Returning B10 Player Rankings - #25 - #20
September 28, 2023
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Previous Rankings: Honorable Mentions
Welcome back to our 2023-2024 B1G Returning Player Rankings. This is the second release and will cover players ranked #25 – #20. Our next releases will cover 19th – 15th, 14th – 11th, and our final release will cover the top ten ranked players in the Big Ten.
These rankings are based on prior season statistics, as well as projected opportunity for this upcoming season. There are several immediate impact freshmen – such as Mackenzie Mbako, Xavier Booker, Deshawn Harris Smith, and Gavin Griffiths among others – who will certainly have a chance to crack the top 25 player threshold throughout the year. However, for this exercise we did not include incoming freshmen. The talented newcomers will get their own article in the coming weeks.
#25: Kel’el Ware Indiana
So. – C – 7’0” 242lbs
Last Year: 6.6ppg 4.1rpg 1.3bpg
This selection is based on Kel’el Ware’s talent shining through. The former 5-star big man has arguably the highest NBA upside in the entire conference after transferring into Bloomington from Oregon. Ware never quite figured it out in his first year in Eugene, but he only played 15.8 minutes per game in a frontcourt that also featured N’Faly Dante and Quincy Guerrier.
Ware seems destined to share the starting lineup with fellow former 5-star Malik Reneau, and another 5-star freshman in Mackenzie Mbako. Ware didn’t shoot overly well from 3 last year (27.3% on 1.6 attempts per game), but he will need to take that step to provide spacing as Reneau nor Mbako are proven collegiate shooters. If Ware taps into his potential on both sides of the ball (1.3bpg in 16 minutes is a promising start) with increased playing time, he could live up to his 1st round draft pick potential and climb way up this list.
#24: Zed Key Ohio State
Sr. – F – 6’8” 250lbs
Last Year: 10.8ppg 7.5rpg 55% FG
Key’s season last year was cut short by a shoulder injury (only 25 games played). When he was playing, he was a productive B1G center. Through the first 13 games of the season – prior to leaving early in a game against Purdue – Key was averaging 13.4ppg and 8.4rpg. Assuming he is healthy coming off last season’s shoulder surgery and producing at a similar clip, he thoroughly deserves to be on this top 25 list.
A big influence on Key’s minutes and production for the year will be the development of sophomore Felix Okpara. Okpara only averaged 4pppg and 3.6rpg last year but seemed to really come on late in the year during the Buckeye’s resurgence and Key’s absence. Over his last 6 games, he averaged 6ppg, 6rpg, and over 2 blocks per game while completely passing the eye test. These two probably won’t see much time on the court at the same time. Therefore, if this tandem turns out to be a timeshare – the Buckeyes will be better off – but Key’s production might not be.
#23: Fletcher Loyer Purdue
So. – G – 6’4” 180lbs
Last Year: 11ppg 2.4apg 32.6% 3PT
He has the potential to be more than a shooter (see above) but shooting is his thing.
Fletcher Loyer hit the proverbial freshman wall last season. But that doesn’t take away from what was an overall solid first year campaign. While his final shooting percentages took a hit during his late season struggles (36.% FG and 32.6% 3PT), he was averaging 13.7ppg on 37.3% 3PT shooting through the first 18 games of the season.
More importantly Fletcher Loyer now has the experience of playing through an entire collegiate season and is hopefully now prepared for the rigors that accompany it. It also helps when that experience included 35 starts for a team that was a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. For Purdue to reach its offensive ceiling, they will need a volume 3PT shooter next year to help space the floor with Mount Edey patrolling the paint. Look for Loyer to build upon last season and take that next step.
#22: Connor Essegian Wisconsin
So. – G – 6’4” 195lbs
Last Year: 11.7ppg 2.4apg 35.9% 3PT
Like Fletcher Loyer, Connor Essegian enjoyed a very good freshman season as primarily a 3PT shooter (where about 58% of his shot attempts came from). Also, similarly to Loyer, he has the potential to be more than just a shooter and has shown a few flashes of being a good cutter in Greg Gard’s offense. And while he was Wisconsin’s most efficient scorer in the backcourt last season, he still has room to grow as a playmaker (only .7apg to 1TO/G).
Wisconsin returns just about everyone and adds AJ Storr to the mix. It feels like Storr and Essegian can both mesh well together in the backcourt/on the wing, but one wonders if both can break out at the same time. Ideally, the two sophomores will both shoot the ball well enough (Storr shot 40.4% on 2.8 attempts per game) to give each other enough room to operate and thrive. Regardless, expect Essegian to level up following his 1st Team All B1G Freshman season.
#21: Dug McDaniel Michigan
So. – G – 5’11” 175lbs
Last Year: 8.6ppg 3.6apg 35.5% 3PT
While Michigan had a tumultuous offseason, Dug McDaniel stands to gain from some of their losses. The Wolverines are losing 46.7ppg from their top 3 scorers last season in Hunter Dickinson, Jett Howard, and Kobe Bufkin. While Juwan Howard went out and added Olivier Nkamhoua to help solve some of these scoring holes, there are still loads of production up for grabs.
Dug is going to get as much usage as he could possibly want in Ann Arbor next season. Expect Michigan to put the ball in his hands every time down the court (especially in ball screens) to either score or set up his teammates. He was a solid playmaker (2.25 assist to turnover ratio) as a true freshman, and though he only averaged 8.6ppg on the season – he averaged 13.75ppg on 43% 3PT shooting over his last 8 games of the season. Jaelin Llewellyn – a Princeton transfer from last year who went down only 8 games into his Wolverine career with a torn ACL – should be back to help McDaniel man the backcourt. These two should be able to play together if need be and so this shouldn’t cut into Dug’s minutes or production. Overall, expect Dug McDaniel to get all the work he can handle, and his production should follow.
#20: Payton Sandfort Iowa
Jr. – F – 6’7” 215lbs
Last Year: 10.3ppg 4.1rpg 34.3% 3PT
The reigning B10 6th man of the year returns to Iowa City to do what he does best: shoot the rock. He had a rough start to the season last year, averaging 8.2ppg on an abysmal 21.7% 3PT shooting over the Hawks’ first 15 games. In the remaining 18 games of the season, Sandfort went on to average 12ppg on 42.7% 3PT shooting (on nearly 6 attempts per game).
With Kris Murray and Filip Rebraca moving on from Iowa City, there will be plenty more shots to go Sandfort’s way as the Hawks’ deadeye. He always seems to hit a Carver-erupting 3 when his team needs it the most, and they may need it quite a bit this year. It’s hard to imagine Sandfort going through a funk like he did at the beginning of last season, and Fran McCaffery will undoubtedly get him tons of good looks. Don’t be surprised if Sandfort’s numbers take a jump this season.
Agree with these rankings or have anything you would change up? Leave us a comment down below or Tweet at us. ALso, make sure to keep your eyes out for our upcoming article in this serieis which will feature the #19 – #15 rankings.
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