NCAA Basketball: Top 20 pending “covid year” player decisions to watch

14. Anton Watson – Gonzaga Bulldogs

2022-23 season stats: 11.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.4 apg

Watson has played second fiddle in the frontcourt to the likes of Drew Timme and Chet Holmgren. Yet Watson has shown the ability to have an impact on both ends as one of the best “glue guys” in NCAA Basketball. He’s an underrated scorer as well when given the opportunity, including 20 points against San Francisco in the WCC Tournament.

They’ll need more of Watson’s offense if he comes back, as not only is Timme finally gone but so are multiple other pieces. Rasir Bolton, Hunter Sallis and even Efton Reid have departed, leading a hole in the frontcourt. This would be the chance for the veteran to have his largest role yet at Gonzaga and finally be a focal point.

13. Baylor Scheierman – Creighton Bluejays

2022-23 season stats: 12.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.3 apg

As expected, the former Summit League Player of the Year did see his numbers slip a bit with a smaller role at Creighton. Still, he managed to lead them in rebounding and score in double figures 31 of 37 times. One of them was a 21-point effort against Princeton in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bluejays were just minutes away from making the Final Four and while it’s unlikely, could return its entire starting lineup for another year. Scheierman is the veteran that has the covid-year decision to make and he could enjoy another year on a top-10 caliber roster in another attempt to get to the Final Four.