There are rules for my list, of course. Here are the boundaries when considering who qualifies breakout player of the year status:

 

  • Cannot have held a single-season average of 10.0 points or more per game in their career
  • Cannot have held a single-season average of 6.0 rebounds or more per game in their career
  • Cannot have had a season in which they played more than 30.0 minutes per game
  • Cannot be a freshman or first-year player
  • Cannot be a transfer in his first year of eligibility

 

1). OG Anunoby, Indiana

Vitals: 6-8 | Small Forward | Sophomore

The most electric player that the Hoosiers have had since Victor Oladipo. I look for his numbers to blow up this year. OG is a tremendous athlete with unlimited potential.

 

2). Mikal Bridges, Villanova

Vitals: 6-7 | Small Forward | Sophomore

A likely future first-round pick, Bridges has NBA length, tremendous balance to his game and is still just uncovering the surface of his potential. He’s never going to have a game where he goes off for 30 points or anything, but he’s ready to step in and be a guy that makes two or three huge plays every single game. Villanova should have a ton of talent this year and probably a couple other players from Nova could have made this list, but to me, Bridges is the best.

 

3). Jevon Carter, West Virginia

 

5). Jessie Govan, Georgetown

Vitals: 6-10 | Center | Sophomore

He’s long, can block shots and will almost certainly vault his field goal percentage from 48 (last season’s mark) to the mid-50s. Plus, he’ll be one of the best rebounders in the Big East. It’s nice to see Georgetown once again have a reliable man in the middle. He has the talent to be a first-round draft choice.

 

6). Isaiah Hicks, North Carolina

Vitals: 6-9 | Combo Forward | Senior

Hicks, now a senior, should bring in at least 12 points and eight boards per game — at least — by nature of needing to be on the floor for upward of 28 minutes per game. He will need to if the Heels are going to get anywhere near the success they had last year.

 

7). D.J. Hogg, Texas A&M

Vitals: 6-9 | Small Forward | Sophomore

Big body and has exceptional range, and can score from anywhere. If Hogg develops the ability to score at all three levels throughout the year, he’ll be one of the five biggest players of impact on his team vs. anyone else on this list.

 

8). J.P. Macura, Xavier

Vitals: 6-5 | Shooting Guard | Junior

Xavier’s going to be a top-10 team again, and Macura should be scoring in the double digits, rebounding more than four boards per game and causing a nuisance for other teams. He’s feisty, and X will need him in order to be a Final Four contender.

 

9). Donovan Mitchell, Louisville

Vitals: 6-3 | Shooting Guard | Sophomore

By January everyone will know Mitchell’s name. Strong explosive player and extremely aggressive on defense.

 

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