NCAA Basketball: Analyzing 10 sophomore breakout candidates entering 2024-25 season
Sean Stewart, Ohio State Buckeyes
Sean Stewart, a former McDonald’s All-American who committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes in early May, played limited minutes at Duke. Behind a logjam of frontcourt pieces, things didn’t necessarily go to plan for Stewart. In only 8.3 MPG, Stewart averaged 2.6 PPG and 3.2 RPG. However, Stewart showed some promise last season, knotting 16 points and 10 rebounds against La Salle and 12 points and five rebounds against NC State.
Stewart -- alongside fellow All-American Aaron Bradshaw, another noteworthy sophomore breakout candidate -- was among the higher-upside pieces in Jake Diebler’s transfer portal haul. Given how Stewart has shown promise as a physical rebounder and excellent finisher, where over 80% of his shots were at the rim, according to Hoop Math, there will be room for him to flourish in the Buckeyes’ high-upside frontcourt as Zed Key (Dayton) and Felix Okpara (Tennessee) both departed. With a high impact, Sean Stewart can immediately make splashes in the Big Ten in his breakout sophomore season.
Alex Condon, Florida Gators
Despite starting in just one of 36 games last season, Condon played an efficient role for Todd Golden in 2023-24, averaging 7.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG on 46.2% shooting from the field, earning All-SEC Freshman Team Honors. He even caught the eye of Isaac Trotter, national college basketball writer for 24/7 Sports and CBS Sports.
Florida sophomore Alex Condon picked up basketball late, but the Australian’s tape is so impressive. Favorite stat? Florida opponents shot just 51% at the rim with Condon on the floor.
— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) August 14, 2024
Why Condon has the makings of a massive Year 2 jump.
READ: https://t.co/uhAJvXm0sS pic.twitter.com/ykQ4LIwOJh
Condon, who backed up 7-foot-1 big man Micah Handlogten last season, will likely have the keys in the frontcourt. Handlogten suffered a gruesome leg injury in the SEC Tournament last March and is likely to redshirt this season, according to Todd Golden. Alongside Washington State transfer Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon will man the paint as a rim-running rebounding machine.
The Gators were among the better offensive-rebounding teams in the country last season. Expect that to be the same with the 6-foot-11 Australian big man Alex Condon holding the fort down low. A breakout sophomore season seems inevitable for Condon.