NCAA Basketball: Ranking top 100 returning players entering 2024-25 season
10. Caleb Love, Arizona Wildcats
2023-24 season stats: 18.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.4 APG
The Caleb Love/North Carolina divorce worked out well for both parties. Last season at Arizona, the explosive Love increased his field goal percentage from 37.8% to 41.3%, shooting over 37% from three in conference games, scoring to ESPN’s Myron Medcalf. While Love will never be the most consistent shooter on the floor, anytime a sure-fire All-American returns, that is a major win.
9. Kadary Richmond, St. John’s Red Storm
2023-24 season stats: 15.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 5.1 APG
Kardary Richmond -- the highly-coveted portal gem of the 2024 transfer class -- opted to stay in the Big East, landing at St. John’s after two seasons at Seton Hall. The 6-foot-6 triple-double threat is a stat-stuffing machine that can guard multiple positions and hit tough shots. When Richmond clicks, he can, and will, impact every facet of the game.
8. Graham Ike, Gonzaga Bulldogs
2023-24 season stats: 16.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 0.9 APG
After missing all of the 2022-23 season at Wyoming due to a leg injury, Graham Ike transferred to Gonzaga, where he made an instantaneous impact on Mark Few’s squad. Where Ike does his damage is inside the paint. He shot 71.5% at the rim, according to Hoop Math, and was among the best interior scorers during league play last season. Ike’s return to Spokane gives the Zags true All-American-level talent, raising Gonzaga’s ceiling as a Final Four threat.
7. Kam Jones, Marquette Golden Eagles
2023-24 season stats: 17.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.4 APG
Thanks to a strong three-year tenure so far at Marquette, Kam Jones has solidified himself as one of the top returning players not only in the Big East but in college basketball. Jones, Marquette’s leading scorer over the past two seasons, expects to be in the conversation of Big East POY alongside Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner. Jones is an elite, high-volume shotmaker who shot nearly 41% from three last season.
6. Braden Smith, Purdue Boilermakers
2023-24 season stats: 12 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 7.5 APG
There is no better guard in the Big Ten than Braden Smith, the ultimate floor general. Smith, who earned First-Team All-Big Ten team honors, was tied for second in the nation in assists per game last season at 7.5 The six-foot point guard can do it all -- pass, defend, rebound and score -- and is primed for another big year at the point entering the 2024-25 college basketball season.