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NCAA Basketball: Top 25 breakout sophomores to watch for 2023-24 season

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 11, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Tyrese Proctor (5) celebrates the final second of their 59-49 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC Championship at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Greensboro, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Tyrese Proctor (5) celebrates the final second of their 59-49 victory over the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC Championship at Greensboro Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ohio State Buckeyes guard Roddy Gayle Jr. NCAA Basketball Osumsu031023 Am15915
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Roddy Gayle Jr. NCAA Basketball Osumsu031023 Am15915 /

10. MJ Rice – NC State Wolfpack

2022-23 season stats: 2.2 ppg and 1.0 rpg

The former five-star prospect dealt with injuries in his lone year at Kansas and never got a ton of minutes consistently. But in the two games where Rice played the most, he was in double figures both times, including 19 points against Texas Southern. He joins a revamped NC State roster that lost two 17+ ppg scorers this offseason. Rice has a good chance to join Casey Morsell and DJ Burns as the third double-digit scorer on the roster.

9. Roddy Gayle – Ohio State Buckeyes

2022-23 season stats: 4.6 ppg and 1.6 rpg

Point guard Bruce Thornton (not eligible) is going to be a national breakout candidate but Gayle, a former top-60 prospect in his own right, will be one too. He started 11 games for the Buckeyes last season, shooting 43% from three-point range, while scoring 35 points combined in the final two games of the season against Purdue and Michigan State. Look for him to start and have a sizeable role in the offense this year.

8. Dug McDaniel – Michigan Wolverines

2022-23 season stats: 8.6 ppg and 3.6 apg

The 5’11 point guard was the starting ball-handler for the Wolverines last season, shooting 36% from three-point range. McDaniel had 13 games of double-digit scoring, including 16 points and eight assists against Toledo and 20 points on the road at Rutgers. With both Jett Howard and Kobe Bufkin gone, the backcourt belongs to McDaniel, who’ll need to have a big year for Michigan to make the postseason.

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