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2020-21 Way Too Early Top 50 Teams & Top 100 Players

For someone who's likely to play four years in college, he had a pretty solid freshman campaign. Better than Petrusev's freshmen year, IMO. Wouldn't be surprised at all if he becomes an All-American before leaving Spokane.

And yes, Nnaji had a really, really spectacular freshmen season. Probably the only freshmen who performed better were Vernon Carey, Onyeka Okongwu, and Isaiah Stewart. He performed better than the other two Arizona freshmen, who were much higher rated in high school.

Nnaji is just bouncy. Guy is all over the court.

Interested in how Timme did when he played him.
I like Timme. His athleticism is undervalued. Needs more range. The comp to him has always been Ethan Happ but I think that is lazy. Timme can expand his game more
 
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Nnaji is just bouncy. Guy is all over the court.

Interested in how Timme did when he played him.
I like Timme. His athleticism is undervalued. Needs more range. The comp to him has always been Ethan Happ but I think that is lazy. Timme can expand his game more
He had 7 points and 3 rebounds. From what I remember, Gonzaga really beat up on Arizona by using Kispert at the 4. So I don't think that left a ton of playing time for Gonzga's #3 big.

As someone else said, he had a better freshman year than Petrusev did. Petrusev could score as a freshman but his defense was so bad that they had to take him off the court a lot. His defense still sucked this year but I guess was a little better.
 
Washington State's CJ Elleby is staying in the draft. Didn't see that one coming.

I also never expected Dosunmu to return. I didn't even have him on my list because I was certain he would stay in the draft.

Really hoping we have a college basketball season.
 
The Big Ten with 4 top 10 teams. What are we, the ACC?

Not to mention Rutgers, UM, OSU, and IU probably all top 25. Last years Big Ten was loaded, this one is probably better.
 
The Big Ten with 4 top 10 teams. What are we, the ACC?

Not to mention Rutgers, UM, OSU, and IU probably all top 25. Last years Big Ten was loaded, this one is probably better.

Although without Tillman, can make a case for State not being a preseason top ten next season.
 
Although without Tillman, can make a case for State not being a preseason top ten next season.
Agreed. I think Rocket, Henry, and Hauser could make a nice trio, and our depth should be a little better than last year.

But obviously no Cassius Winston or Xavier Tillman level player (yet, someone could develop)
 
Some of these players won't come back, but I suspect most will. I'll try to get a final list of my top 50 teams, with rosters included, and top 150 players in October. Here are my preliminary rankings. I'm sure I missed on a few teams and players. What do you think?

Top 50 Teams:
1. Gonzaga
2. Villanova
3. Baylor
4. Virginia
5. Wisconsin
6. Kansas
7. Michigan State
8. Duke
9. Iowa
10. Texas Tech
11. Creighton
12. Arizona State
13. Tennessee
14. West Virginia
15. Florida State
16. Houston
17. Kentucky
18. Rutgers
19. Arizona
20. Texas
21. Illinois
22. North Carolina
23. Oregon
24. Seton Hall
25. Michigan
26. Louisville
27. Florida
28. Indiana
29. Richmond
30. Ohio State
31. Minnesota
32. Stanford
33. Miami
34. Arkansas
35. Purdue
36. UConn
37. Oklahoma
38. LSU
39. NC State
40. UCLA
41. Dayton
42. Georgia Tech
43. Penn State
44. Alabama
45. Northern Iowa
46. USC
47. Saint Louis
48. BYU
49. Oklahoma State
50. Loyola Chicago

Top 100 Players:
1. Luka Garza, Iowa
2. Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga
3. Jared Butler, Baylor
4. Sam Hauser, Virginia
5. Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton
6. Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
7. Collin Gillespie, Villanova
8. Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
9. Remy Martin, Arizona State
10. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
11. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova
12. Jalen Johnson, Duke
13. Marcus Garrett, Kansas
14. McKinley Wright, Colorado
15. BJ Boston, Kentucky
16. Scottie Barnes, Florida State
17. Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
18. Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
19. Matt Coleman, Texas
20. Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia
21. Keyontae Johnson, Florida
22. Evan Mobley, USC
23. Jalen Crutcher, Dayton
24. Garrison Brooks, North Carolina
25. DJ Carton, Marquette
26. Terrence Shannon, Texas Tech
27. Oscar Da Silva, Stanford
28. Loren Jackson, Akron
29. MaCio Teague, Baylor
30. AJ Green, Northern Iowa
31. Wendell Moore, Duke
32. Terry Taylor, Austin Peay
33. John Fulkerson, Tennessee
34. Marcus Carr, Minnesota
35. Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
36. Justise Sueing, Ohio State
37. Mitch Ballock, Creighton
38. John Petty, Alabama
39. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Seton Hall
40. Fatts Russell, Rhode Island
41. Trevion Williams, Purdue
42. Quentin Grimes, Houston
43. James Bouknight, UConn
44. Michael Devoe, Georgia Tech
45. CJ Elleby, Washington State
46. Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
47. Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona
48. Derek Culver, West Virginia
49. Franz Wagner, Michigan
50. Jacob Gilyard, Richmond
51. Marreon Jackson, Toledo
52. Javonte Smart, LSU
53. Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
54. Colbey Ross, Pepperdine
55. Jayden Gardner, East Carolina
56. Myreon Jones, Penn State
57. Javion Hamlet, North Texas
58. Kihei Clark, Virginia
59. Nate Reuvers, Wisconsin
60. Scottie Lewis, Florida
61. DJ Funderburk, NC State
62. Nate Darling, Delaware
63. Brady Manek, Oklahoma
64. Ziaire Williams, Stanford
65. Derrick Alston, Boise State
66. Douglas Wilson, South Dakota State
67. Matthew Hurt, Duke
68. Cameron Krutwig, Loyola Chicago
69. Jordan Goodwin, Saint Louis
70. D'Mitrik Trice, Wisconsin
71. Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA
72. Kendric Davis, SMU
73. Isaiah Livers, Michigan
74. Paul Scruggs, Xavier
75. David Duke, Providence
76. Chris Smith, UCLA
77. Isaiah Joe, Arkansas
78. Neemias Queta, Utah State
79. Davion Mitchell, Baylor
80. Justin Moore, Villanova
81. Will Richardson, Oregon
82. Olivier Sarr, Kentucky
83. Carlik Jones, Louisville
84. Greg Brown, Texas
85. Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State
86. Yves Pons, Tennessee
87. Quade Green, Washington
88. Ron Harper, Rutgers
89. Jaden Shackelford, Alabama
90. Bryce Aiken, Seton Hall
91. Matt Mitchell, San Diego State
92. Aaron Henry, Michigan State
93.Terrence Clark, Kentucky
94. Jay Huff, Virginia
95. Charlie Moore, DePaul
96. Alex Barcello, BYU
97. Josh Christopher, Arizona State
98. Hasahn French, Saint Louis
99. Caleb Mills, Houston
100. Armando Bacot, North Carolina

With Isiah Joe removing his name and the additions of 6'9 Vance Jackson, 6'7 Justin Smith, and 6'6 Jalen Tate plus a top 6 class. Add in those guys and 6-1 Jd Note, and 7'3" Connor Vanover (transfers) you'd think the Hogs would be better than a 34th spot?

You expect them to move up any in October?
 
With Isiah Joe removing his name and the additions of 6'9 Vance Jackson, 6'7 Justin Smith, and 6'6 Jalen Tate plus a top 6 class. Add in those guys and 6-1 Jd Note, and 7'3" Connor Vanover (transfers) you'd think the Hogs would be better than a 34th spot?

You expect them to move up any in October?

Arkansas has a high ceiling, for sure. They could easily be a top 25 / Sweet 16 team. I wrote very favorably about them just a month ago.

Arkansas could have a very good team next year. Let's break it down a little bit. Isaiah Joe (16.9 ppg) and Desi Sills (10.6 ppg) are expected back.

Then you have a boatload of eligible transfers, including New Mexico's Vance Jackson (11.1 ppg), Indiana's Justin Smith (10.4 ppg), Cal's Connor Vanover (7.5 ppg), Jacksonville's JD Notae (15.5 ppg), Northern Kentucky's Jalen Tate (13.9 ppg), and Stetson's Abayomi Iyiola (10.8 ppg).

On top of that, Arkansas is bringing in a top 10 recruiting class, which features four prospects which are all 4-star recruits. This is a deep and talented team that could make some noise in the SEC.

My only concern is they don't have a whole lot of continuity. Lot of transfers and freshmen. I have them as the 4th highest rated team in the SEC. I could see them edging out Florida, and possibly Kentucky, too. I think Tennessee has too much talent for them to surpass, however. So, I'd say a ceiling of 2nd in the SEC - and maybe a floor of around 7th-9th (roughly a .500 record ). They should be an exciting team to watch.
 
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Some of these players won't come back, but I suspect most will. I'll try to get a final list of my top 50 teams, with rosters included, and top 150 players in October. Here are my preliminary rankings. I'm sure I missed on a few teams and players. What do you think?

Top 50 Teams:
1. Gonzaga
2. Villanova
3. Baylor
4. Virginia
5. Wisconsin
6. Kansas
7. Michigan State
8. Duke
9. Iowa
10. Texas Tech
11. Creighton
12. Arizona State
13. Tennessee
14. West Virginia
15. Florida State
16. Houston
17. Kentucky
18. Rutgers
19. Arizona
20. Texas
21. Illinois
22. North Carolina
23. Oregon
24. Seton Hall
25. Michigan
26. Louisville
27. Florida
28. Indiana
29. Richmond
30. Ohio State
31. Minnesota
32. Stanford
33. Miami
34. Arkansas
35. Purdue
36. UConn
37. Oklahoma
38. LSU
39. NC State
40. UCLA
41. Dayton
42. Georgia Tech
43. Penn State
44. Alabama
45. Northern Iowa
46. USC
47. Saint Louis
48. BYU
49. Oklahoma State
50. Loyola Chicago

Top 100 Players:
1. Luka Garza, Iowa
2. Filip Petrusev, Gonzaga
3. Jared Butler, Baylor
4. Sam Hauser, Virginia
5. Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton
6. Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
7. Collin Gillespie, Villanova
8. Xavier Tillman, Michigan State
9. Remy Martin, Arizona State
10. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
11. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova
12. Jalen Johnson, Duke
13. Marcus Garrett, Kansas
14. McKinley Wright, Colorado
15. BJ Boston, Kentucky
16. Scottie Barnes, Florida State
17. Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
18. Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
19. Matt Coleman, Texas
20. Oscar Tshiebwe, West Virginia
21. Keyontae Johnson, Florida
22. Evan Mobley, USC
23. Jalen Crutcher, Dayton
24. Garrison Brooks, North Carolina
25. DJ Carton, Marquette
26. Terrence Shannon, Texas Tech
27. Oscar Da Silva, Stanford
28. Loren Jackson, Akron
29. MaCio Teague, Baylor
30. AJ Green, Northern Iowa
31. Wendell Moore, Duke
32. Terry Taylor, Austin Peay
33. John Fulkerson, Tennessee
34. Marcus Carr, Minnesota
35. Ochai Agbaji, Kansas
36. Justise Sueing, Ohio State
37. Mitch Ballock, Creighton
38. John Petty, Alabama
39. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Seton Hall
40. Fatts Russell, Rhode Island
41. Trevion Williams, Purdue
42. Quentin Grimes, Houston
43. James Bouknight, UConn
44. Michael Devoe, Georgia Tech
45. CJ Elleby, Washington State
46. Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
47. Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona
48. Derek Culver, West Virginia
49. Franz Wagner, Michigan
50. Jacob Gilyard, Richmond
51. Marreon Jackson, Toledo
52. Javonte Smart, LSU
53. Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
54. Colbey Ross, Pepperdine
55. Jayden Gardner, East Carolina
56. Myreon Jones, Penn State
57. Javion Hamlet, North Texas
58. Kihei Clark, Virginia
59. Nate Reuvers, Wisconsin
60. Scottie Lewis, Florida
61. DJ Funderburk, NC State
62. Nate Darling, Delaware
63. Brady Manek, Oklahoma
64. Ziaire Williams, Stanford
65. Derrick Alston, Boise State
66. Douglas Wilson, South Dakota State
67. Matthew Hurt, Duke
68. Cameron Krutwig, Loyola Chicago
69. Jordan Goodwin, Saint Louis
70. D'Mitrik Trice, Wisconsin
71. Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA
72. Kendric Davis, SMU
73. Isaiah Livers, Michigan
74. Paul Scruggs, Xavier
75. David Duke, Providence
76. Chris Smith, UCLA
77. Isaiah Joe, Arkansas
78. Neemias Queta, Utah State
79. Davion Mitchell, Baylor
80. Justin Moore, Villanova
81. Will Richardson, Oregon
82. Olivier Sarr, Kentucky
83. Carlik Jones, Louisville
84. Greg Brown, Texas
85. Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State
86. Yves Pons, Tennessee
87. Quade Green, Washington
88. Ron Harper, Rutgers
89. Jaden Shackelford, Alabama
90. Bryce Aiken, Seton Hall
91. Matt Mitchell, San Diego State
92. Aaron Henry, Michigan State
93.Terrence Clark, Kentucky
94. Jay Huff, Virginia
95. Charlie Moore, DePaul
96. Alex Barcello, BYU
97. Josh Christopher, Arizona State
98. Hasahn French, Saint Louis
99. Caleb Mills, Houston
100. Armando Bacot, North Carolina
Needs more Jesus Bohanon on this list.....
 
Texas has a Shaka problem.

Shaka has a matt Coleman problem.

He's a good kid , but he's not a high major starting PG.

The offense looks as good or better with Ramey running point, and he's really a 2.
 
Actively holding the kid back, which is what you’re implying, isn’t “playing it right.”
Kid is still learning the game. Put him out there too early and often, and you could ruin his confidence.

He's still a long way away from a two way player. On O he's a trash collector, still a lot of work to do. He'll get taken in the first round based on his athleticism.

He'll be splitting time with simms, baker, brown, hepa, and ham at the 4/5. Prolly 20-25 minutes a game, which is about right for his game right now.

Texas has three potential first rounders and a second rounder on the team. A couple other d leaguers.

Talent and experience wise, this is the best team Texas has ever had. Our coach and PG are holding us back from being on the national title talk.
 
I expect Rocket Watts to be a top 100 player in the country next year for sure. I think he will be our leading scorer. Kid was hitting his stride to end the year. A great jump shot and shot creating ability, while also playing great defense (most of the time)
 
Texas has a Shaka problem.

Shaka has a matt Coleman problem.

He's a good kid , but he's not a high major starting PG.

The offense looks as good or better with Ramey running point, and he's really a 2.

Coleman handles the point a lot.
But Texas is actually at their best when they have 3 guards out there who all play the point.

Shaka doesn't like using a primary ball handler
He much rather throw 2-3 combo guards out there.

Coleman has showed some ability off the ball.
Especially with his shot. His shot has really improved.
When they can space the floor and use all their guards as primary ball handlers they can put up points.

Matt Coleman on defense has really improved.
Ramey has always been a pitbull.
Andrew Jones at 100% is a force on the defensive end
Donovan Williams could be the best on ball defender next year. Already is a force because of his length.

Jase Febres is the only one who I think Texas loses with on the defensive end
Especially when his shot isn't clicking.
 
Deadline to withdraw from the draft is today. Still waiting to hear from these guys:

Jared Butler, Baylor
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
John Petty, Alabama
Yves Pons, Tennessee
Ja'Vonte Smart, LSU
Chris Smith, UCLA
Trendon Watford, LSU
Robert Woodard, Mississippi State
 
Deadline to withdraw from the draft is today. Still waiting to hear from these guys:

Jared Butler, Baylor
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
John Petty, Alabama
Yves Pons, Tennessee
Ja'Vonte Smart, LSU
Chris Smith, UCLA
Trendon Watford, LSU
Robert Woodard, Mississippi State
I'm shocked all of these guys decided to come back next year. Seems like in years past several guys made poor decisions. This is great for college ball.
 
I'm shocked all of these guys decided to come back next year. Seems like in years past several guys made poor decisions. This is great for college ball.

Everybody except Robert Woodard. But yes, it could be a really special year for college hoops. The Big Ten and the Big 12 are going to be bananas this year. You might have 12 of the top 25 teams from those two conferences.

I look at a school like UCLA, who finished very strong last year, coming in 2nd in the Pac-12. They return 8 of their top 9 players, yet even with Chris Smith returning, I'm not positive that they'll start the season in the top 25. Depth looks really solid across the board. I'm excited. Hope we get to see a full season.
 
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Rhode Island has received waivers for Makhi & Makhell Mitchell (Maryland), as well as Jalen Carey (Syracuse). I already have Richmond, Dayton, and Saint Louis in my top 50. I could see URI sneaking in there, too. Atlantic-10 has several talented teams.
 
I’m as Orange as they come, but if you had told me that John Fulkerson would be preseason top 50 player I’d have said you’re crazy.
 
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I’m as Orange as they come, but if you had told me that John Fulkerson would be preseason top 50 player I’d have said you’re crazy.

He was 2nd Team All-Conference last season. Super efficient. Tennessee is likely a top 25 team this year, so I guess it just depends on who the best player on UT will be. He doesn't have the highest ceiling on the team, but he probably has the highest floor.
 
He was 2nd Team All-Conference last season. Super efficient. Tennessee is likely a top 25 team this year, so I guess it just depends on who the best player on UT will be. He doesn't have the highest ceiling on the team, but he probably has the highest floor.
He is a max hustle guy. You may out talent him, but you won't out work him.

I think UT has a nice blend of experience and young talent this year. The Vols can go far if everything fits together right.
 
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I'm behind, but imo if Texas doesn't pull Beard from Lubbock, a top ~10 program will.
 
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Beard is already a Top 5 paid coach. Doesn't look like he has an issue recruiting.
Probably has more power and name at Tech than he could get elsewhere.
Plus wants to stay in Texas.

I highly doubt he leaves.
When he signed an extension there is an extra buyout for Big 12 schools and then an even higher buyout for Texas schools.
 
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