Now that the dust has settled in the race for NBA Draft declarations, we have a pretty good idea about what the college basketball landscape will look like in 2015-2016. Of those returning, several should have their programs in contention for a run at the Final Four.
Here is our breakdown of the top underclassmen, who were either freshmen or sophomores a year ago, returning across the nation.
Jakob Poeltl becomes highest rated player on DX Top-100 to return to school: http://t.co/b9IHjIj4qA "another year will help my development"
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 20, 2015
1.) Jakob Poeltl, Utah Utes: Almost no one knew who Poeltl was before last season, and frankly, they still didn’t know him before the NCAA Tournament. Then he had 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks against Duke in the Sweet 16, and suddenly the casual CBB fan started to talk about the talented seven-footer from Austria. Poeltl should anchor the Utes’ defense on the interior, while having the chance to expand his offensive repertoire underneath, all while being a contender for Pac-12 Player of the Year.
2.) Melo Trimble, Maryland Terrapins: Most mock drafts had Trimble being selected sometime in the second-round of this year’s NBA Draft, so it’s not entirely surprising that he chose to return for his sophomore season. Still, Trimble was one of the nation’s most dynamic players last season, and he’ll enter next season as one of the top contenders for the Naismith Player of the Year award. Trimble still has to improve his defense and his slight tendency to play a bit of hero ball, but another year under head coach Mark Turgeon should help him with both of those.
3.) Demetrius Jackson, Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Jackson spent much of the season flying under the radar, largely due to the talent and exploits of senior teammate Jerian Grant. However, next season will be the Jackson show, as Notre Dame will hand him the reigns and live off of his ability to get to the rim and knock down shots from deep. According to Draft Express, Jackson has a chance to go in the mid-lottery of the 2016 NBA Draft, so following the 6-foot-1 point guards development next season will be particularly interesting.
4.) Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin Badgers: Few players across the country meant more to their team’s success and got as little credit for it as Hayes did for Wisconsin. Hayes is a true two-way player, who can guard the perimeter (and paint) on one end, then move to the other and finish above the rim off of cuts, or step out and hit a jumper in your face. His three-point shot has continued to improve, which is vital for him given that he’s not entirely dynamic off the dribble. If his explosiveness off the bounce can improve, Hayes should help the Badgers avoid a let-down season in 2015-2016.
5.) Damian Jones, Vanderbilt Commodores: Here’s another name that not many outside of scouting circles talk about. Jones is a rim protector, and agile defender on the defensive end, and his offense continues to come along nicely with his back to the basket. Area for improvement include stepping up his rebounding efforts, though playing alongside A.J. Hammons certainly skews his stats, and working on his offensive approach outside of the paint.
6.) Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga Bulldogs: It was nice to see Sabonis return to college basketball for many reasons, most of of all though, because he’s a joy to watch. Sabonis plays with a high motor on both ends, chasing down rebounds and flaring out on ball screen defense as far out as needed. Offensively, his foot-work is, shall we say, silly. No 6-foot-10 freshman is supposed to move the way that he did last season. We’d like to see his aggression on offense improve a bit, as he should get more opportunities to do so as a sophomore. Defensively, his weakest attribute is the lack of rim protection that he provides. That must change next season.
7.) Justin Jackson, North Carolina Tar Heels: Few players in the country continued to improve throughout the season as much as Jackson did. Halfway through the regular season, Jackson had scored 13 points or more just four times. After that, he did it 10 times. What makes Jackson so difficult to handle is his efficiency from deep, while also being smooth with the ball off the bounce. His effectiveness on the defensive end needs to improve next season.
8.) Troy Williams, Indiana Hoosiers: I thought that Williams entering the NBA Draft this year would have been a ridiculous decision, and it’s nice to see that he agreed. Williams has so much raw potential as a defensive stopper in the NBA, but he’ll first need to realize that potential at the college level. Consistency, on both ends, is what will make or break Williams’ draft stock a year from now.
9.) Isaiah Taylor, Texas Longhorns: Explosive point guards who can get their shot anytime they want will always have a place in the NBA. Luckily for new head coach Shaka Smart, Texas will hold onto Taylor for another season. The key for him will be picking which of those shots are the right ones to take, and which ones he can hit at an efficient rate. Last season, he did not do that consistently.
10.) Marcus Lee, Kentucky Wildcats: It’s always hard to believe that someone who hardly plays in college has a market in the NBA. Much like USC with their quarterbacks under Pete Carroll, Kentucky under John Calipari seems to have enough depth to where that can, indeed, be the case. Lee is an athletic shot blocker and finisher on the offensive end, but that’s all we’ve really gotten the chance to see so far. Can he evolve his game in time for a junior season where he’ll have the chance to shine?
