NCAA Basketball: Team MVPs for way-too-early top-25 power rankings for 2024-25
25. Ohio State Buckeyes - G Bruce Thornton
With alum Jake Diebler entering his first full season as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Bruce Thornton is poised for a big year. Thornton has started every game in his first two seasons in Columbus, averaging 15.7 points per game as a sophomore. He has the keys to the offense and should be one of the best backcourt players in the Big Ten, if not the entire country.
24. Rutgers Scarlet Knights - F Ace Bailey
Take your pick between either top member of Rutgers' vaunted recruiting class - the Scarlet Knights will go as far as star freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper can take them. Bailey is already picking up steam as the possible No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft (behind Duke's Cooper Flagg), so this may be his only go-around in Piscataway. Expect him to make it count.
23. Marquette Golden Eagles - G Kam Jones
With Tyler Kolek off to the New York Knicks, Kam Jones assumes the role of floor general for Shaka Smart's Marquette Golden Eagles. He averaged 17.2 points per game, his second straight year finishing in the top ten in Big East scoring, but was ultimately shafted when awards season came around. That won't happen again, as Jones will be an instant contender for the conference's player of the year award.
22. Cincinnati Bearcats - G Jizzle James
No excuse is ever needed to type "Jizzle James," but he very well may be the MVP of a Cincinnati team that looks deep, but not necessarily top heavy in terms of talent. Other contenders include Day Day Thomas, Simas Lukosius, and Texas transfer Dillion Mitchell. Edgerrin James' son averaged 8.8 points per game a year ago, the program's highest scoring freshman in nearly a decade.
21. Florida Gators - G Walter Clayton Jr.
The return of Walter Clayton Jr. is huge for the Florida Gators, especially after losing Zyon Pullin. Last year, Clayton led Todd Golden's team with 17.6 points per game, the best scoring average for a Gator in decades. After a Second Team All-SEC campaign in his first year coming over from Iona, the top team should be in his sights.