Mid-Major Player Rankings

Today is the last set of player rankings we will unveil for college basketball this season. Since we have covered the six power conferences, today is about everyone else. That means this list contains players from the A-10 and Mountain West (who may be as good or better than some power conferences), the C-USA and WCC, and every other mid-major you can think of.

But just because these fellas attend smaller schools, that doesn’t mean they play any worse. In fact, the top players here are just as good as the top players anywhere else, and the rest of the top 30 is better and deeper than in any one conference we already previewed. There is plenty of NBA talent below, and many of the guys will be household names by the year’s end. Watch out for them in March!

Non-Power-Conference Player Rankings

1. Doug McDermott: Creighton – 22.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 assist

Doug is one of the best big men in college basketball. He uses his body better than the rest and knows the game well. But he can also step out and hit the outside jumper when given space.

2. C.J. McCollum: Lehigh – 21.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.6 steals

Remember when Duke lost in the NCAA Tourney last year? It was because of this guy who led his team valiantly. He can score at will, but needs to improve in setting his teammates up before getting drafted next summer.

3. Mike Moser: UNLV – 14 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 1 block

UNLV is going to be great this year, and Moser is one big reason why. He plays terrific defense, rebounds with the best, and can score in the post.

4. Isaiah Canaan: Murray State – 19 points, 3.6 rebounds and assists, 1.4 steals

Most people learned his name last year. Canaan is a scorer and a shooter. His Racers were the last undefeated team last year. He will need to put up even bigger numbers in order for them to repeat that feat.

5. Nate Wolters: South Dakota State – 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.7 steals

Wolters does a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. He is one of the leading scorers in the country, but he averages nearly six assists and over five rebounds too for a guard. He nearly led his Jack Rabbits to an upset win over Baylor in last year’s tourney.

6. Jamaal Franklin: San Diego State – 17.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1 steal

Like Moser above, he leads a dangerous mid-major and he is a formidable force in the middle. Franklin will be a future pro one day no question.

7. Tony Mitchell: North Texas – 14.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 3 blocks

Who was the only freshman in the nation to average a double-double last year? No it wasn’t Anthony Davis. It was Mitchell. Three blocks too is pretty awesome.

8. Colt Ryan: Evansville – 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals

Ryan is a terrific shooter that could easily be contributing at a top program.

9. Elias Harris: Gonzaga – 13.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists

Many in the basketball world already know about Harris. His Zags will be good once again and Harris is the next star. He scores and rebounds well, but his leadership is just as important.

10. D.J. Cooper: Ohio – 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.3 steals

Cooper became a star in the NCAA Tourney last year when he led his team to the Sweet 16. With him returning nobody will want to play them this year.

11. Ray McCallum: Detroit – 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.6 steals

McCallum would be a commonly known name if he were at a bigger school. He possesses great athleticism for a point guard and is incredibly smart.

12. Matthew Dellavedova: St. Mary’s – 15.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists

Dellavedova should likely be even higher than this. He is a great college player but won’t cut it at the next level like most of the guards above have a chance to.

13. Adonis Thomas: Memphis – 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds

Expectations were sky high last year for Thomas. This season, he may actually live up to them. He’s my choice to be the player of the year in the C-USA.

14. Brandon Davies: BYU – 15.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and blocks

Davies is an athletic big man that will keep BYU successful yet again this season.

15. Julian Boyd: LIU Brooklyn – 17.4 points, 9.3 rebounds

Terrific scorer and rebounder.

16. Mike Muscala: Bucknell – 17 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 blocks

Bucknell is dangerous once again. Muscala will be all over the court. He averages nearly two blocks a game.

17. O.D. Anosike: Siena – 15 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.1 assist and block

12.5 rebounds last year and he could get even more this season.

18. Rotnei Clarke: Butler – 15.2 points, 3 rebounds, 1.6 assists at Arkansas

Shooter that averaged over 15 points at Arkansas. You can expect more than that at Butler.

19. Ryan Broekhoff: Valparaiso – 14.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals

Great player that came in from overseas.

20. Alec Brown: Green Bay – 13.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3 blocks

Tall, long, and intimidating inside. Three blocks a game is no fluke.

21. Arsalan Kazemi: Rice – 12.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and steals, 1 block

Another double-double machine that is as reliable as they come.

22. Vander Joaquim: Hawaii – 14.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.8 blocks

Vander is a very efficient player that many big programs would love to have.

23. Torrey Craig: USC Upstate – 16.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 blocks and
steals

Lights up stat sheets in every single area.

24. Stan Okoye: VMI – 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.5 steals

Very tough nosed kid. That’s what you get at a military school.

25. Robert Covington: Tennessee State – 17.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, block, and steal

Don’t overlook this guy cause of the school he plays for.

T26. Devon Saddler: Delaware – 18.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists

T26. Trevis Simpson: UNC Greensboro – 18.3 points, 4.2 rebounds

Both these guys can score the rock. Don’t do much else though.

27. Ian Hummer: Princeton – 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.3 blocks and steals

Very smart player, but you knew that based on where he plays.

T28. Chaz Williams: Massachusetts – 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.2 steals

T28. Kerron Johnson: Belmont – 13.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals

T28. Anthony Ireland: Loyola Marymount – 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.7 steals

All three are floor generals that set up their teammates as well as themselves.

29. Khalif Wyatt: Temple – 17.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and assists, 2.2 steals

Wyatt is a legit scorer that could do it in any conference in the country.

T30. Jackie Carmichael: Illinois State – 13.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.4 blocks

T30. Keith Clanton: UCF – 14.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and blocks, 1 steal

T30. Jud Dillard: Tennessee Tech – 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1 steal

T30. Chris Braswell: Charlotte – 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, blocks, and steals

All are solid and I couldn’t leave any one player out…

By: Andrew Miller