NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 100 returning players for 2023-24 season
30. Dajaun Harris – Kansas Jayhawks
2022-23 season stats: 8.9 ppg and 6.2 apg
Harris was the starting PG on the 2022 Kansas Jayhawks national title team so his ability to win is well-documented. But besides being one of the best pure passers in the game, Harris also was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. And he quietly shot 41% from deep last season, though it was on limited attempts. With a supporting cast that’s filled with even more shooters, look for Harris to be one of the leaders in assists.
29. Caleb Love – Arizona Wildcats
2022-23 season stats: 16.7 ppg and 2.8 apg
Love may be the most divisive player in all of NCAA Basketball because there are plenty of pros and cons. But he’s still one of the top pure scorers, although he can be inefficient at times. Love went for 34 points and nine rebounds in the overtime matchup versus Alabama, along with 24 on the road at Wake Forest. Arizona has several good defenders but will need Love to step in and have a big impact on offense for them to be national contenders.
28. Jahmir Young – Maryland Terrapins
2022-23 season stats: 15.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, and 3.1 apg
After starring at Charlotte for three years, Young’s stellar play continued at Maryland last season, leading them in scoring. He went for 26 points and eight rebounds against Penn State, along with a season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds versus Ohio State. Without Donald Carey and Hakim Hart in the backcourt, Young will have an even larger role in the offense and could be the best player not named Zach Edey in the Big Ten.
27. Tolu Smith – Mississippi State Bulldogs
2022-23 season stats: 15.7 ppg and 8.5 rpg
On a team that literally couldn’t shoot (ranked last in NCAA Basketball in 3PT), Mississippi State was carried by Smith to get into the Big Dance. The 6’10 center shot 57% from the field and was in double figures for 28 of 34 games. That includes 27 points and 11 rebounds against Vanderbilt and 28 points and 12 rebounds versus Florida in the SEC Tournament. With hopefully some better shooting around him, Smith could be in position to produce even more in his final year.
26. Joel Soriano – St. John’s Red Storm
2022-23 season stats: 15.2 ppg and 11.9 rpg
On a dysfunctional Red Storm roster, Soriano was a breakout perfomer and Big East Most Improved Player, leading them in both scoring and rebounding. The 6’11 center had a whopping 25 double-doubles last season, including a 21-point and 19-rebound effort against Niagara. His stats should remain the same this year but with an improved supporting case, look for Soriano to potentially be in the running for Big East Player of the Year.