10. Glenn Robinson III, Michigan
Robinson had a very effective freshman year starting for Michigan. The 6’6″ wing posted 11 points per game on 57.2% shooting and 5.4 rebounds. In Michigan’s six NCAA tournament games, he averaged 12.7 points and shot 64.5% from the field. With his offseason improvements and an increased role in Michigan’s game plan, expect his numbers to continue to increase.
9. Adreian Payne, Michigan State
Payne had a breakout junior season with 10.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He also shot 54.6% from the field and made 16 of 42 three-pointers (38.1%). The 6’10” forward averaged 13.3 points and 9.5 boards in the final 11 games of the season.
8. Aaron Craft, Ohio State
Craft returns for his senior season after averaging 10 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals as a junior. He will be in the running for Big Ten Player of the Year this season and is the frontrunner for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
7. Aaron Gordon, Arizona
Gordon averaged 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 61.2% from the field as a high school senior. Gordon has the talent and athleticism to play at either forward position who could lead Arizona to the Final Four this season.
6. Doug McDermott, Creighton
Doug McDermott has been arguably the best scorer in college basketball for each of the last two seasons. As a sophomore, he posted 22.9 points while shooting 60.1% from the field and 48.6% on three-pointers, and last season he averaged 23.2 points on 54.8% field-goal shooting and 49% three-point shooting. He also improved his free-throw shooting to 87.5%.
5. Julius Randle, Kentucky
Randle dominated his high school competition for 32.5 points and 22.5 rebounds per game as a senior. He will be arguably the best post player in college basketball this season despite being a freshman.
4. Jabari Parker, Duke
Parker averaged 18.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks as a senior in high school. The 6’8″ forward possesses the ability to play both inside and outside, and can generally do a little bit of everything. With Parker, Duke has one of the nation’s best perimeter groups.
3. Gary Harris, Michigan State
While battling injuries as a freshman, Harris averaged 12.9 points and shot 41.1% from beyond the arc. Remember that his biggest supposed weaknesses out of high school was his outside shooting. Now that he is fully healthy, expect him to wreak havoc on the Big Ten.
2. Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
Wiggins is being crowned the King of Lawrence although he has never actually played a game there, but he will prove doubters wrong this season. The 6’8″ freshman dominated his opponents in high school and earned the Naismith and Gatorade High School Player of the Year awards. He also appeared in the McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic games. With his scoring and defending ability and all-around athleticism, he will be one of the best in college basketball in 2013-14.
1. Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
Smart would have been one of the top picks in the 2013 NBA Draft, but instead he is back at school for his sophomore season. The do-it-all position nullifier averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and three steals last season. Although he shot only 29% from beyond the arc, he did prove that he has the range with 1.2 three-pointers made per game. At 6’4″, Smart’s versatility and experience he is the preseason favorite for National Player of the Year.
Top 100 Players for the 2013-14 Season
*All advanced statistics are courtesy of KenPom.
