NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 100 returning players for 2023-24 season
5. Armando Bacot – North Carolina Tar Heels
2022-23 season stats: 15.9 ppg and 10.4 rpg
Although his stats wasn’t as good as the season prior, Bacot still is a double-double machine that regularly puts up big games. He went for 19 points and 23 rebounds against James Madison, along with 28 points and 15 rebounds versus Ohio State last year. With a new-look roster, the Tar Heels should get back into the NCAA Tournament, allowing Bacot to reclaim his status as one of the best players in NCAA Basketball.
4. Ryan Kalkbrenner – Creighton Bluejays
2022-23 season stats: 15.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg
The 7’0 center not only led Creighton in scoring but he’s also a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Kalkbrenner went for 17 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks against Seton Hall, along with a season-high 31 points versus NC State in the NCAA Tournament. When Kalkbrenner wasn’t sick, the Bluejays were a top-10 team. Look for him to make a case for the best big man in the country with his two-way ability.
3. Tyler Kolek – Marquette Golden Eagles
2022-23 season stats: 12.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, and 7.5 apg
Not only is Kolek the top returning passer in NCAA Basketball but he also was the Big East Player of the Year for the Golden Eagles. The 6’3 guard also shot 40% from three-point range and had a 29-point effort against Providence in overtime. Kolek gets to defend his individual title in the league on what should be a preseason top-10 team.
2. Kyle Filipowski – Duke Blue Devils
2022-23 season stats: 15.1 ppg and 9.0 rpg
Just like Roach, Filipowski is the rare returnee for Duke that led the team in both scoring and rebounding as a freshman. The 7’0 forward had games such as 28 points and 15 rebounds against Pittsburgh, along with 29 points and 10 rebounds versus Virginia Tech. There’s no question he’s the focal point of Duke’s offense this year and assuming that he recovered from the offseason hip surgery, Filipowski is going to be an All-American and National Player of the Year candidate.
1. Zach Edey – Purdue Boilermakers
2022-23 season stats: 22.3 ppg and 12.9 rpg
There’s no debate on who should be No. 1 this season, as the reigning National Player of the Year is back after leading Purdue to both Big Ten titles and a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The 7’4 center had numerous huge games, including 33 points and 18 rebounds versus Indiana and 32 points and 17 rebounds against Michigan State.
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Like Oscar Tshiebwe a year ago after returning to Kentucky, Edey gets the No. 1 spot after winning the top NCAA Basketball individual award. But the question is can he and Purdue win the top team award in April. After he embarrassing Round of 32 loss to 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, all of the pressure on is both Edey and the Boilermakers to excel, from start to finish.