NCAA Basketball: Top 10 rankings for 2022-23 National Player of the Year
We’ve had two full months of play in NCAA Basketball and a number of star players have emerged. There are those whose performances have lifted their respective teams into the national title conversation, while preseason contenders for National Player of the Year have either played as expected or for some, underachieved with their teams.
Look at Oscar Tshiebwe, the first reigning Player of the Year to come back to college hoops for another year. He’s averaging 15.8 ppg and 13.2 rpg this season, both of which are slightly down from a year ago. But the biggest difference is how his team is playing. The Kentucky Wildcats are 10-5 (1-2) and currently unranked, which likely has him out of the running for National Player of the Year this time around.
But there are plenty of others that are in the mix at the moment. Here are the top 10 frontcourts for the award.
*Stats are through Jan 8th
Honorable Mention: Ricky Council – Arkansas Razorbacks
On a team that’s without two double-digit scorers due to injury (Nick Smith and Trevon Brazile), the Wichita State transfer has gone from elite 6th Man to one of the best players in the SEC. Council leads the team with 18.1 ppg and has scored 8+ points in each game, including a 25-point effort in a win over Missouri.
HM: Jalen Pickett – Penn State Nittany Lions
The lone player in NCAA Basketball to average at least 17 ppg, 7.0 rpg, and 7.0 apg, Pickett has been a daily triple-double watch for Penn State, including one (15/10/11) against Butler in a win. He’s been on a scoring tear as well, with back-to-back 26-point games in Big Ten play.
HM: Oumar Ballo – Arizona Wildcats
One of the biggest breakout stars in the country, Ballo is averaging 16.8 ppg and 8.9 rpg for the Wildcats and has replaced Christian Koloko perfectly this season. Ballo has been in double figures in every game this season, including going for a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Creighton in the Maui Invitational.