Big 12 Basketball: Ranking of top 25 players entering 2023-24 season
By Joey Loose
10. Javon Small – Oklahoma State
Last season was a remarkable step forward for Small, who did big things as a sophomore at East Carolina. He joins the Cowboys after spending his first two seasons in the AAC with those Pirates, hoping to put up similar numbers as an upperclassman. He averaged 15.8 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in a major breakout, leading East Carolina to another season in the middle of the pack in the league.
He’s a point guard who can score in bunches and be a major cog in the offense, something Oklahoma State needs to fare better at this upcoming season. Small stepped up nicely after some departures from the Pirates last year and could be just as explosive leading the Cowboys this season. Don’t be shocked to see Small earn All-Big 12 honors, especially if he can lead Oklahoma State to some key wins against the much tougher schools in this league.
9. Jamal Shead – Houston
With Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark both gone, Shead will be even more important in Houston’s backcourt this upcoming season. This very talented and athletic point guard has been the starter each of the last two seasons and is coming off a junior year where he put up 10.5 points and 5.4 assists per game, albeit with better shooting numbers than as a sophomore.
He may be the key to Houston’s success, and not just because he’s running the point for the Cougars. He’s coming off a season where he was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year and led the conference in assists in back-to-back seasons. While Houston transitions to the Big 12 and undergoes some significant changes in the lineup, bringing back an experienced and talented defender and ball distributor like Shead sets them up for immediate success.