NCAA Basketball: Top 10 players to wear jersey No. 35 in 2023-24 season
By Joey Loose
Honorable Mentions
Jailen Bedford (Oral Roberts)
Following two solid non-D1 seasons at Trinidad State College in Colorado, Bedford found his way to Oral Roberts this past offseason. The junior guard put up 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in an impressive opening campaign with the Golden Eagles, albeit in a tough season for the program. A potent shooter and offensive player, Bedford fit in well with Oral Roberts and will hope to match that production at UNLV next year.
N. J. Benson (Missouri State)
As a freshman, Benson played a few minutes off the bench for the Bears, but really took a step forward as a sophomore. The Illinois native averaged 8.6 points and 7.9 rebounds this season, spending most of that year as a starter for Missouri State while making 63% of his field goals. Every aspect of his game improved, standing out as one of the MVC’s best rebounders and shot blockers as well. He’ll be at DePaul next season, hoping to build on that frontcourt dominance.
Aidan Carpenter (Sacred Heart)
Carpenter spent his first two seasons at Siena before landing at Sacred Heart. After playing just five games in a limited junior year, he came on strong this past season, averaging 9.7 points per game while making 37% of his 3-point attempts. Carpenter was an important piece of a 3rd place finish in the NEC now that he’s been healthy and on the court, emerging as one of the league’s more accurate shooters.
Manny Obaseki (Texas A&M)
While Obaseki hasn’t exactly lived up to his 4-star billing with the Aggies, he’s fresh off his most productive season while at Texas A&M. The junior averaged 7.0 points and 1.4 rebounds per game mostly as a backup, making 40% of his 3-pointers and providing decent depth during a 21-win campaign that included a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Can he show potential and take another step forward as a senior after a strong end to his junior year?
T. J. Weeks (Rider)
A former UMass guard, Weeks transferred to Rider this offseason after spending four seasons with the Minutemen. The redshirt senior averaged 10.0 points and 6.3 rebounds with the Broncs, becoming one of the most productive players on a 3rd place team in the MAAC. Weeks ranked among that league’s leaders in rebounds and 3-point field goals while providing a veteran presence in a steady season while playing with his brother.