With college basketball season almost here, Andy Katz ranks his top seniors to look out for this year.
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1. Great Osobor, Washington
Osobor, one of the top transfers this offseason, is heading to the Huskies for his fourth year. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 17.7 points and 9 rebounds for Utah State last season and should be a valuable addition to a Washington team searching for its first tournament appearance since 2019.
2. Kam Jones, Marquette
Jones is coming off his best season with the Golden Eagles, averaging 17.2 points per game while shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-5 guard will be leaned heavily upon in his senior season to lead Shaka Smart’s squad, which is coming off its deepest tournament run in his three years at Marquette.
3. Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
Sallis had a breakout season last year, averaging 18 points per game and shooting 40.5% from 3. In his two previous years with Gonzaga, the 6-foot-5 guard did not eclipse 30% from beyond the arc. The Demon Deacons will look for Sallis to continue this impressive play as they hope to make the tournament for the first time since 2017.
4. Tucker DeVries, West Virginia
The 6-foot-7 guard followed his dad, Darian DeVries, to West Virginia this offseason after he accepted the Mountaineers head coach spot. Tucker was a consistent scorer for Drake the past three seasons, averaging 21.6 points last year along with 6.7 boards and 3.7 assists per game. He should provide a spark to a West Virginia team that failed to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2001-02 last season.
5. Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB
Lendeborg is entering his second year with the Blazers, averaging 13.8 points and 10.6 rebounds last season. The 6-foot-9 forward led UAB in points and rebounds and was second in assists (2.1). He will try to lead the Blazers to back-to-back tournament appearances for the first time since 2004-2006.
6. Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Nembard took the reigns of the Bulldogs offense last season, averaging 6.9 assists — good for seventh in DI. The 6-foot guard will lead Mark Few’s squad as Gonzaga looks to make its 26th consecutive tournament appearance.
7. Payton Sandfort, Iowa
The 6-foot-7 forward shined in his first season as a full-time starter for the Hawkeyes last season, leading his team in points (16.4) and rebounds (6.6). Sandfort should be in store for another great season as Iowa looks to get back to the Big Dance after missing out last year.
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8. Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M
Taylor has provided a huge boost to the Aggies the past two seasons, averaging 16.3 points in 2022-23 and 19.1 last season. With the 6-foot guard at the helm, the Aggies have made the tournament each of the past two seasons.
9. Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
Zeigler was a key part of the Volunteers’ deep tournament run last season alongside Dalton Knecht. With Knecht onto the NBA, the 5-foot-9 guard will take on a larger role in Rick Barnes’ offense.
10. Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Ike proved to be a key addition to Mark Few’s squad after transferring from Wyoming last season. The 6-foot-9 forward started every game for the Bulldogs, averaging 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds. He will be a veteran leader for Gonzaga alongside Nembhard as the Bulldogs look to avenge their Sweet 16 loss to Purdue last year.
11. Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
Grant-Foster made a name for himself last season, leading Grand Canyon to the second round against Alabama in the NCAA tournament. The 6-foot-7 guard dropped 29 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals in the Antelopes’ 72-61 loss to the Crimson Tide. He should be primed for another great season as Grand Canyon looks to make its third consecutive tournament appearance.
12. Tyson Degenhart, Boise State
Degenhart has been a staple of the Broncos squad since his freshman year in 2021-22. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 16.7 points last season while shooting better than 50% from the field. He will try and lead Boise to its fourth consecutive NCAA tournament bid.
