3. Zach Cleveland, Liberty Flames
Zach Cleveland is the engine that powers Liberty. The 6-foot-7 senior forward from Bloomington, Illinois, is posting one of the most unique stat lines in the country with 9.1 points, 8.0 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game. Liberty remains the favorite in Conference USA despite dropping three of the last four games. Cleveland’s best outing came against Coppin State, where he delivered 13 assists in a dominant 92-50 win.
2. Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State Spartans
Jeremy Fears Jr., younger brother of Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears, has taken full control of the Spartans’ offense. The 6-foot-2 guard is averaging an impressive 9.8 assists per game while scoring nearly 12 points per outing. He handed out 13 assists in a recent loss to Duke and posted double-digit assist totals in back-to-back games against East Carolina and Detroit Mercy. Fears elevates everyone around him and is one of the top playmakers in the country.
