NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 100 returning players for 2023-24 season

35. Isaiah Stevens – Colorado State Rams

2022-23 seasons stats: 17.9 ppg and 6.7 apg

Despite joining the team late last season due to an injury, Stevens still managed to become a 4-time All-Mountain West contributor and lead the team in both categories. He shot 38% from deep and was in double figures every year, including 33 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists against UNLV in overtime. Without John Tonje around, Stevens will have to carry the scoring load even more for Colorado State this year.

34. Santiago Vescovi – Tennessee Volunteers

2022-23 season stats: 12.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, and 3.1 apg

One of the best “3 and D” guards in the country, Vescovi is a four-year starter who shot over 37% from deep, while also having a trio of 20+ point games. One of them was a 22-point effort against Ole Miss. With Zakai Zeigler coming back from a serious injury, look for Vescovi to have more ball-handling duties to start out the season.

33. Ace Baldwin Jr. – Penn State Nittany Lions

2022-23 season stats: 12.7 ppg and 5.8 apg

Baldwin Jr. willed VCU to the NCAA Tournament out of the A-10 last season, earning both Defensive and overall Player of the Year honors in that league. He averaged over two steals a game as an elite ball-stopper, while also dropping a career-high 37 points on the road at Saint Louis. Now on a completely rebuild Penn State squad, look for Baldwin to be the team’s best player and an impact transfer in the Big Ten.

32. Aidan Mahaney – Saint Mary’s Gaels

2022-23 season stats: 13.9 ppg and 2.0 apg

The 6’3 guard started 26 games for the Gaels as a freshman, shooting 40% from three-point range. Mahaney had some heroic performances for the team in the second half of the season, including 25 points against LMU and 18 in a win over BYU in the WCC Tournament. With Logan Johnson gone, look for Mahaney to have an even bigger role in the scoring department for a team that could very well win the league.

31. Nijel Pack – Miami Hurricanes

2022-23 season stats: 13.6 ppg and 2.3 apg

Pack was as good as advertised coming over from Kansas State, third on the team in scoring while shooting 40% from three-point range. The 6’0 guard had eight games of at least 20 points, including 26 on 7/10 3PT in the upset win over Houston in the Sweet 16. With ACC Player of the Year guard Isaiah Wong gone, look for Pack to have the lead role on offense and his scoring improve sharply as a result.