Big Ten Basketball: 5 breakout candidates to watch for 2024-25 season

Cam Heide - Purdue Boilermakers

Another major breakout candidate is on a direct rival to Mgbako, and plays the same position. Redshirt sophomore Cam Heide looks to build on a very solid end of the season. Heide's production was limited, but so were opportunities. Heide averaged just 3.3 points per game but only played about 12 minutes, and shots were limited on a team filled with good offensive players. The forward's efficiency numbers were sky-high, however, as he shot 57.6 percent from the field and 45 percent from three.

Heide also showed off his high-level athleticism while demonstrating great perimeter defense in his limited minutes. With multiple shotmakers and an offensive engine leaving for the Boilermakers, Heide will be given ample opportunity with one of the best playmakers in the country running the show in Braden Smith.

John Blackwell - Wisconsin Badgers

A list of breakout players in the Big Ten can go no further without mentioning Wisconsin's John Blackwell. Blackwell excelled in his role as a sixth man for the Badgers and will step into a much larger role, as three starters are not returning for Wisconsin. With the departures of AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn to the transfer portal, Blackwell is poised to step into a lead guard role next to sharpshooter Max Klesmit.

While putting up solid production, he is similar to Heide in that his efficiency jumps off the page. Blackwell averaged 8 points per game while shooting north of 45 percent from three-point range. In his limited on-ball role, Blackwell showed flashes of being a high-level playmaker. He could be a major piece in a Wisconsin team searching for contributors.