With the official begin of apply subsequent month, UMHoops and Contained in the Corridor have partnered to convey you our annual preseason breakdown of the highest gamers within the Large Ten. This 12 months, the record has been expanded after the addition of 4 applications to the convention.
The sequence is damaged into seven elements, with one submit every weekday by Friday, August 30. Our fourth installment gamers 20-16 for the 2024-25 season is obtainable beneath:
Beforehand: 40-31, 30-26, 25-21
20. Sebastian Mack, UCLA (6-foot-3, guard, sophomore)
2023-24 stats (33 video games): 12.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.3 spg, 38.7% FG, 28.3% 3PFG in 26.8 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: A top-60 recruit within the 2023 class, Mack soaked up a ton of expertise as a freshman in Westwood for a disappointing UCLA workforce.
The Pac-12 All-freshman workforce honoree is wired to attain. He reached double figures 19 occasions final season and had 20 or extra factors on 5 events. Mack does a wonderful job utilizing his physique to create contact and get to the road. He ranked eighth within the Pac-12 final season in free throw charge and transformed at a 72.7 clip from the road. He additionally has the athleticism and physicality to develop right into a lockdown defender beneath Mick Cronin, probably the greatest defensive coaches within the nation.
Why he may underperform this rating: UCLA has a plethora of guards on its roster, together with Dylan Andrews, Skyy Clark and Trent Perry. The expectation is Mack will stay a starter, however his effectivity should enhance. He shot simply 28 p.c on 3s final season and 42.9 p.c on twos. If these numbers don’t enhance, Clark, a switch from Louisville, or Perry, a highly-touted freshman, may push him for minutes.
19. Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana (6-foot-8, ahead, sophomore)
2023-24 stats (33 video games): 12.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, 39.5% FG, 32.7% 3PFG in 27.0 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: In case you are searching for a sophomore-year breakout star within the Large Ten, Mgbako is among the most blatant decisions. His per-game averages ticked up steadily all through his rookie season in Bloomington. He averaged 7.2 factors per recreation in November, 12 factors in December and January, 13.9 factors in February, and 15.8 factors per recreation in March.
Mgbako shall be requested to bridge the hole between IU’s gifted frontcourt and backcourt along with his dimension and shotmaking on the wing. He shot 38 p.c from 3-point vary in Large Ten video games, up from 24 p.c in non-conference play.
Why he may underperform this rating: There are loads of mouths to feed in Indiana’s rotation, and Mgbako may not be optimized positionally. The Hoosiers introduced in a pair of ball-handling guards, Malik Reneau returns and Oumar Ballo will demand touches within the paint. Mgbako appears like the proper ground spacing 4, however he’s more likely to spend most of his time as an outsized three subsequent to a pair of bigs.
18. Meechie Johnson, Ohio State (6-foot-2, guard, fifth-year senior)
2023-24 stats (33 video games at South Carolina): 14.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 39.9% FG, 32.1% 3PFG in 29.1 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: An All-SEC second-team choice final season, Johnson returns to Columbus to make the most of his further 12 months of eligibility granted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He’ll slot in proper subsequent to Bruce Thornton within the Ohio State backcourt and can instantly grow to be a go-to scoring choice for the Buckeyes.
However there’s extra to Johnson’s recreation than scoring, as he’s additionally a succesful distributor who averaged practically three assists final season for the Gamecocks. Johnson has improved each season of his profession, and there’s no motive to imagine that one other season of enchancment isn’t in retailer this winter.
Why he may underperform this rating: For such a high-volume 3-point shooter, Johnson has been poor from a share standpoint all through his profession. Over the past two seasons at South Carolina, he shot 130-for-401 (32.4 p.c) from distance. If the poor taking pictures numbers proceed and Thornton continues his rise as one of many Large Ten’s high guards, Johnson may very well be extra of a complementary piece for the Buckeyes.
17. Roddy Gayle Jr., Michigan (6-foot-5, guard, junior)
2023-24 stats (36 video games at Ohio State): 13.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 44.9% FG, 28.4% 3PFG in 30.9 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: Gayle initiatives to be Michigan’s go-to perimeter scoring choice after making the uncommon switch north from Ohio State. He’s a confirmed Large Ten guard who averaged 13.5 factors, 4.6 rebounds, and three.1 assists per recreation as a sophomore amidst a chaotic season in Columbus.
Gayle is a well-rounded perimeter menace who can play with or with out the ball. He shot 51 p.c on twos and excelled at attending to the free throw-line, the place he made 83 p.c of his freebies. He’s additionally an underrated passer, which ought to slot in properly in Dusty Might’s offensive system.
Why he may underperform this rating: Gayle’s swing talent is three-point taking pictures. He shot simply 28 p.c from outdoors as a sophomore, down from 43 p.c on restricted makes an attempt as a freshman. He battled a wrist damage throughout his sophomore 12 months, however his confidence and skill to take and make threes will decide his ceiling. He has All-Large Ten upside if he can rediscover that freshman-year type.
16. Owen Freeman, Iowa (6-foot-10, ahead, sophomore)
2023-24 stats (34 video games): 10.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 1.2 apg, 61.4% FG in 22.8 minutes
Why he may outperform this rating: Foul points and conditioning are all that stored Freeman from being much more productive as a freshman in Iowa Metropolis. His shocking rookie marketing campaign ended with him being named the Large Ten Freshman of the 12 months by the media and co-Large Ten Freshman of the 12 months by the league’s coaches.
Freeman was a wonderful finisher – 65.2 p.c on 2s in Large Ten play – and in addition ranked within the high ten within the convention in offensive and defensive rebounding share and block share. With an offseason to work on his recreation and his conditioning, he ought to blossom into one of many premier frontcourt gamers within the league.
Why he may underperform this rating: There shall be much more consideration on Freeman this season within the Iowa frontcourt after the commencement of Ben Krikke and he’ll be the clear focus of opposing bigs all through the league. The foul points are a professional concern – 4.8 per 40 minutes per KenPom – and if he can’t enhance there, it’s unlikely he’ll play sufficient minutes to succeed in his full potential.
Filed to: 2024-25 Large Ten preview, Mackenzie Mgbako
