NCAA Basketball: Ranking top 20 players for 2023-24 Jerry West Award

12. LJ Cyrer – Houston Cougars

2022-23 season stats (at Baylor): 15.0 ppg and 2.1 apg

Cryer was one of the best pure shooters in the country last season, making 42% of his three-point shots. He remains in the Big 12, now a member of the Houston Cougars. He replaces last year’s winner Sasser and, in that system, should thrive. But how Houston does as a team in its first year in the conference will impact his chances of winning.

11. Santiago Vescovi – Tennessee Volunteers

2022-23 season stats: 12.5 ppg and 3.1 apg

Vescovi is a four-year starter and career 38% three-point shooter who led the Vols in scoring last season. He’s going to be a focal point in the rotation once again but the team did land some other scorers from the portal, including 20 ppg transfer, Dalton Knecht. Unless his scoring production takes a leap somehow, Vescovi likely won’t make the final cut months from now.

10. Riley Kugel – Florida Gators

2022-23 season stats: 9.9 ppg and 2.8 rpg

When big man Colin Castleton went down at the end of last season, Kugel was the guy to step up as the leading scorer, averaging around 17 ppg in the final 10 games of the season. He’s the clear guy and a consensus breakout candidate this year with a new roster around him. If he puts up big numbers and Florida manages to stay in the mix, he’ll be a threat for the Jerry West Award.