Top 25 players in college hoops: 10-6
During the opening week of the 2019-20 season, theScore's John Chick and Chicco Nacion count down the top 25 players in college hoops. We'll reveal five every day leading up to the first weekend of play.
25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1
10. Devon Dotson, Kansas
With the departures of Dedric Lawson, Lagerald Vick, and Quentin Grimes, the Jayhawks' offense will open up more for Dotson, one of the speediest point guards in college basketball. As a freshman, he averaged 12.3 points on 48.2% shooting while being limited somewhat from slashing and attacking.
The presumption that he'll have more space to roam and improvise this year is part of the reason he made the preseason All-Big 12 team. With Final Four aspirations high in Lawrence, Dotson's play could decide if Kansas gets there or not.
9. Udoka Azubuike, Kansas
Dotson's teammate, Azubuike, also made the preseason All-Big 12 squad, but he comes into 2019-20 with a different prologue. The big center has struggled to stay healthy in his first three years at Kansas and was limited to just nine games last season.
There's little question about what the 7-foot, 270-pounder can do when he's on the floor. He's owned the paint with a career 74% field-goal percentage and is also averaging over a block per game. His brute force is so great that in his sophomore season, coach Bill Self recruited a 260-pound Jayhawks football player for the sole purpose of guarding him during practice.
8. Jarron Cumberland, Cincinnati
The reigning AAC Player of the Year, Cumberland figures to expand his game even more offensively with the departure of defensive-minded head coach Mick Cronin. New Bearcat bench boss John Brannen is promising to bring his up-tempo style from Northern Kentucky, something that should fit Cumberland fine.
The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 23.1 points per 40 minutes as a junior while shooting 39% from deep. He's also a skilled passer and ball hawk, as he averaged 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game last season.
7. Cole Anthony, North Carolina
Some believe Anthony could be a top-five player this season. He arrives at North Carolina as the consensus second-ranked freshman prospect behind James Wiseman and is an expected one-and-done lottery pick next June.
The 6-foot-3 son of former NBA player-turned-broadcaster Greg Anthony is not only a natural point guard with a solid basketball IQ, but he also has a high degree of hops for his size, with the ability to take his man and posterize him.
One thing to watch is Anthony's shot mechanics. While he can knock them down from anywhere, the right-hander has funky mechanics reminiscent of Lonzo Ball, as his shot stance comes across the left side of his body.
6. Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Nwora, the go-to player for No. 5 Louisville, made a major leap between his freshman and sophomore years. The 6-foot-7 forward led the Cardinals last season in scoring, rebounding, and steals while shooting 37.4% from downtown.
That production earned him ACC Most Improved Player honors, and observers are expecting another uptick now that he's surrounded by four top-100 recruits. Nwora taking another step will also help his NBA prospects. The Buffalo native has the dimensions and raw skill set pro teams look for in 3-and-D wings.