There are certain breakout players that have already grabbed the spotlight for the upcoming year, but others still remain. Check out our list below for 15 under-the-radar breakout players heading into the 2015-16 college basketball season. In no particular order...
For the Buffaloes to return to relevancy in the Pac-12, they need Collier to take a major step forward. A former Top-100 recruit out of high school, Collier stayed close to home because he aspired to be the face of the Buffaloes’ program. He’ll likely get that opportunity this season.
Mark Fox returns three players who played a combined 2,882 on the perimeter last season, but lost two starters up front in Marcus Thornton and Nemanja Djurisic. That’s where Maten comes in. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound big man averaged a modest 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season as a freshman and could double those numbers this year as a sophomore.
Talented lefty guard may have the highest ceiling out of any player in the Yellow Jackets’ program. A volume scorer, Jackson could emerge as a valuable reserve for Brian Gregory as Georgia Tech attempts to become a top half ACC team in 2015-16.
Johnny Dawkins lost two titans on the perimeter in Chasson Randle and Anthony <span data-shortcode=" data-canon="Anthony Brown" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_PLAYER" id="shortcode0">, but Allen seems more than ready to step up and produce. The 6-3 guard averaged 6.4 points per game last season as a sophomore and should be in double-figures as a junior. Allen was sidelined during the preseason due to a stress fracture, but should log major minutes when he returns to the Cardinal lineup.
James Demery, Saint Joseph’s
The Hawks only won 13 games last season because they didn’t have enough of a supporting cast around DeAndre Bembry. That’s directly related to Demery. The 6-6 wing came to Philadelphia with high expectations, but really struggled last season during his first year of college basketball. He’ll need to improve on the 6.7 points per game he averaged last year and has the talent to increase that number by 4-to-6 points.
Everyone around the Lobos’ program raves about Logwood’s work ethic and like most he should benefit from having better players around him. With the additions of transfers Elijah Brown (Butler) and Tim Williams (Samford) as well as the return of Cullen Neal, look for Logwood to get higher percentage shots and be a more effective player in 2015-16.
Lanky wing could be the X-Factor as to whether or not the Hawkeyes reach the NCAA Tournament for the third straight time under Fran McCaffery. Uhl averaged only 2.1 points last season, but played only 10.0 minutes per game. With Aaron White no longer available, look for the 6-9 Uhl to potentially be Iowa's second best forward after Jarrod Uthoff.
Elijah Stewart, USC
Combo guard averaged 16.8 points per game over the Trojans’ final four games of last season and performed exceptionally well during USC’s foreign tour in Italy this summer. Stewart is ready to become one of the better scorers in the Pac-12.
This 6-9 big man has never shot less than 50.0 percent from the field during his college career, but only took 7.3 shots a game last season. That will change under Ben Howland. Look for Ware to have an All-SEC caliber year as a senior with Howland force feeding him the ball on the block as often as he possibly can.
Paris Lee, Illinois State
Dan Muller nearly took his alma mater to the NCAA Tournament last March and needs a point guard to step in for the departed Daishon Knight. That’s Lee. After being a capable backup for the first two years of his career, Lee is ready for a bigger piece of the pie and should thrive playing off one of the best mid-major guards in America in Devaughn Akoon-Purcell.
Ask Iowa State fans if they think Lee is a handful. The 6-9 power forward tallied a double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) when the Blazers upset the Cyclones in the Round of 64 last March and he’s well on his way to being of the best players in Conference USA.
Bo Ryan always has players come from the shadows to be producers and Brown could be next in line. The junior big man appeared in 34 games last season when the Badgers advanced to the national title game and is Wisconsin’s second most experienced front court player after Nigel Hayes.
Allerik Freeman, Baylor
6-3 guard has a chance to be the best sixth man in the Big 12. A prolific scorer when he gets into a rhythm, Freeman reached double figures three times last season in conference play. If he learns how to be consistent, watch out.
To put it simply -- this guy is a problem. Last season as a freshman Clark averaged 7.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game on a team that went to the Round of 32 and lost to Kentucky. As a sophomore he should average close to a double-double and start to be mentioned as one of the better rebounders in the sport.
