2024 NCAA Tournament: Ranking the top 20 Players from the West Region

6. PJ Hall (Clemson)

Across the four years of his collegiate career Hall has really developed into a great weapon for Clemson. He’s a former Top 60 recruit who’s been with the Tigers all four of those seasons, slowly developing from bench piece to dynamic forward. Hall is a major reason why Clemson is in this position, with the 6’10 forward putting up some great numbers in ACC play.

Improving on nice numbers in earlier seasons, Hall has averaged 18.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a senior, earning All-ACC honors as one of the league’s top scorers and shot blockers. There’s a lot to like about this game and he’s showed it off at times this season, putting up at least 21 points in three of the Tigers’ final four games on the season. He’s an impact presence and will be a major reason if the Tigers can pull off a few wins during March Madness.

5. Armando Bacot (North Carolina)

Certainly one of the most impactful players in recent memory in Chapel Hill, Bacot is putting up great numbers once again in his fifth and final season at North Carolina. A starter for that entire 5-year stretch, Bacot played in the national title game as a junior and is hoping to replicate that success, helping lead the Tar Heels to a top-seed in this year’s Tournament.

Averaging a double-double for the third season in a row, Bacot has put up 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as North Carolina’s predominant frontcourt weapon. He’s been the ACC’s top rebounder for three straight seasons and has been reliable in his final season, with several 20-point scoring efforts in leading the Tar Heels to a regular season title in the ACC. Very few players have the same kind of experience, talent, and acumen as Bacot in the nation, let alone in this Big Dance.