NCAA Basketball: Ranking top 100 returning players entering 2024-25 season
60. Dug McDaniel, K-State Wildcats
2023-24 season stats: 16.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.7 APG
Jerome Tang seems to have a knack for undersized guards. Markquis Nowell, Tylor Perry and now Dug McDaniel will lead the backcourt in the Little Apple. McDaniel, who played in 26 games last season, missing six road games as part of academic issues, was Michigan’s leading scorer. He increased his PPG from 8.6 to 16.3 and was among the top point guards in the portal before landing at K-State.
59. Max Shulga, VCU Rams
2023-24 season stats: 14.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.6 APG
After originally entering the transfer portal and committing to Villanova this offseason, Max Shulga had a change of heart, opting to return to Richmond for his final season of eligibility. The 6-foot-4 combo guard earned 2023-24 A-10 All-Conference First-Team honors as a talented playmaker and rebounder. Having Shulga return to VCU makes the Rams a serious A-10 regular-season champion threat entering year two of the Ryan Odom era.
58. Erik Reynolds II, St. Joe’s Hawks
2023-24 season stats: 17.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.7 APG
Erik Reynolds III has made a name for himself as among the top returnees in the A10. Reynolds II, who scored 28 points in St. Joe’s near upset at Kentucky last season, was the catalyst for the Hawks’ 21-win season. As one of the best all-around scorers in college basketball, the Hawks will go as far as Erik Reynolds II can take them.
57. Deivon Smith, St. John’s Red Storm
2023-24 season stats: 13.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 7.1 APG
Deivon Smith has experienced a long-winded collegiate career, including stops at Mississippi State, Georgia Tech and Utah. With the Utes, Smith broke the PAC-12’s single-season triple-double record, surpassing the NBA HOF Jason Kidd with five, according to RotoWire. Rick Pitino has his explosive, do-it-all point guard that will make waves this season in the Big East.
56. JT Toppin, Texas Tech Red Raiders
2023-24 season stats: 12.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG
JT Toppin was among the best -- and most productive -- freshmen in the country last season, shooting 62.3% from the field, earning 2023-24 MWC ROY honors in his lone season at New Mexico. Now off to Texas Tech, the 6-foot-9 two-way forward has NBA talent written all over him. Buy stock now before it’s too late.