8. Alex Karaban
For most collegiate athletes, underclassman seasons are about growth and development while adjusting to the college game and revealing their talent. Karaban has done all of this and more just two years into an already incredibly successful collegiate career. A starting forward already as a true freshman, he helped guide Connecticut to national championships in each of his first two seasons, showing even more promise in that frontcourt last year.
As a sophomore, Karaban started every game during another championship season, this time averaging 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Huskies. His offensive game showed significant growth, making nearly half of his field goal attempts on the year, including 38% from outside the arc. None of the raw numbers necessarily jump off the page, but he’s an elite free throw shooter and he gets the job done offensively.
Karaban could have declared for the NBA Draft and left town like most of his teammates from last season, but he returns to Storrs and will obtain a starring role for the Huskies. This program still has the talent to be national relevant after all of those departures and Karaban is a major reason for that potential. Already an elite forward as a sophomore, if he takes that big jump forward, now as a focal point for the Huskies, he can absolutely be among the favorites for those big awards come season’s end.