top mid-major and high-major performers early in 2022-23

Sam Sessoms

Sessoms the graduate senior guard from Coppin State, by way of Penn State, is the winner of the inaugural Busting Brackets Mid Major Player of the Week award. There were a lot of worthy candidates to choose from but Sessoms had the best two-week stretch of any player on this list. Coppin State is a team who seems to be finally figuring it out under head coach Juan Dixon. Dixon loves to shoot threes and has always been very guard heavy.

The Eagles were ready to take the next step this year; they just needed some additional help and coach Dixon found the best possible solution when he went out and got Sessoms. Sessoms does score a lot and facilitates the offense, but it is the non-counting stats that he contributes that are currently making the difference for Coppin State. The point guard is now in his third school and has been in college for six seasons. He has tons of experience and has been on some winning teams as well. The Coppin State program has some young talent, especially in the backcourt. He can teach them how to win, and how to make the right plays. Those are things that are invaluable.

In addition to the leadership and scoring the guard is also one of the best individual defenders in the MEAC. Coach Dixon has a team who can compete at the top of the MEAC and needed an experienced ball handler who can distribute and score. Sessoms fits that bill and it doesn’t hurt that he is back to being one of the best three-point shooters in the country. The senior guard is likely going to get himself a triple-double this year and hopefully will lead Coppin State to the NCAA tournament this year. That would be the perfect culmination of a great career for Sessoms. Congratulations Sam for being named the first Player of the Week at Busting Brackets!