NCAA Basketball: Ranking of top 100 returning players for 2023-24 season
80. Quentin Post – Boston College Eagles
2022-23 season stats: 15.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg
Post was limited to 19 games last season due to injuries, but Boston College was a legit threat when he was on the court. The 7’0 center shot 54% from the field and 43% from deep and went for 29 points and 14 points against Notre Dame, as well as 24 and 10 versus Virginia Tech. Look for the ACC’s Most Improved Player to get a spot on an all-league team.
79. Ajay Mitchell – UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos
2022-23 season stats: 16.3 ppg and 5.1 apg
The sophomore guard was the Big West Player of the Year, leading the Gauchos to the NCAA Tournament. Mitchell led the team in scoring and was in double figures in 30 of 35 games. That includes a pair of 28-point games, along with 17 points and 10 assists against Long Beach State. Santa Barbara lost a lot of talent but as long as Mitchell is around, they’ll be a favorite in the Big West.
78. Branden Carlson – Utah Utes
2022-23 season stats: 16.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg
The 4-year starter for the Utes is coming off his best statistical year yet, led the team in both points and rebounds. Carlson shot 50% from the field and also blocked two shots a game as an underrated interior defender. Among his six double-doubles includes 27 points and 11 rebounds against Oregon State, along with 27 and 10 versus Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament. Utah will need even more from the big man in order to make the Big Dance but he’s one of the 10 best players in the league.
77. Pop Isaacs – Texas Tech Red Raiders
2022-23 season stats: 11.5 ppg and 2.7 apg
The 6’2 point guard was one of the few things that went right for Texas Tech, shooting nearly 40% from deep. Isaacs had 10+ points in 16 of 25 games, including a season-high 23 points against Texas. With a better supporting cast around him, look for Issacs to be a national breakout candidate.
76. Jalen Cook – LSU Tigers
2022-23 season stats: 19.9 ppg and 4.9 apg
Cook spent his last two years at Tulane, scoring nearly 20 ppg. The 6’0 guard had a stretch of 11 games with 20 points out of 12, including 27 points and 14 assists against Memphis, as well as 30 versus South Florida and Wichita State. He’s back at LSU to hopefully run the offense in place of Adam Miller but reportedly needs a waiver from the NCAA first.
75. Dillon Jones – Weber State Wildcats
2022-23 season stats: 16.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg, and 3.8 apg
One of the best NCAA Basketball players casual fans don’t know of, the 6’6 Jones is pound-for-pound, one of the best rebounders in the country. The senior went for 17 points and 21 rebounds against Montana, as well as 21 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists versus Northern Colorado. Look for Jones to be the Big Sky POY favorite and a reason why Weber State has a chance to go dancing in March.
74. Aaron Estrada – Alabama Crimson Tide
2022-23 season stats: 20.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.3 apg
Estrada found his perfect spot at Hofstra, where in the last two years, he’s won the CAA Player of the Year award twice. The 6’4 guard was in double figures in every game but one, including a career-high 40 points against Elon. After a year at Oregon where things didn’t work out, Estrada is hopeful for a different outcome at Alabama, where he’s likely to start.
73. Arthur Kaluma – Kansas State Wildcats
2022-23 season stats: 11.8 ppg and 6.0 rpg
As a sophomore, the 6’7 forward continued to show flashes of stardom. Kaluma went for 27 points against BYU, along with 14 points and 16 rebounds versus UConn. He was the 5th option at Creighton before but now elevates to a top 2-3 offensive player at Kansas State and the team hopes he can be the replacement for All-Big 12 forward, Keyontae Johnson.
72. Bruce Thornton – Ohio State Buckeyes
2022-23 season stats: 10.6 ppg and 2.6 apg
Brice Sensabaugh got all the attention for Ohio State and its struggle-season but Thornton also started all 35 games as a freshman. The 6’2 playmaker shot 46% from the field and 37% from three-point range, including four games of 20+ points in the final two months of the season. As the lead guard for the Buckeyes, Thornton should be primed to be a breakout candidate that puts up some big numbers.
71. Oso Ighodaro – Marquette Golden Eagles
2022-23 season: 11.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and 3.3 apg
The 6’9 forward had a breakout year as a full-time starter, earning All-Big East honors and being a consistent double-digit scorer. He went for 16 points and 18 rebounds against Notre Dame, along with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists versus Georgetown. With forward Olivier Maxence-Prospecr gone, look for Oghodaro to have an ever larger role for the Golden Eagles.