Braden Smith steps up with 14 points, 15 assists in Sweet 16 win
Andy Katz dropped his top 12 juniors ahead of the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season. Here’s a breakdown of each third-year player to know for the upcoming season.
Karaban moved into the Huskies’ starting lineup the second game of his freshman season and has remained in it since — that says enough about how talented the junior is. Named to the Blue Ribbon’s Preseason First Team All-American list, the two-time national champ averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds last season while shooting 37.9% on 3-pointers.
The forward is the lone returning starter for UConn after he withdrew from the 2024 NBA draft in late May. Racking up at least 20 points in eight games last year, expect the 6-foot-9 forward to take another step forward this season.
Braden Smith steps up with 14 points, 15 assists in Sweet 16 win
Smith put together an historic sophomore campaign, setting a Purdue and Big Ten record with 292 assists and helping lead the Boilermakers to the national championship game. On top of that, Smith was named a First Team All-Big Ten selection and recorded 10 games with 10 or more assists — a school record and nation-best.
Of course, the 6-foot guard’s play style will look differently without Zach Edey, a two-time National Player of the Year, roaming the paint. However, still anticipate Smith to be in the Bob Cousy Award conversation like last year.
After a great freshman season, Thornton had an even better one in 2023-24. He led the team in points (15.7), assists (4.8) and steals per game (1.2), while his 4.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (168-to-42) was the second-best in the country.
Thornton become an important piece — if not the most — for the Buckeyes entering year three. Although Thornton’s Ohio State hasn’t found the same success as Smith’s and Karaban’s teams, his success will directly correlate to whether the Buckeyes return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022.
During his first two years at Iowa State, Lipsey has proven to be a jack-of-all-trades for the Cyclones. He averaged 12.4 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals — tied for fourth-most steals in the country while breaking Iowa State’s single-season record with 96.
Named to the All-Big 12 First Team and an AP Honorable Mention All-American, expect the 6-foot-1 guard to wreak havoc on both ends of the floor once again this season.
When the transfer portal opened in mid-March, there weren’t many more players sought after than the Wisconsin wing. Leading the Badgers in scoring last season at 16.8 points per game, Storr wil help the Jayhawks reload at a position that lost Kevin McCullar Jr. and Johnny Furphy to the NBA draft.
An All-Big Ten Second Team selection last year, Storr’s veteran presence will be an addition to an already seasoned lineup.
Whenever a college basketball player is given a nickname, it’s typically a result of their play style and get-up. Both were true for Avila, nicknamed “Cream Abdul-Jabbar” and “Larry Blurred,” as he averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists alongside shooting 39.4% on 3-pointers.
Avila left Indiana State to follow his coach Josh Schertz to Saint Louis. After leading the Sycamores in points and blocks that resulted in a All-MVC First Team selection, he looks to help the Billikens reach the NCAA tournament for the 11th time in program history.
Tyrese Proctor looks to make big impact for Blue Devils in tournament
Coach Jon Scheyer gets his top facilitator and lead guard back in Proctor. The 6-foot-6 junior averaged 10.5 points and a team-best 3.7 assists — he led the Blue Devils in assists as a freshman as well.
The lone starter returning to Durham, Proctor’s role and leadership will likely increase with Duke bringing in the top-ranked freshman class, according to 247sports. This includes four 5-star recruits such as Cooper Flagg.
Griffen, like Storr, was a major reason behind Kansas securing the top-ranked transfer class in the country this offseason. A starter during Alabama’s Final Four run last season, Griffen gives coach Bill Self and the Jayhawks another veteran that can space the floor and shoot.
The 6-foot-6 guard shot 39.2% from deep in 2023-24 and will be an important piece for a Kansas team that wants to bounce back from a second round loss to Gonzaga in March.
It won’t be easy for Houston to replace Jamal Shead, who was the Big 12 Player of the Year, Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American.
Enter Uzan.
No, the Oklahoma transfer won’t be expected to fill every hole left by Shead, but the 6-foot-4 guard does bring promise. Uzan started 56 of his 64 games for the Sooners and averaged 9.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and team-high 4.3 assists last season. Houston does return eight of its 10 top scorers, but Uzan’s addition solidifies and reinforces coach Kelvin Sampson’s starting lineup.
Claude made arguably one of the biggest jumps in men’s college basketball between his freshman and sophomore years at Xavier. After starting just one game during his first season, the 6-foot-6 guard started every game his sophomore season, averaging 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists and secured a Big East Most Improved Player selection to prove it.
Now headed westward to USC, Claude has ample room to get even better — the Trojans bring in a new head coach in Eric Musselman and 11 transfers including Claude.
Few returning backcourts in men’s college basketball are more experienced, or at least winningest than Loyer and Braden Smith. A two-year starter, Loyer averaged 10.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc. Sheesh.
The Fort Wayne, Indiana native’s clip was typically outshined by both Smith and Zach Edey’s performances. But with the latter out of the picture, it will be interesting to see how Loyer’s game develops.
Onyenso was one of the top shot blockers in the country last season, averaging 2.8 blocks per game. The 7-footer heads to Kansas State after racking up 82 blocks in 40 games during his two years at Kentucky. He tied a Rupp Arena record for most blocks in a game with 10 against Ole Miss.
