NCAA Basketball: Ranking top 20 players for 2023-24 Julius Erving Award

15. Dillon Jones – Weber State Wildcats

2022-23 season stats: 16.7 ppg, 10.9 ppg, and 3.8 apg

Jones is one of the more underrated players in all of NCAA Basketball, producing 20 double-doubles last season. One of them included a 17-point and 21-rebound effort against Montana. Although he’s on a solid team in the Big Sky and likely won’t be in the top-25 range this year, the 6’6 forward might put up enough huge stats to warrant consideration.

14. Tyler Burton – Villanova Wildcats

2022-23 season stats (at Richmond: 19.0 ppg and 7.4 rpg

The 6’7 combo forward was one of the top scorers in the A-10 last season and the lone double-digit scorer for a down Richmond last season. He’s going to a much better situation at Villanova and will start alongside Justin Moore and Eric Dixon. The only question is whether he’ll remain a focal point for an offense or take too large of a step back to be a contender.

13. Payton Sandfort – Iowa Hawkeyes

2022-23 season stats: 10.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg

The 6’7 wing was the 6th Man of the Year, shooting 34% from deep and having six games of at least 20 points, despite playing more limited minutes. Without Kris Murray, the Hawkeyes are in need of a new star scorer that can lead the offense. Sandfort showed in glimpses that he can do it and if he does, he’ll rise up the rankings.