NCAA Basketball Rookie Power Rankings

Now that the season is almost done, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of which players were just pure hype and who is shaping up to be the real deal and might actually shake things up in the big league. While some have been locks all along, others have managed to surprise us and creep up the rankings. Let’s take a look at some of the top NCAA prospects right now and who we think might be ready for the big stage.

Ethan Happ, Wisconsin

Ethan Happ has exceeded everybody’s expectations and is putting the Badgers back on the map. He’s one of the main reasons why they are where they’re at right now and might possibly be able to snatch a big ten title. Happ played incredibly well lately and is now averaging 19.2 points per game and 10.7 rebounds. Not only that, but he’s averaging nearly five assists per game. If he can keep up the pace, he might be a contender for college player of the year.

Dedrick Lawson, Kansas

People were a bit skeptical when Bill Self predicted that Dedrick Lawson would be in contention for Big Twelve POY this year, and those who could see it all along should probably play slingo right now because they might be on a winning streak. Lawson is another player that has caught the public’s attention and popped on scouts’ radar lately with his performances. One of the best aspects of Lawson’s game is his consistency, which is one of the reasons Kansas were able to enter the Big 12 with one loss only.

Zion Williamson, Duke

This list wouldn’t be complete without talking about the 6’7, 285-pound phenom from Duke. Williamson has been able to prove that he was more than a high school sensation and has been taking the league by storm so far, with help from RJ Barrett who also had an impressive year. While Duke has slipped from the number one ranking, we can’t really blame Zion for it since he has continued to be consistent for the team so far. The rookie is averaging 19.4 points per game, and 9.4 rebounds, which makes him one of the most complete and entertaining players in college basketball right now.

Carsen Edwards, Purdue

Carsen Edwards is kind of a dark horse for this draft, and he really shouldn’t be when having a look at his stats. He’s averaging 25.5 points per game and is almost shooting for 40% from the three line. And he’s been on a solid progression since he entered the league. The only issue is that he hasn’t managed to get many elite wins this season. However, this could all change with the Big Ten and all eyes will be on Edwards to push Purdue through a title run. This could up his profile and increase his chance of getting drafted higher than projected next year.

Conclusion

Expect all of these players to make big noise next year and attract more and more attention from teams looking to make a great addition to their rosters.