Top 10 players: Mid-Majors

1. Doug McDermott  PF  Creighton- 22.9pts. 8.2reb. McDermott dominated the Missouri Valley Conference last year, but will need to add some quickness if he’s going to be successful at the next level. His tremendous feel for the game is his best attribute and he’s just starting to realize his potential.
2. Mike Moser  PF  UNLV- 14.0pts. 10.5reb. Moser is a big, physical presence on both ends of the floor. He uses his massive shoulders to drive to the basket and either score in the paint or draw a fowl. UNLV has a lot of talent and it all starts with Moser.
3. Isaiah Canaan  PG  Murray State- 19.0pts. 5.3ast. Cannon became a household name last year when he lead Murray State to the tournament. He’s explosive, as well as a terrific shooter. His height limits his upside at the next level, but he could average over 25 points this year.
4. Jamaal Franklin  SG  San Diego State- 17.4pts. 7.9reb. Franklin can stretch a defense with his jump shot, and hurt them on the fast-break. He and Chase Tapely combine for one of the best backcourts in college basketball.
5. C.J. McCollum  PG  Lehigh- 21.9pts. 4.1ast. McCollum could easily be number one on this list, but there’s an abundance of talent at the mid-major level this year. He helped turn Lehigh into a force to be reckoned with, exemplified by an upset victory over Duke in the first round of the tournament.
6. Tony Mitchell  PF  North Texas- 14.7pts. 10.3reb. Mitchell’s a former top 10 recruit and likely a top 10 draft pick if he continues to improve this season. He’s extremely athletic, yet is still willing to bang in the post and score the tough baskets.
7. Elias Harris  PF  Gonzaga- 13.1pts. 8.3reb. He’s still in school? It seems as though Harris has played two careers at Gonzaga, but showed a lot of improvement last year. He stepped up as a leader and started taking better shots, which he will need to improve upon even more with Robert Sacre gone.
8. Chase Tapely  PG  San Diego State- 15.8pts. 4.3reb. Tapely is an under the radar player that could lead SDSU very far in the tournament this year. He’s quick, which allows him to get to the basket in a hurry, and can also knock down a jumper. He will need to improve his passing this year after averaging less than four assists a year ago.
9. Matthew Dellavedova  PG  St. Mary’s- 15.4pts. 6.4ast. Dellavedova is a feisty guard that doesn’t back down against bigger, more athletic opponents. His energy and play making abilities could get St. Mary’s very far this year.
10. Ray McCallum  PG  Detroit- 15.4pts. 4.0ast. McCallum’s a former McDonald’s All-American has hasn’t done anything to disappoint at the college level. Now a junior, it is time for him to take an even bigger step forward and lead Detroit back to the tournament.

Top Mid-Major freshman

1. 1.     Anthony Bennett  PF  UNLV- Bennett was ranked seventh in this year’s recruiting class and was a major coup for UNLV. He will team with Moser down low to give the Rebels a couple of powerful and talented players in their frontcourt.

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