NCAA Basketball: Analyzing 10 sophomore breakout candidates entering 2024-25 season

Caleb Foster, Duke Blue Devils

Caleb Foster, a former four-star recruit, missed the Duke Blue Devils’ Elite Eight run after suffering a stress fracture on his ankle. He played his last game of the season on Feb. 24.  The 6-foot-5 PG started in 15 of 27 games last season, taking over the ball-handling duties when Tryese Proctor was injured or off the court. He averaged 7.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG and 2.1 APG last season, showcasing his potential as a second-year breakout candidate on a roster littered with guards.

After announcing his return to Duke in mid-April, Foster expects to immediately slot into the starting lineup on a team with Final Four aspirations. With Jeremy Roach off to Baylor, Foster will share backcourt minutes with Tryese Proctor and Tulane transfer Sion James. Foster is unique in the sense that he is a longer-bodied point guard who can shoot the basketball efficiently. With more consistent backcourt minutes opening a clean health slate -- given he played big minutes in games that mattered most -- Foster is a prime candidate for a breakout sophomore season.

Simeon Wilcher, St. John’s Red Storm

Simeon Wilcher, a former four-star recruit out of Roselle Catholic, played a reserve role last year for the St. John’s Red Storm, averaging 2.8 PPG in less than 10 MPG. Caught behind the veteran backcourt duo of Daniss Jenkins and Jordan Dingle, minutes were hard to come by on a team that found itself on the bubble in late Feburary.

Despite this, Wilcher has generated some off-season buzz, thanks to Jon Rothstein.

As Rothstein alluded, Wilcher will likely be behind transfers Deivon Smith (Utah) and Kadary Richmond, the ultimate prized transfer portal possession, in the backcourt. However, Wilcher is quick and defensive-minded -- a perfect fit for a Rick Pitino system, making him a sure-fire breakout candidate to monitor entering the 2024-25 season.