20. Rasheed Sulaimon, Duke
Sulaimon put together a solid freshman season last year, averaging 11.6 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 37.1% on three-pointers. The Texas native often had three outings with more than 20 points against Maryland, Boston College, and Creighton. Sulaimon is one of many pieces in Duke’s extremely talented perimeter group.
19. Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
No longer Nerlens Noel’s backup, Cauley-Stein is set for a breakout season at Kentucky. Last year, he stared in 14 games and averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 62.1% from the field.
18. Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado
A 6’6″ combo-guard, Dinwiddie averaged 15.3 points and three assists last season for the Buffaloes. He also shot 240 free throws and made 198 of them (82.5%). Nationally, he ranked No. 19 in free throw rate.
17. Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
As Wisconsin’s sixth man last season, Dekker averaged 9.6 points and shot 39.1% from beyond the arc. In 18 Big Ten games, he scored in double figures 11 times.
This year, Dekker will be the Badgers’ go-to guy as he steps into a starting role. He has the offensive ability to upwards of 18 points per game.
16. Isaiah Austin, Baylor
Austin is listed as a 7’1″ center, but he defies the boundaries of positions. He can play in the post like a traditional forward or center, but he also has a developed perimeter game. (Last season he made 30 three-pointers in 90 attempts.) As he continued to reach his potential, expect his numbers of 13 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game to increase.
15. Russ Smith, Louisville
Smith helped lead Louisville to a national title last season, and now he’s back for more. Last year, he posted 18.7 points per game, but he really came alive in the NCAA tournament with 22.3 points per contest. Take away his brutal performance against Michigan in the title game and he posted 25 points per game in the Big Dance.
In addition to his scoring ability, Smith is a ferocious defender. He averaged 2.1 steals last season and ranked in the top 50 in steal percentage.
14. Shabazz Napier, Connecticut
Napier is coming off a tremendous junior season where he averaged 17.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and two steals. He also shot 39.8% on three-pointers.
Napier has always shown talent, but now he has become one of the nation’s premier point guards.
13. C.J. Fair, Syracuse
Fair was tabbed ACC Player of the Year by the ACC media last week. As a junior, he averaged 14.5 points and seven rebounds, and this season he will be the leader of a Syracuse team that could open the season in the top 10.
12. Mitch McGary, Michigan
McGary started slow his freshman season and finished with good but unimpressive averages of 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks. However, he came alive in Michigan’s run to the national title game, averaging 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting 67.8% from the field in six NCAA tournament games.
That is why many college basketball writers are tabbing him as a preseason All-American.
11. Jahii Carson, Arizona State
Many people expected Carson to bolt for the NBA after his impressive freshman season, but he decided to return to Arizona State for one more year. a 5’10” point guard, Carson averaged 18.5 points and 5.1 assists last season. He scored in double figures in all but two games, and in six March games he averaged 22.5 points and six rebounds.
Top 100 Players for the 2013-14 Season
Check back next Monday (October 28) for No. 1-10.
*All advanced statistics are courtesy of KenPom.
