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Five Big Ten men’s basketball sophomores who could have breakout seasons
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Every year we see guys make a significant jump from their freshman to sophomore seasons, so who could that be this season?
Even though we are only through Week 1 of the college football season, September also means that college basketball is just around the corner. With men’s hoops tipping off before we know it, let’s take a look at five sophomores who are due for a breakout second season.
If you don’t know these names now, you will soon...
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard had incredibly high expectations as a freshman in College Park. He showed flashes at times, but he regularly failed to meet those expectations. He averaged 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on just 36.8 percent shooting from the field and 20.2 percent from the three-point line.
Now, with a large part of the Maryland roster gone, including Jahmir Young, Harris-Smith will look to make the sophomore leap as his role increases with the Terrapins. He is primed to make that leap as long as he can increase his efficiency with the ball.
This list would not be complete if I did not have a slight homer pick of a Buckeye on here. Royal deserves to be on this list as someone who showed progress specifically once the Buckeyes made the jump from Chris Holtmann to Jake Diebler.
Royal will share time in the front court with Aaron Bradshaw, Sean Stewart, and Micah Parrish, but he will be a force on offense any time that he plays.
Mgbako might not deserve to be on this list, because you could argue he made his jump toward the end of last year in his freshman season, but I think he will make a bigger jump into his sophomore season.
Mgbako averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his 33 games last season. Now, he is back at Indiana with Malik Reneau and Arizona transfer Oumar Ballo. The trio makes up one of the best frontcourts in the country, and Mgbako should be able to use that to his advantage.
Harding only averaged 3.4 points and 2.6 assists per game in 34 games for the Hawkeyes in his freshman season, but he showed flashes at times of the potential he possesses.
Now, starting point guard Tony Perkins is gone to Missouri, and Harding will be looked at to fill the void that Perkins left. Everyone in Iowa loves Harding, the way he plays, and what he can bring to the team. We will see exactly why that is this season with him running the show.
Fears played in the first 12 games of the season for the Spartans last season before he was shot during Christmas break and missed the rest of his freshman season. With AJ Hoggard, Tyson Walker, and Jaden Akins, Fear’s time on the court in those first 12 games was limited. Now, he is fully healthy, and Hoggard and Walker are now gone.
Fears will be one of the main contributors on this Spartan team. His teammate Xavier Booker is another player who could be a candidate for this, but Fears will be Tom Izzo’s starting point guard and the main ball handler, so he will have more opportunity than Booker to make this jump.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Every year we see guys make a significant jump from their freshman to sophomore seasons, so who could that be this season?
Even though we are only through Week 1 of the college football season, September also means that college basketball is just around the corner. With men’s hoops tipping off before we know it, let’s take a look at five sophomores who are due for a breakout second season.
If you don’t know these names now, you will soon...
DeShawn Harris-Smith - Maryland Terrapins
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound guard had incredibly high expectations as a freshman in College Park. He showed flashes at times, but he regularly failed to meet those expectations. He averaged 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on just 36.8 percent shooting from the field and 20.2 percent from the three-point line.
Now, with a large part of the Maryland roster gone, including Jahmir Young, Harris-Smith will look to make the sophomore leap as his role increases with the Terrapins. He is primed to make that leap as long as he can increase his efficiency with the ball.
Devin Royal - Ohio State Buckeyes
This list would not be complete if I did not have a slight homer pick of a Buckeye on here. Royal deserves to be on this list as someone who showed progress specifically once the Buckeyes made the jump from Chris Holtmann to Jake Diebler.
Royal will share time in the front court with Aaron Bradshaw, Sean Stewart, and Micah Parrish, but he will be a force on offense any time that he plays.
Mackenzie Mgbako - Indiana Hoosiers
Mgbako might not deserve to be on this list, because you could argue he made his jump toward the end of last year in his freshman season, but I think he will make a bigger jump into his sophomore season.
Mgbako averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his 33 games last season. Now, he is back at Indiana with Malik Reneau and Arizona transfer Oumar Ballo. The trio makes up one of the best frontcourts in the country, and Mgbako should be able to use that to his advantage.
Brock Harding - Iowa Hawkeyes
Harding only averaged 3.4 points and 2.6 assists per game in 34 games for the Hawkeyes in his freshman season, but he showed flashes at times of the potential he possesses.
Now, starting point guard Tony Perkins is gone to Missouri, and Harding will be looked at to fill the void that Perkins left. Everyone in Iowa loves Harding, the way he plays, and what he can bring to the team. We will see exactly why that is this season with him running the show.
Jeremy Fears Jr. - Michigan State Spartans
Fears played in the first 12 games of the season for the Spartans last season before he was shot during Christmas break and missed the rest of his freshman season. With AJ Hoggard, Tyson Walker, and Jaden Akins, Fear’s time on the court in those first 12 games was limited. Now, he is fully healthy, and Hoggard and Walker are now gone.
Fears will be one of the main contributors on this Spartan team. His teammate Xavier Booker is another player who could be a candidate for this, but Fears will be Tom Izzo’s starting point guard and the main ball handler, so he will have more opportunity than Booker to make this jump.
Continue reading...