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15 players who will become stars during the 21-22 season

It’s never too early to start looking ahead!

Check below for our list of 15 players who will become stars during the 21-22 college basketball season.

In no particular order:

Andre Curbelo, Illinois: Brad Underwood has regularly referred to Curbelo as an “alpha”. That label will be more pronounced this season. The New York native averaged 9.1 points, four rebounds, and 4.2 assists last season as a freshman and those numbers are certain to spike now that he’s a sophomore. With Ayo Dosunmu now in the NBA, Curbelo is set to have the ball in his hands from Illinois’ first practice to the final possession of its final game.

Jaden Ivey, Purdue: Ivey is ready to erupt like a volcano. The 6-4 guard averaged 20.7 points in three postseason games last spring for the Boilers and also showcased his ability to score on multiple levels for USA Basketball this summer at the U19 World Cup in Latvia. Ivey’s presence is one of many reasons why Purdue is expected to be a Final Four caliber team in 2022. 

Jaime Jaquez, UCLA: Jaquez’s days as a “Glue Guy” are officially limited. After averaging 15 points, 6.3 rebounds, three assists, and 1.5 steals in six NCAA Tournament games for UCLA last spring, this 6-7 forward is ready to expand his game as a junior. Highly placed spies in Westwood have regularly stated that they fully expect Jaquez to be the Bruins’ best all-around player during the 21-22 season.

Mark Williams, Duke: Gonzaga’s front court combo of Chet Holmgren and Drew Timme is getting all sorts of preseason attention, but it would be foolish to forget about Duke’s tandem of Paolo Banchero and Williams. After averaging 16.7 points and 7.8 rebounds in the Blue Devils’ final six games of last season as a freshman, the 6-11 Williams should come into the upcoming year ready to be an All-ACC player as a sophomore.

Adama Sanogo, UConn: Dan Hurley may have college basketball’s deepest front court this season and Sanogo will be the focal point. The 6-9 big man can carve out space in the paint whenever he desires and is one of the more physically imposing players in the sport. Sanogo averaged 9.8 points and 6.3 rebounds last season as a freshman in games where he logged 20 minutes or more. Expect him to flirt with tallying a double-double each and every time he takes the floor in 21-22.

Posh Alexander, St. John’s: The Big East’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman, Alexander is destined to reach another level as a sophomore. This 6-foot point guard plays more like a defensive end than a true floor general, but his game is not all about defense. St. John’s was 11-2 last season in games where Alexander scored in double figures and 7-0 in games where he made multiple three-point shots. If this kid becomes a consistent scorer, he’ll instantly become one of the best guards in college basketball.

Grant Sherfield, Nevada: Hardcore college basketball junkies know all about Sherfield’s first season at Nevada, but people from the periphery may not. That should change in short order. The Wichita State transfer almost single handedly made the Wolf Pack nationally relevant in Steve Alford’s second season in Reno, averaging 18.6 points, 6.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. If Nevada reaches the NCAA Tournament in 2022, there won’t be a single coaching staff in America that’s excited about facing a guard like Sherfield in the Round of 64 or beyond.

Tyler Burton, Richmond: The Spiders’ best long-term prospect showed his potential last year when he became a full-time starter for Richmond following a season-ending injury to Nick Sherod. Now a junior, the 6-7 Burton is ready to emerge nationally. As he stands on the heels of a season where he averaged 12 points and 7.6 rebounds, this versatile forward has talent to be the best player in the Atlantic 10 as an upperclassmen — he’s that good.

Adam Flagler, Baylor: Nobody remembers that Flagler scored 13 points in the national title game against Gonzaga and averaged 11.7 points in the NCAA Tournament because he played alongside Davion Mitchell, Jared Butler, and MaCio Teague. With that troika no longer a part of the Bears’ program, Flagler’s time is now. Buy stock now.

Kenneth Lofton Jr., Louisiana Tech: Jamie Dixon regularly featured the 6-7 Lofton down the stretch for USA Basketball in the finals of the FIBA U19 World Cup in Latvia and that should tell you all you need to know about Lofton’s potential. Broad shouldered and deceptively skilled, the 6-7, 275 pound forward uses angles well around the rim and knows how to score. Lofton is set to be one of the top non power conference players in college basketball in 21-22. 

Iverson Molinar, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs made major headlines during the offseason for the way they upgraded their roster via the transfer portal, but their returning nucleus also has upside. That’s mostly because of Molinar. The 6-3 guard was quietly one of the best perimeter players in the SEC last season and averaged 17.8 points in six postseason games last spring. If Mississippi State becomes a top tier team in the SEC this season, Molinar will be viewed as a top tier guard nationally.

Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona: Mathurin had a major impact (10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) as a freshman and an even bigger impact (16 points, 4.1 rebounds) for Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup this summer in Latvia. What does he have planned for his sophomore season in Tucson? It says here that he’ll in position to be an All-Pac-12 first-team caliber wing.

Avery Anderson, Oklahoma State: Cade Cunningham is no longer a part of the Cowboys’ program, but Mike Boynton looks like he has another star in this 6-3 junior. Anderson has tremendous defensive prowess and also has displayed his ability to take over a game with his scoring ability; he averaged 15.7 points last spring during the Big 12 Tournament and 18.5 points during the NCAA Tournament. Expect Oklahoma State to put the ball in this guy’s hands in plenty of critical moments during the upcoming season.

Javonte Perkins, Saint Louis: The Billikens weren’t the same team last season following a lengthy mid-season pause due to COVID. That limited the national attention surrounding the 6-5 Perkins, who averaged 26 points in a pair of early season wins over LSU and NC State. Expect his role to only be magnified with the Billikens following the departures of both Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French. 

Jared Rhoden, Seton Hall: Kevin Willard has been bullish on the 6-6 Rhoden for years, especially after he averaged 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds last season in the shadows of Sandro Mamukelashvili. He’s not in the shadows anymore. Rhoden’s progression is a throwback to how college basketball used to be, when a player gradually improved at the same school over the course of a four-year career. Expect him to be a major focal point in South Orange as a senior

Leftovers