NCAA Basketball: 10 biggest position battles to watch for 2023-24 season

We’re entering the stage of the NCAA Basketball offseason where teams are on foreign tours, getting ready for the upcoming season. You can’t take too much away from the overall results but there can be some hints as to who’ll not only start but also be a potential breakout candidate as well.

For most teams, we know who’ll the respective starters will be. But for other notable NCAA Basketball programs, there are some questions. Looking at some specific position battles that’ll have on the 2023-24 campaign, here’s a top-10 ranking of those to watch.

Honorable Mention: Pittsburgh Panthers

Position battle: PG – Dior Johnson vs Jaland Lowe vs Carlton Carrington

Based on a couple of preseason exhibitions in Spain from the past week, four of the five starters are essentially set. Federiko Federiko and Blake Hinson in the frontcourt, along with incoming transfers, Ishmael Leggett and Zach Austin. The question is who is the point guard, with three freshmen in the mix?

Johnson, a former top-50 prospect who redshirted last season, has the most experience. However, it’s been Carrington that’s reportedly been the most impressive. The four-star combo guard from the DMV area has started in those games and displayed some impressive ball-handling skills. Yet Lowe, a top-60 freshman, is the one true PG of the group.

HM: St. John’s Red Storm

Position battle: SF – RJ Luis vs Nahiem Alleyne vs Glenn Taylor

There are four players on the St. John’s roster that averaged 15+ ppg at their previous spots once the team landed Harvard transfer forward, Chris Ledlum. The one spot that feels up for grabs is on the wing, with several other incoming transfers capable of playing there. Alleyne just won a national title at UConn, while Taylor was a double-digit scorer at Oregon State. Luis may have the most upside after a good freshman campaign at UMass as well.