2024 NCAA Tournament: Ranking the Top 20 Players from the South Region

16. J’Wan Roberts (Houston)

This is year five for Roberts at Houston and he’s really developed into a top-level forward these past two seasons. He redshirted and was then a backup during the Cougars’ Final Four run in 2021, but Roberts took a real step forward as a junior last season and has been electric this year as well. He’s the major frontcourt weapon on an elite Houston squad that leans on defense and earned their top-seed in the bracket.

Roberts averaged 9.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, numbers that were a shade lower than last season, but his presence on the court was about more than just raw numbers. He’s an impressive specimen on the court and the metrics love what he brings on both sides of the ball. Roberts made 58% of his field goals and was an above average rim protector. He hasn’t been a big scorer in recent weeks but plays a significant impact in this elite Houston defense.

15. Tristan da Silva (Colorado)

An impressive forward originally from Germany, da Silva arrived at Colorado back in 2020 and has spent the last four years developing into a frontcourt menace for the Buffaloes. He wasn’t getting much run early in his career but has become one of Tad Boyle’s favorite toys these last few seasons and has Colorado in the Big Dance in his senior season.

The numbers are solid across the board, as da Silva has averaged 15.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while making 38% of his 3-pointers on the year. The overall numbers are good and earned him All-Pac-12 honors once again, with him ranking among the league’s leaders in points, steals, and several other metrics. He’s been a double-digit scorer in nearly every game for the Buffaloes and can become a deadly force if he hits shots early, making the Buffaloes a sneaky First Four team.