The year is rapidly coming to an end, and it’s a good time to look back and review 2022 college basketball. Undoubtedly, there have been a number of top performers in the 2021/2022 college basketball season. Thus, we have made a list of the top NCAAB talents for the year. Let’s dive right in:
1. Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Tshiebwe has certainly been one of the most exciting players in NCAA Basketball in recent times, and this is reflected in the honors he has been accorded. He emerged as the unanimous player of the year last season. What’s more astonishing is that he is the first Kentucky and SEC men’s basketball player to clinch the top six individual awards.
Furthermore, Tshiebwe is the first player in more than 40 years to average more than 15.0 rebounds per game. Similarly, he was able to average 17.4 points, 1.6 blocks, and 60.6% shooting throughout the season. Undoubtedly, fans would be looking to Tshiebwe as Kentucky makes another national title challenge this season. Similarly, his presence would considerably impact how favorable Kentucky’s NCAAB odds are.
2. Drew Trimme, Gonzaga
Trimme has been a consistent fixture on any list of top college basketball players for two years now. It is easy to understand why. The forward led Gonzaga to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament for the second season in a row. He managed an average of 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds last season, and this was enough to earn him the AP All-American second-team and first-team All-WCC accolades.
Trimme is certainly well-poised to exceed over 2,000 points in his career, especially since he has already racked up 1,521 points and is averaging 599 points per season.
3. Armando Bacot, North Carolina
UNC will be hoping to challenge for a seventh national championship, and undoubtedly, Bacot will be a major character in the team’s campaign. Last season, Bacot was instrumental in North Carolina’s journey to the 2022 national championship game, leading the team through unlikely wins and averaging a double-double.
Bacot came alive in the postseason, racking up eight double-doubles and becoming the first men’s basketball player to achieve six double-doubles in a single NCAA tournament. With North Carolina’s competent roster and the proven abilities of a dominant big like Bacot, the team stands a good chance of making it to the national championship game again.
4. Marcus Sasser, Houston
There is a good chance Sasser might have been much higher on this list had it not been for a season-ending toe injury. Nevertheless, the 12 games Sasser played last season were enough to establish his place as one of the best players in the tournament, having averaged a whopping 17.7 points per game. In the prior season, Sasser achieved the feat of being in the second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection.
This season, Sasser is poised to play a much more dominant role in Houston’s national championship campaign.
5. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana
Last season was certainly a great one for Trayce Jackson-Davis. The Indiana forward managed an average of 18.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last season. In addition, Jackson-Davis played a considerable role in the Hoosiers making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six years.
Notably, Jackson-Davis made the second-team All-Big Ten selection, the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, and the All-Big Ten tournament team all as a junior.
6. Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
Despite Dickinson’s clearly successful college career, he is probably still underrated. Over the past two seasons, Dickinson has averaged 16.5 points as well as 8.0 rebounds. This season might mark a turning point for Dickinson as he set to play a much more dominant role in Michigan’s national championship campaign.
Also, the fact that Dickinson is being coached by Juwan Howard, who himself was an excellent player at Michigan, certainly helps his chances.
Conclusion
With some talents spread out across teams in the NCAAB, the 2022/2023 seasons are on track to be very exciting. Many players will be looking to prove their worth, while others will work to replicate or surpass their last season’s performance.
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