Big Ten Basketball: 5 early breakout candidates to watch for 2023-24 season

One of the things most endearing aspects of college basketball is the reality that stars can appear out of seemingly nowhere. Sure, there are plenty of big-name recruits and returning veterans that command most of the national attention, but there are just as many that spring into stardom through long-term development.

This is true across the country but feels particularly important in Big Ten Basketball as we look ahead to 2023-24. The league is replacing some serious star power across all 14 teams. Names like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Pickett are officially off to begin their professional career, while others like Hunter Dickinson have announced new transfer destinations. There’s a chance more could soon be out the door, as reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey is currently weighing his professional future.

With that in mind, why not take a stab at predicting the next wave of breakout stars in the conference? There’s plenty to choose from, and there could realistically be more options in the near future as the transfer portal keeps churning.

Of course, defining a “breakout candidate” is highly subjective. But, I tried to keep this list to players who aren’t quite established names just yet, typically players who have been rotational pieces instead of starters, below 20 minutes per game. Not every name fits this rule to a tee, but this provides a starting point as we make our way through the long haul that is the college basketball offseason.