NCAA Basketball: Ranking top 20 players for 2023-24 Jerry West Award
3. Kam Jones – Marquette Golden Eagles
2022-23 season stats: 15.1 ppg and 2.0 apg
Jones was the leading scorer on the best team in the Big East last season, with eight games of at least 20 points. He didn’t get nearly as much national attention as Tyler Kolek, who won the Bob Cousy Award for top point guard in NCAA Basketball. This time around, if folks get voter fatigue with Kolek and give more attention to Jones, that would be the best chance he’d have in this positional award.
2. Trey Alexander – Creighton Bluejays
2022-23 season stats: 13.6 ppg and 2.6 apg
Alexander had his expected breakout sophomore campaign as a full-time starter, making 41% of his three-point shots and a season-high 32 points against DePaul. Although two other starters are back, Alexander could be primed for an even bigger role as a junior if new point guard Steven Ashworth isn’t the same kind of scorer that Ryan Nembhard was for Creighton.
1. Tyson Walker – Michigan State Spartans
2022-23 season stats: 14.8 ppg and 2.9 apg
Walker was the leading scorer for the Spartans last season, shooting 42% from deep and having seven games of at least 20 points. Two of them were for 30+, including 31 points and five assists against Iowa. The former CAA Defensive Player of the Year (Northeastern) is also one of the top two-way players on this list and has been getting plenty of preseason accolades.
Next. Preseason top-25 power rankings for 2023-24. dark
With Michigan State being a preseason top-5 team this season, Walker is going to be in the national spotlight even more. If his production remains at a high level and the team remains a title contender, look for the 5th-year senior to be in the mix at the end of the season.