NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 100 returning players for 2023-24 season
100. Tyrin Lawrence – Vanderbilt Commodores
2022-23 season stats: 13.1 ppg and 4.4 rpg
The 6’4 guard/wing tripled his scoring production compared to the prior season, shooting an efficient 50% from the field. Lawrence went for 20+ points six times, including 24 points and nine rebounds versus Michigan. With Jordan Wright gone, look for the senior guard to be a focal point on offense.
99. Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee Volunteers
2022-23 season stats: 10.7 ppg and 5.4 apg
The 5’9 point guard not only is one of the better passers in NCAA Basketball but Zeigler also is a two-time All-SEC defender, coming off averaging two steals a game. The team struggled when he went down with a season-ending injury but the hope is that he’ll be around 100% by the time the season opens a month from now.
98. Keion Brooks – Washington Huskies
2022-23 season stats: 17.7 ppg and 6.4 rpg
After played at an “okay” level in the past three years at Kentucky, the former five-star recruit had his breakthrough campaign with the Huskies. He led them in both scoring and rebounding, scoring 10+ points in all but two games, including a career-high 30 points against Cal Poly. With potentially a better supporting cast this time around, look for Brooks to make a 1st-Team All-Pac 12 list this year.
97. Enrique Freeman – Arkon Zips
2022-23 season stats: 16.8 ppg and 11.2 rpg
One of the best NCAA Basketball mid-major players in the past few years, Freeman is a three-time All-MAC defender and past Defensive Player of the Year. Meanwhile, the 6’7 forward is a double-double machine that also shot 62% from the field. Freeman’s best performance last season was a 32-point and 15-rebound effort against Ohio. With all of the star guards finally gone in the MAC, this POY award is Freeman’s to lose.
96. Rayj Dennis – Baylor Bears
2022-23 season stats: 19.5 ppg and 5.8 apg
Speaking of star guards from the MAC, Dennis was last season’s conference player of the year. He shot 48% from the field and 37% from deep, with a couple of double-digit passing games and a 32-point and 7-assist effort against Ball State. The 6’4 senior is expected to run the offense for Baylor, who lost Adam Flagler and LJ Cryer in the backcourt.
95. Jaylen Forbes – Tulane Green Wave
2022-23 season stats: 18.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg
Understandably so, Jalen Cook gets a lot of the attention in the Tulane backcourt. But I’d argue that Forbes may be even better as a pure scorer. The former top-100 prospect shot nearly 40% from deep on eight attempts and has two steals a game. Forbes has five games with 25+ points, including a 31-point outing versus SMU. Without Cook around, the Green Wave backcourt is all Forbes and he very well could produce over 20 ppg in the AAC.
94. TJ Bamba – Villanova Wildcats
2022-23 season stats: 15.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg
Bamba was a breakout star out west at Washington State, leading them in scoring and shooting a career-high 37% from deep. The 6’5 guard had six games of at least 20 points last season, including a 36-point effort versus Washington. He joins the Villanova backcourt as a capable leading option, potentially allowing Justin Moore to play more at point.
93. Jordan Brown – Memphis Tigers
2022-23 season stats: 19.3 ppg and 8.6 rpg
After stops at Nevada and Arizona, the former five-star prospect excelled at Louisiana Lafayette, winning Sun Belt Player of the Year last season. The 6’11 big man went for 28 points and 11 rebounds against South Alabama, along with 26 points and eight rebounds versus SMU. Assuming that Deandre Williams isn’t eligible to play this season, Brown will be the focal point of the frontcourt at Memphis.
92. Jalen Bridges – Baylor Bears
2022-23 season stats: 10.3 ppg and 5.6 rpg
While the guards got all of the attention last season at Baylor, Bridges proved to be an effective impact transfer from West Virginia. The 6’7 combo forward shot 50% from the field and had games such as 17 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks against Texas, as well as 28 points versus Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament. As the top returning offensive player for the Bears, look for Bridges to have an ever larger role this time around.
91. Fardaws Aimaq – Cal Bears
2022-23 season stats: 11.1 ppg and 7.9 rpg
Injuries limited Aimaq to just 11 games last season at Texas Tech but the former WAC Player of the Year (Utah Valley) proved he’s a power conference contributor. The 6’11 center had a pair of 19-point games against Oklahoma and TCU, along with an 18-rebound effort versus Kansas. He reunites with Coach Mark Madsen at Cal and if healthy, should have a big final year.