NCAA Basketball: Top 10 players to wear jersey No. 4 in 2023-24 season
By Joey Loose
Honorable Mentions
PJ Haggerty (Tulsa)
After playing just six games at TCU last season, Haggerty found a much better time at Tulsa, becoming one of the top scorers in the AAC. He averaged 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game for the Golden Hurricane, winning Newcomer of the Year in the league. Haggerty ranked among the national leaders in made free throws and made a total impact for Tulsa basketball, albeit in a 16-15 campaign.
Cameron Matthews (Mississippi State)
A defensive stalwart for the Bulldogs, Matthews just finished his fourth season at Mississippi State and his second as a full-time starter in the frontcourt. He averaged 9.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, with the senior doing a bit of everything this season. He was named to the SEC’s All-Defense team, led the conference in field goal percentage and was among the leaders in both rebounds and steals during a 21-win campaign.
Jameer Nelson Jr. (TCU)
After two seasons apiece at George Washington and Delaware, Nelson found a great landing spot at TCU, becoming an important weapon for the Horned Frogs. After insane numbers last year in the CAA, he had decent marks in the Big 12, averaging 11.2 points and 3.3 assists as a starter for TCU. Nelson was an important weapon on an NCAA Tournament team and finished among the league leaders in steals.
Ian Schieffelin (Clemson)
Junior year represented a big step forward for Schieffelin, who grew into a more prominent role with the Tigers. It was his third year at Clemson and by far the best, averaging 10.1 points and 9.4 rebounds a game on the year. It’s not just that he was voted the Most Improved Player in the ACC and was one of its top rebounders; he also helped lead Clemson on a run to the Elite Eight, scoring in double figures in all four Tournament games.
Trey Townsend (Oakland)
A full-time starter during all four seasons at Oakland, it’s clear that Townsend was a vital piece of the puzzle for the Golden Grizzlies. His senior year topped everything prior, as he’d average 17.3 points and 8.1 rebounds to win Horizon League Player of the Year honors. More importantly, he dropped 38 points in the conference title game against Northern Kentucky (winning MVP honors) and helped lead Oakland to a historic upset over Kentucky in the Big Dance.