150 Most Impactful Players in 2021-2022

[dukedevilz]

Here are my postseason rankings for the most impactful players of the 2022 season. Not perfect, but feel like it's mostly reasonable. What did I miss?

1. Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (33)
2. Keegan Murray, Iowa (100)
3. Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (NR)
4. Kofi Cockburn, Illinois (2)
5. Ochai Agbaji, Kansas (47)
6. Drew Timme, Gonzaga (1)
7. Jaden Ivey, Purdue (10)
8. Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona (29)
9. Jabari Smith, Auburn (45)
10. Armando Bacot, North Carolina (38)
11. Paolo Banchero, Duke (4)
12. EJ Liddell, Ohio State (8)
13. Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga (3)
14. Collin Gillespie, Villanova (9)
15. Walker Kessler, Auburn (81)
16. JD Notae, Arkansas (NR)
17. David Roddy, Colorado State (53)
18. James Akinjo, Baylor (40)
19. Hunter Dickinson, Michigan (5)
20. Christian Braun, Kansas (NR)
21. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (7)
22. Alondes Williams, Wake Forest (NR)
23. Tari Eason, LSU (NR)
24. Kendric Davis, SMU (17)
25. Kameron McGusty, Miami (NR)
26. Izaiah Brockington, Iowa State (NR)
27. Adama Sanogo, UConn (NR)
28. Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona (49)
29. Jaime Jaquez, UCLA (21)
30. Ron Harper, Rutgers (57)
31. Wendell Moore, Duke (122)
32. Johnny Juzang, UCLA (6)
33. Zach Edey, Purdue (87)
34. Malachi Smith, Chattanooga (NR)
35. Justin Lewis, Marquette (NR)
36. Santiago Vescovi, Tennessee (NR)
37. Christian Koloko, Arizona (NR)
38. RJ Cole, UConn (103)
39. Darius McGhee, Liberty (NR)
40. Fabian White, Houston (NR)
41. Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco (128)
42. Scotty Pippen, Vanderbilt (13)
43. Mike Miles, TCU (91)
44. Mark Williams, Duke (74)
45. Colin Castleton, Florida (37)
46. Justin Moore, Villanova (62)
47. Isaiah Mobley, USC (67)
48. Nijel Pack, Kansas State (111)
49. Caleb Love, North Carolina (132)
50. Julian Champagnie, St.John's (12)
51. Terrell Brown, Washington (NR)
52. Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee (15)
53. Adam Flagler, Baylor (77)
54. Trevion Williams, Purdue (16)
55. Hunter Maldonado, Wyoming (NR)
56. Luka Brajkovic, Davidson (NR)
57. Buddy Boeheim, Syracuse (23)
58. Max Abmas, Oral Roberts (11)
59. Iverson Molinar, Mississippi State (50)
60. Jordan Walker, UAB (NR)
61. Orlando Robinson, Fresno State (NR)
62. Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga (44)
63. Teddy Allen, New Mexico State (118)
64. Brady Manek, North Carolina (NR)
65. Bryce Hamilton, UNLV (113)
66. Jaylin Williams, Arkansas (NR)
67. Keve Aluma, Virginia Tech (30)
68. Jared Rhoden, Seton Hall (56)
69. Matt Bradley, San Diego State (59)
70. Bryson Williams, Texas Tech (NR)
71. Antoine Davis, Detroit (64)
72. Malakhi Branham, Ohio State (NR)
73. Kenneth Lofton, Louisiana Tech (61)
74. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton (127)
75. Javon Freeman-Liberty, DePaul (NR)
76. Johni Broome, Morehead State (84)
77. Tyger Campbell, UCLA (68)
78. Jalen Williams, Santa Clara (NR)
79. Mark Sears, Ohio (NR)
80. Jared Bynum, Providence (NR)
81. Alex Barcello, BYU (26)
82. AJ Green, Northern Iowa (115)
83. Quenton Jackson, Texas A&M (NR)
84. Jalen Duren, Memphis (39)
85. Baylor Scheierman, South Dakota State (110)
86. Jeenathan Williams, Buffalo (101)
87. Timmy Allen, Texas (NR)
88. Hyunjung Lee, Davidson (78)
89. Trent Frazier, Illinois (NR)
90. Ryan Hawkins, Creighton (NR)
91. Sahvir Wheeler, Kentucky (126)
92. Jake Laravia, Wake Forest (NR)
93. David McCormack, Kansas (27)
94. Tommy Kuhse, Saint Mary's (NR)
95. Jake Stephens, VMI (NR)
96. Jabari Walker, Colorado
97. Brad Davison, Wisconsin (NR)
98. Kyler Edwards, Houston (92)
99. Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State (73)
100. TyTy Washington, Kentucky (25)
101. Will Richardson, Oregon (31)
102. Peter Kiss, Bryant (NR)
103. RJ Davis, North Carolina (NR)
104. Drew Peterson, USC (NR)
105. Lucas Williamson, Loyola Chicago (NR)
106. Jalen Wilson, Kansas (107)
107. Jaden Shackelford, Alabama (79)
108. Isaiah Wong, Miami (48)
109. Norchad Omier, Arkansas State (NR)
110. Blake Wesley, Notre Dame (NR)
111. Josh Oduro, George Mason (NR)
112. Julian Strawther, Gonzaga (NR)
113. Taz Sherman, West Virginia (69)
114. Fardaws Aimaq, Utah Valley (NR)
115. Dereon Seabron, NC State (NR)
116. Josh Carlton, Houston (NR)
117. Darius Days, LSU (88)
118. Fatts Russell, Maryland (NR)
119. Ryan Davis, Vermont (86)
120. Jayden Gardner, Virginia (71)
121. Alfonso Plummer, Illinois (NR)
122. Ryan Rollins, Toledo (NR)
123. Jamison Battle, Minnesota (NR)
124. Michael Flowers, Washington State (NR)
125. Tanner Holden, Wright State (NR)
126. Dane Goodwin, Notre Dame (NR)
127. Jermaine Samuels, Villanova (46)
128. Tevin Brown, Murray State (NR)
129. Michael Devoe, Georgia Tech (58)
130. Tosan Evbuomwan, Princeton (NR)
131. Jahmir Young, Charlotte (NR)
132. Charlie Moore, Miami (NR)
133. Gabe Brown, Michigan State (129)
134. Jalen Cook, Tulane (NR)
135. Keon Ellis, Alabama (NR)
136. Yauhen Massalski, San Francisco (NR)
137. Xavier Johnson, Indiana (105)
138. Sincere Carry, Kent State (NR)
139. Yuri Collins, Saint Louis (NR)
140. Tyrece Radford, Texas A&M (NR)
141. Jules Bernard, UCLA (NR)
142. Tyrese Hunter, Iowa State (NR)
143. AJ Griffin, Duke (NR)
144. Dalen Terry, Arizona (NR)
145. KJ Williams, Murray State (NR)
146. Marcus Carr, Texas (19)
147. Aaron Estrada, Hofstra (NR)
148. Kevin McCullar, Texas Tech (NR)
149. Justin Bean, Utah State (NR)
150. Remy Martin, Kansas (14)

Ha. Nailed Jabari Walker (#96 in preseason and postseason). Didn't compare the two lists until now.

Timmy Allen was clearly an oversight in my preseason top 150 players. #87 in these rankings, but didn't have him in my preseason 150 - even though I had him in my preseason top 10 small forwards.

 

[WeAreDePaul]

I would flip #147 and #148, but other than that looks good. SmokinSmile

 

[GE Nole]

^^^^thats funny.

Great stuff, DD. Really cool to see the pre and post.

So Johnny Davis really came from that far off the radar?

 

[boilerzz]

^^^^thats funny.

Great stuff, DD. Really cool to see the pre and post.

So Johnny Davis really came from that far off the radar?

Davis didn't start a game as a freshman and averaged 7 and 4. I remember liking his skills that year but had no idea he could be an All American level player.

I was pretty high on Keegan Murray tho if Fran didn't fvck him up.

 

[dukedevilz]

So Johnny Davis really came from that far off the radar?

He didn't come from nowhere. He was in contention for making my preseason top 150. I saw him plenty of times his freshmen season and thought he was capable of being an All-Big Ten performer as a sophomore. I certainly didn't envision All-American honors, however.

He played poorly at the U19 World Championships. Of the 12 players from Team USA, I think he was the least productive (4 ppg and 32% from the field). So, it certainly made me pause when Adam Miller was contributing more than Davis was. His performance at the World Championships made me question his ability to make a huge sophomore leap.

 

[dukedevilz]

Here's the breakdown by conference


ACC (20)
10. Armando Bacot, North Carolina (38)
11. Paolo Banchero, Duke (4)
22. Alondes Williams, Wake Forest (NR)
25. Kameron McGusty, Miami (NR)
31. Wendell Moore, Duke (122)
44. Mark Williams, Duke (74)
49. Caleb Love, North Carolina (132)
57. Buddy Boeheim, Syracuse (23)
64. Brady Manek, North Carolina (NR)
67. Keve Aluma, Virginia Tech (30)
92. Jake Laravia, Wake Forest (NR)
103. RJ Davis, North Carolina (NR)
108. Isaiah Wong, Miami (48)
110. Blake Wesley, Notre Dame (NR)
115. Dereon Seabron, NC State (NR)
120. Jayden Gardner, Virginia (71)
126. Dane Goodwin, Notre Dame (NR)
129. Michael Devoe, Georgia Tech (58)
132. Charlie Moore, Miami (NR)
143. AJ Griffin, Duke (NR)

BIG TEN (18)
2. Keegan Murray, Iowa (100)
3. Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (NR)
4. Kofi Cockburn, Illinois (2)
7. Jaden Ivey, Purdue (10)
12. EJ Liddell, Ohio State (8)
19. Hunter Dickinson, Michigan (5)
21. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (7)
30. Ron Harper, Rutgers (57)
33. Zach Edey, Purdue (87)
54. Trevion Williams, Purdue (16)
72. Malakhi Branham, Ohio State (NR)
89. Trent Frazier, Illinois (NR)
97. Brad Davison, Wisconsin (NR)
118. Fatts Russell, Maryland (NR)
121. Alfonso Plummer, Illinois (NR)
123. Jamison Battle, Minnesota (NR)
133. Gabe Brown, Michigan State (129)
137. Xavier Johnson, Indiana (105)

SEC (17)
1. Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (33)
9. Jabari Smith, Auburn (45)
15. Walker Kessler, Auburn (81)
16. JD Notae, Arkansas (NR)
23. Tari Eason, LSU (NR)
36. Santiago Vescovi, Tennessee (NR)
42. Scotty Pippen, Vanderbilt (13)
45. Colin Castleton, Florida (37)
52. Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee (15)
59. Iverson Molinar, Mississippi State (50)
66. Jaylin Williams, Arkansas (NR)
83. Quenton Jackson, Texas A&M (NR)
91. Sahvir Wheeler, Kentucky (126)
100. TyTy Washington, Kentucky (25)
107. Jaden Shackelford, Alabama (79)
117. Darius Days, LSU (88)
135. Keon Ellis, Alabama (NR)

BIG 12 (16)
5. Ochai Agbaji, Kansas (47)
18. James Akinjo, Baylor (40)
20. Christian Braun, Kansas (NR)
26. Izaiah Brockington, Iowa State (NR)
43. Mike Miles, TCU (91)
48. Nijel Pack, Kansas State (111)
53. Adam Flagler, Baylor (77)
70. Bryson Williams, Texas Tech (NR)
87. Timmy Allen, Texas (NR)
93. David McCormack, Kansas (27)
106. Jalen Wilson, Kansas (107)
113. Taz Sherman, West Virginia (69)
142. Tyrese Hunter, Iowa State (NR)
146. Marcus Carr, Texas (19)
148. Kevin McCullar, Texas Tech (NR)
150. Remy Martin, Kansas (14)

PAC 12 (14)
8. Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona (29)
28. Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona (49)
29. Jaime Jaquez, UCLA (21)
32. Johnny Juzang, UCLA (6)
37. Christian Koloko, Arizona (NR)
47. Isaiah Mobley, USC (67)
51. Terrell Brown, Washington (NR)
77. Tyger Campbell, UCLA (68)
96. Jabari Walker, Colorado
101. Will Richardson, Oregon (31)
104. Drew Peterson, USC (NR)
124. Michael Flowers, Washington State (NR)
141. Jules Bernard, UCLA (NR)
144. Dalen Terry, Arizona (NR)

BIG EAST (12)
14. Collin Gillespie, Villanova (9)
27. Adama Sanogo, UConn (NR)
35. Justin Lewis, Marquette (NR)
38. RJ Cole, UConn (103)
46. Justin Moore, Villanova (62)
50. Julian Champagnie, St.John's (12)
68. Jared Rhoden, Seton Hall (56)
74. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton (127)
75. Javon Freeman-Liberty, DePaul (NR)
80. Jared Bynum, Providence (NR)
90. Ryan Hawkins, Creighton (NR)
127. Jermaine Samuels, Villanova (46)

WCC (9)
6. Drew Timme, Gonzaga (1)
13. Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga (3)
41. Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco (128)
62. Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga (44)
78. Jalen Williams, Santa Clara (NR)
81. Alex Barcello, BYU (26)
94. Tommy Kuhse, Saint Mary's (NR)
112. Julian Strawther, Gonzaga (NR)
136. Yauhen Massalski, San Francisco (NR)

AAC (6)
24. Kendric Davis, SMU (17)
40. Fabian White, Houston (NR)
84. Jalen Duren, Memphis (39)
98. Kyler Edwards, Houston (92)
116. Josh Carlton, Houston (NR)
134. Jalen Cook, Tulane (NR)

MWC (6)
17. David Roddy, Colorado State (53)
55. Hunter Maldonado, Wyoming (NR)
61. Orlando Robinson, Fresno State (NR)
65. Bryce Hamilton, UNLV (113)
69. Matt Bradley, San Diego State (59)
149. Justin Bean, Utah State (NR)

Atlantic 10 (4)
56. Luka Brajkovic, Davidson (NR)
88. Hyunjung Lee, Davidson (78)
111. Josh Oduro, George Mason (NR)
139. Yuri Collins, Saint Louis (NR)

MVC (3)
82. AJ Green, Northern Iowa (115)
99. Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State (73)
105. Lucas Williamson, Loyola Chicago (NR)

MAC (4)
79. Mark Sears, Ohio (NR)
86. Jeenathan Williams, Buffalo (101)
122. Ryan Rollins, Toledo (NR)
138. Sincere Carry, Kent State (NR)

Conference USA (3)
60. Jordan Walker, UAB (NR)
73. Kenneth Lofton, Louisiana Tech (61)
131. Jahmir Young, Charlotte (NR)

OVC (3)
76. Johni Broome, Morehead State (84)
128. Tevin Brown, Murray State (NR)
145. KJ Williams, Murray State (NR)

Southern (2)
34. Malachi Smith, Chattanooga (NR)
95. Jake Stephens, VMI (NR)

Summit (2)
58. Max Abmas, Oral Roberts (11)
85. Baylor Scheierman, South Dakota State (110)

WAC (2)
63. Teddy Allen, New Mexico State (118)
114. Fardaws Aimaq, Utah Valley (NR)

Horizon (2)
71. Antoine Davis, Detroit (64)
125. Tanner Holden, Wright State (NR)

Other Conferences (6)
39. Darius McGhee, Liberty (NR)
102. Peter Kiss, Bryant (NR)
109. Norchad Omier, Arkansas State (NR)
119. Ryan Davis, Vermont (86)
130. Tosan Evbuomwan, Princeton (NR)
147. Aaron Estrada, Hofstra (NR)

 

[dukedevilz]

Top 150 Players that are transferring

Committed
24. Kendric Davis, Memphis (SMU)
48. Nijel Pack, Miami (Kansas State)
79. Mark Sears, Alabama (Ohio)
109. Norchad Omier, Miami (Arkansas State)
125. Tanner Holden, Ohio State (Wright State)

Uncommitted
34. Malachi Smith, Chattanooga
71. Antoine Davis, Detroit
73. Kenneth Lofton, Louisiana Tech
76. Johni Broome, Morehead State
82. AJ Green, Norther Iowa
85. Baylor Scheierman, South Dakota State
114. Fardaws Aimaq, Utah Valley
131. Jahmir Young, Charlotte
142. Tyrese Hunter, Iowa State
145. KJ Williams, Murray State
148. Kevin McCullar, Texas Tech

 

[ExitFlagger]

He's hard to place due to the injury, but I'd say that Remy Martin was as impactful as any player for KU. Probably their best player in the tourney.

 

[dukedevilz]

He's hard to place due to the injury, but I'd say that Remy Martin was as impactful as any player for KU. Probably their best player in the tourney.

He certainly would have been much, much higher if he was healthy the entirety of the season. He missed 10 games and averaged less than 9 points per game. But, felt like his performance in the tournament made him worthy of a top 150 ranking.

 

[Kevin Bryan]

Good stuff. Is there a specific formula you used to rank them?

 

[dukedevilz]

Good stuff. Is there a specific formula you used to rank them?

No. But, if I did use a formula, I'd probably follow the pattern of the college basketball draft. Win Shares + Postseason Accolades. Here's what our top 25 players looked like from this past season. Keep in mind this doesn't include players that weren't drafted like Johnny Davis or JD Notae.

Maybe I'll use this formula next year just to see what the results would look like.

My rankings were a little subjective. I'm trying to factor a player's stats - as well as how good the team was. In my excel file, I had the stats of roughly 400 players that were under consideration. I delineated the players by conference.

 

[Kevin Bryan]

No. But, if I did use a formula, I'd probably follow the pattern of the college basketball draft. Win Shares + Postseason Accolades. Here's what our top 25 players looked like from this past season. Keep in mind this doesn't include players that weren't drafted like Johnny Davis or JD Notae.

Maybe I'll use this formula next year just to see what the results would look like.

My rankings were a little subjective. I'm trying to factor a player's stats - as well as how good the team was. In my excel file, I had the stats of roughly 400 players that were under consideration. I delineated the players by conference.

The jump Davis and Murray made from 2020-21 to this past season was pretty insane. Not surprised they went round 12 and undrafted in the pre-season.

 

[dukedevilz]

The jump Davis and Murray made from 2020-21 to this past season was pretty insane. Not surprised they went round 12 and undrafted in the pre-season.

Huge jumps. In that draft, I linked 5 other rankings of outlets that ranked the preseason top 100+ players. Not a single publication had Johnny Davis in the top 100. And I believe Athlon was the only one that had Keegan Murray in the top 100. I put Murray right at #100 in my ranking. Thought he had NBA potential as a freshman. But, certainly didn't expect him to explode quite like he did.

And that's what's fun about college basketball. We talk and talk - and talk some more about how good certain players are. And then guys like Davis and Murray dominate and make our preseason evaluations look silly. Seems like we miss on a big-time talent every year. In 2020, I didn't have Garza in my top 150. And I think I had Obi Toppin at around 90. Those were the #1 and #2 players in college basketball that year.

 

[Kevin Bryan]

Huge jumps. In that draft, I linked 5 other rankings of outlets that ranked the preseason top 100+ players. Not a single publication had Johnny Davis in the top 100. And I believe Athlon was the only one that had Keegan Murray in the top 100. I put Murray right at #100 in my ranking. Thought he had NBA potential as a freshman. But, certainly didn't expect him to explode quite like he did.

And that's what's fun about college basketball. We talk and talk - and talk some more about how good certain players are. And then guys like Davis and Murray dominate and make our preseason evaluations look silly. Seems like we miss on a big-time talent every year. In 2020, I didn't have Garza in my top 150. And I think I had Obi Toppin at around 90. Those were the #1 and #2 players in college basketball that year.

No doubt they both earned themselves multi-millions over the past few months (even though @lurkeraspect84 would be an All-American too if he played in the Big 10).

 

[Villian07]

If its not too much work, after seeing all the NRs who all was in the preseason 150 that didnt live up to ur expectations. Besides any and all louisville players u might have had on ur list 🤣

 

[dukedevilz]

If its not too much work, after seeing all the NRs who all was in the preseason 150 that didnt live up to ur expectations. Besides any and all louisville players u might have had on ur list 🤣

Getting the top 50 guys that were at least ranked in the preseason is a lot easier. You can see my projections get progressively worse the further the rankings go out.

Postseason Top 150 players that were ranked in the Preseason
1-50: 36/50
51-100: 28/50
101-150: 14/50
Total: 78/150 (52%)

FWIW, it looks like I had Jae'Lyn Withers at #89 and Samuell Williamson at #141 in the preseason.


Here are the top 25 players in my preseason rankings that didn't even make the postseason top 150.

20. Emoni Bates, Memphis
22. Andre Curbelo, Illinois
24. Terrence Shannon, Texas Tech
28. Paul Scruggs, Xavier
32. Matthew Mayer, Baylor
34. Eric Ayala, Maryland
35. Grant Sherfield, Nevada
36. Tyson Etienne, Wichita State
41. Caleb Houstan, Michigan
42. Tre Mitchell, Texas
43. Patrick Baldwin, Milwaukee
51. Kellan Grady, Kentucky
52. Nate Watson, Providence
54. Quincy Guerrier, Oregon
55. Marcus Sasser, Houston
60. Dawson Garcia, North Carolina
63. Kadary Richmond, Seton Hall
65. Caleb Mills, Florida State
66. Kyle Lofton, Saint Bonaventure
70. Taevion Kinsey, Marshall
72. Osun Osunniyi, Saint Bonaventure
75. Max Christie, Michigan State
76. Davonte Davis, Arkansas
80. Anthony Polite, Florida State
82. Avery Anderson, Oklahoma State


Several of these guys easily could have made the top 150. In hindsight, I kind of feel like I should have had Nate Watson and Osun Osunniyi on there somewhere. Grant Sherfield, Kellan Grady, Kyle Lofton, Eric Ayala, Avery Anderson, Taevion Kinsey, and Tyson Etienne all were good enough to be considered for a top 150 spot.

Marcus Sasser, Terrence Shannon, and Caleb Mills all probably make the top 150, if not for injuries.

My top two guys that missed, Bates and Curbelo both had their fair share of injuries, but they also both seemed to be a bit cancerous to team morale. Overall, though, if you're looking at my top 100 guys, there are way more hits than misses. So, I feel relatively content with my picks.

 

[Villian07]

Gracious