As college basketball’s regular season draws to a close, conferences across the country will determine who the front-runners for player of the year are. Likewise, the group of players who can realistically expect to be called All-Americans has been reduced to a handful who would be instantly recognized by most fans of the sport.
As the postseason approaches, however, there’s a new opportunity for new stars to emerge from the shadows and make their mark on the national stage. March makes players legends in college basketball, and this season should be no different as we approach Selection Sunday, March 12th.
Take last season’s Brady Manek for example. Manek, an Oklahoma transfer, went from a key role player for North Carolina to an unlikely Final Four run while averaging 18.2 points on 44.1% 3-point shooting in March and April. In 2021, the Oral Roberts duo of Max Abmas and Kevin Obanor were great all season but took their games to the national stage in stunning fashion as the Golden Eagles enjoyed a Sweet 16 run as the No. 15 seed.
Who Are The Top Contenders In College Basketball To Enjoy Breakout Status In The 2022-23 Season? Our writers have made their picks for this week’s Dribble handover.
Jalen Hood-Schifino, G, Indiana
Hood-Schifino will not be an All-American. He may not even be the First Team All-Big Ten. But the 6-foot-6 guard has undeniable potential to be an NCAA tournament breakout star because he plays for a team that’s capable of progressing in the bracket and has shown the ability to play games to take over.
Did you see him in Purdue last weekend? Hood-Schifino made 24 shots, made 14 of them, and finished with 35 points and seven rebounds in a 79-71 win at Mackey Arena. That makes him the only Division I freshman in the past 25 years to score at least 35 points on the road against a team ranked in the top five in the Associated Press’s Top 25 poll, according to OptaStats. It was the second time this season that Hood-Schifino went for at least 30 against a likely NCAA tournament competitor. He’s clearly capable of making it big against quality competition, and if he does it on the right stage against the right opponent in the NCAA tournament, it will further cement his legacy as one of the best rookies in Indiana’s recent history. – Gary Parish
Jahmir Young, G, Maryland
Maryland fans won’t consider Young a breakout candidate, but he certainly nailed it on the national stage in March. The returned home transfer of Charlotte (Young hails from Upper Marlboro, Maryland) and was the energetic center of a Terrapins team that thrived immediately under first-year coach Kevin Willard. Young is my pick, not only for his marksmanship – he averages 16.2ppg – but also for his talent for the big moment. For the past three months, Maryland fans have watched this spark plug combo warden almost single-handedly win games (or almost win them) with his supernatural ability to find the right spot in the right space for a shot. Be it in the Big Ten tournament, the NCAA tournament, or both, I expect Young to have some big games — and maybe even deliver a buzzer-beater. – Matt Norlander
Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas
Calling Nick Smith Jr. a potential breakout candidate is a bit like suggesting the sky is blue — Smith Jr. was No. 1 in the class of 2022 and is a ban from the lottery — but he may still be a relative unknown to a large segment of college basketball fans. A knee injury sidelined most of his season, keeping him off the pitch and largely out of the public eye as the season progressed. However, he has returned with a vengeance for an Arkansas team that, if Smith is healthy, will likely be dramatically understaffed in March.
Coach Eric Musselman thrives when he runs his actions through guards, and that was evident during Smith Jr.’s late-season surge with 50 combined points against Georgia and Alabama in recent weeks. The Razorbacks have plenty of depth of coverage and NBA talent, but Smith Jr. is the clear headliner who can turn their fortunes for the better. When Arkansas makes a run, it’s because Smith Jr. is pushing it there. – Kyle Boone
Jarkel Joiner, G, NC State
ACC fans won’t consider Joiner a breakout player given he’s been getting buckets all season, but the country at large is probably unaware of how prolific a goalscorer the 6-foot-1 guard has been. Having started his career at Cal State Bakersfield and playing for Ole Miss for the past two seasons, Joiner is enjoying his best season in college basketball to date. The sixth-grader is averaging 17 points, 3.6 assists and just 1.6 turnovers for an NC State roster predicted by CBS Sports Bracketology expert Jerry Palm as the No. 9 in the NCAA tournament.
When the Wolf Pack plays as number 1 in the second round of The Great Dance, people will quickly learn how dangerous Joiner can be. He has surpassed 20 points 10 times this season, seven against league rivals. He’s also been playing some of his best basketball games lately, which bodes well for NC State heading into the postseason. There are a handful of players on this Wolfpack team who can earn points, including Terquavion Smith, DJ Burns and Casey Morsell. Of the group, Joiner is probably the least recognizable to a causal college basketball fan. There is a good chance that will change in the coming weeks. -David Cobb