With the official start of practice next month, UM Hoops and Inside the Hall have partnered to bring you our annual preseason breakdown of the top players in the Big Ten. This year, the list has been expanded after the addition of four programs to the conference.
The series is broken into seven parts with one post each weekday through Friday, August 30. Our second installment looking at players 30-26 for the 2024-25 season is available below:
30. Julian Reese, Maryland (6-foot-9, forward, senior)
2023-24 stats (32 games): 13.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.9 blocks, 1.3 apg, 54.6% FG in 31.9 mins
Why he could outperform this ranking: Reese’s consistent production was lost in the shuffle of Maryland’s disappointing season. He averaged 13.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game as a junior and anchored the best defense in the league.
Why he could underperform this ranking: Five-star freshman Derik Queen doesn’t fix Maryland’s spacing issues and is potentially an awkward fit with Reese. If the fit together isn’t great, Queen’s emergence could limit Reese’s upside. The free throw stroke has been a major issue for the last two years – 57 percent and 53 percent – and Reese’s 2-point shooting percentage dipped 8 percentage points last year (63 percent to 55 percent).
29. Kylan Boswell, Illinois (6-foot-2, guard, sophomore)
2023-24 stats (36 games, Arizona): 9.6 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.3 rpg, 1.4 steals, 39.6% FG, 37.9% 3PFG in 27 mins
Why he could outperform this ranking: Brad Underwood has developed a strong reputation for making the most out of transfer portal talent. Boswell was one of the most improved players in the country last season and started for an Arizona team that earned a 2-seed in the NCAA tournament. He’s an elite jump shooter who makes shots off the catch (40.5 percent) or off the dribble (141 attempts) and there are lots of shots available in Champaign.
Why he could underperform this ranking: Boswell was able to excel in Caleb Love’s shadow last season and hasn’t proven that he can be a go-to option and primary creator. He shot just 41 percent on twos last season and doesn’t create many looks at the rim. He only attempted 43 shots at the basket in halfcourt settings last year, per Synergy, just over one per game.
28. Danny Wolf, Michigan (7-foot, center, junior)
2023-24 stats (32 games, Yale): 14.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.3 blocks, 47.2% FG, 34.5% 3PFG in 30.8 mins
Why he could outperform this ranking: The Yale transfer was one of the best mid-major bigs in the country last season and nearly averaged a double-double. He’s an elite rebounder who finished 10th in the country in defensive rebounding percentage, per KenPom. Wolf is also a capable perimeter shooter – 34.9 percent on threes – which should allow him to play plenty of minutes alongside fellow 7-footer Vladislav Goldin in a revamped Michigan frontcourt under Dusty May.
Why he could underperform this ranking: There are questions on how Wolf’s game could translate to the Big Ten, particularly given his limited athleticism and the fact he shot just 50.7 percent on twos last season. Wolf took a lot of jumpers last season – and he’s a solid shooter – but he needs to finish more efficiently to reach his ceiling.
27. Jaden Akins, Michigan State (6-foot-4, guard, senior)
2023-24 stats (35 games): 10.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.1 steals, 41% FG, 36.4% 3PFG in 28.5 mins
Why he could outperform this ranking: The roster opportunity is finally there. Akins has been a consistent starter for the Spartans over the last two seasons, but it has always been Tyson Walker and AJ Hoggard running the show with Malik Hall and Joey Hauser providing scoring in the frontcourt.
Now, Akins is a senior and every opportunity should be available for him to step into a larger role. It’s hard to say what that looks like because we haven’t seen it, but the shots, playmaking opportunities and positional opportunities should finally be available to match Akins’ talent.
Why he could underperform this ranking: Not everyone makes a senior leap. Akins’ game might be better suited to play as a floor spacing defender. He hasn’t shown significant playmaking chops during his Michigan State career and has never shot better than 50 percent inside the arc. He’s a proven floor spacer and defender, but maybe the younger players around him see larger role increases.
26. TJ Bamba, Oregon (6-foot-5, guard, senior)
2023-24 stats (33 games, Villanova): 10.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 43% FG, 36.9% 3PFG in 28.1 mins
Why he could outperform this ranking: Oregon has aspirations to win the Big Ten and adding Bamba was a step in the right direction for Dana Altman. He’s a 3-and-D wing who will welcome the challenge of guarding the league’s best perimeter players. He was a part of a major defensive turnaround last season at Villanova. Bamba is a capable catch-and-shoot threat who shot 37 percent from deep last season while averaging double figures. While his usage took a step back last season at Villanova from his breakout junior season at Washington State, he’s definitely capable of being a featured scorer.
Why he could underperform this ranking: While Bamba’s 3-point shooting is a strength – he made 40.6 percent of his triples in Big East play last season – his efficiency inside the arc wasn’t great when he was the go-to scorer at Washington State. Bamba is going to be asked to attack plenty in isolation in the Oregon offense and he’s just 45.2 percent for his career on 2s.
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