Top Scorers in College Basketball
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Dayton sophomore Obi Toppin dunks against Virginia Commonwealth.The 2020 NCAA men's basketball tournament won't have any shining moments after the NCAA called off the Big Dance.
That means no bracketology, office pools, Jim Nantz, CBS Masters promotions, Cinderella stories, Gus Johnson, bracket busters, survive and advance, Final Four, (not enough) Kevin Harlan, more CBS Masters promos, (too much) Dickie V, national champion.
Real-life madness prevented us from seeing college basketball's big shooters light up our usual March madness. But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the top scorers in the country, many of whom will be heard from in the future.
48.(t) Ian DuBose
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Position: Guard
School: Houston Baptist
Class: Junior
Points per game: 19.0
Bottom line: While the Huskies' floor leader didn't shot the 3-ball nearly as well as a season ago, his all-around game took off.
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged more than seven rebounds per game, an inordinate number for someone his size.
48.(t) Matt Lewis
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Position: Guard
School: James Madison
Class: Junior
Points per game: 19.0
Bottom line: Except for a precipitous drop at the charity line, his overall game took another step this season.
The 6-foot-5 guard was the only Colonial Athletic Association player among the top dozen in points, rebounds and assists.
48.(t) Javon Freeman-Liberty
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Position: Guard
School: Valparaiso
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 19.0
Bottom line: The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder rated among the better two-way players in the country. One of the most consistent, too.
The Chicago native scored in double figures in all 29 regular-season games.
45.(t) Anthony Edwards
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Position: Guard
School: Georgia
Class: Freshman
Points per game: 19.1
Bottom line: Several draftniks have this late-starter as the No. 1 pick in the next NBA cattle call.
He’ll be a project wherever he goes — some foresee Andrew Wiggins all over again — but it’s impossible to ignore his off-the-charts athleticism.
At 18, he has plenty of time to grow.
45.(t) Remy Martin
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Position: Guard
School: Arizona State
Class: Junior
Points per game: 19.1
Bottom line: Hand the keys to a 21-year-old point guard for the first time, and you’re liable to get an Allstate Mayhem commercial. Not this one, though.
Chef Remy still dished to teammates, but now opponents had to respect his ability to score the ball. He produced nine games of 20-plus points and four-plus assists in the first three months of the season.
45.(t) Jibri Blount
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Position: Guard
School: North Carolina Central
Class: Junior
Points per game: 19.1
Bottom line: The Cleveland State transfer saw his game take off this season.
Not only did the 6-foot-7, 225-pounder rank among the leaders in rebounds and steals, but he became a more dependable 3-point threat.
Jibri Blount fun fact: His father Mel is the one-time Pittsburgh Steelers great and Hall of Fame member.
44. Parker Stewart
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Position: Guard
School: Tennessee at Martin
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 19.2
Bottom line: The former Pitt prospect sat out the 2018-19 season because of transfer rules, but his game didn't skip a beat in his return.
His points average more than doubled this season, and the 6-foot-5 Tennessee native became more of a ball distributor as well.
43. Christian Lutete
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Position: Guard
School: Massachusetts Lowell
Class: Senior
Points per game: 19.3
Bottom line: This 6-foot-5 guard transferred from Radford after his sophomore year and emerged as a long-distance threat in his junior season.
His senior campaign was no different. He became more aggressive on the offensive backboards, where his length is a factor.
41.(t) Nijal Pearson
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Position: Guard
School: Texas State
Class: Senior
Points per game: 19.4
Bottom line: The 6-foot-5 greyhound expanded his game as a ballhandler and distributor, and he can still light it up.
The Beaumont (Texas) bomber is the all-time Bobcats points leader.
41.(t) Sam Sessoms
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Position: Guard
School: Binghamton
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 19.4
Bottom line: Except for 3-point field-goal percentage, his numbers improved noticeably across the board this season.
The 6-foot point guard had games of 33, 38, 39 and 40 points and hauled down 12 rebounds on two occasions.
40. Raiquan Clark
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Position: Guard
School: Long Island
Class: Senior
Points per game: 19.5
Bottom line: This one-time walk-on was a steady scorer for three seasons, but it wasn’t until this one that he became a legit 3-point threat.
The Northeast Conference top scorer plays with a high motor, which helped get the Blackbirds back to the NCAAs a year ago.
34.(t) John Crosby
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Position: Guard
School: Delaware State
Class: Senior
Points per game: 19.7
Bottom line: At Dayton, he was a small fish in a large pond. Since his transfer last fall, he has been more like Moby Dick in a splash pool.
In December, the 6-foot-3 streak shooter went off for 97 points in three games, all of them losses.
34.(t) Sam Merrill
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Position: Guard
School: Utah State
Class: Senior
Points per game: 19.7
Bottom line: This 6-foot-5, 205-pounder has stoked memories of Jimmer Fredette with his 3-point daggers and infectious play.
He’s at his cold-blooded best in big moments, witness the Mountain West tournament, in which he averaged 25.3 points over the last two seasons.
34.(t) A.J. Green
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Position: Guard
School: Northern Iowa
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 19.7
Bottom line: What’s this — an A.J. Green who actually plays in the games?!
The Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year may have been the best true sophomore in the country. He also may be the best college player you never heard of until now.
The 6-foot-4 dead-eye shoots around 40 percent from beyond the arc and 90 percent at the charity stripe.
34.(t) Jayden Gardner
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Position: Forward
School: East Carolina
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 19.7
Bottom line: Hey, look — a big! This 6-foot-7, 235-pound load exceeded expectations with his ability to score in any number of ways.
The kid also was better than average at the free-throw line, a place that he visits frequently.
34.(t) Zach Cooks
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Position: Guard
School: New Jersey Institute of Technology
Class: Junior
Points per game: 19.7
Bottom line: This pint-sized, 5-foot-9 point guard could not seem to find his jump shot this season, which he chalked up to mental paralysis.
The slump didn't affect other parts of his game, though, which are solid as ever.
34.(t) Brelein Tyree
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Position: Guard
School: Ole Miss
Class: Senior
Points per game: 19.7
Bottom line: Consistency, thy name is Brelein Tyree.
This season marked the second season that the 6-foot-2 triggerman shot in the upper 30s from 3-point territory and low-80s at the charity line.
In February, he toasted rival Mississippi State for 40 points in 35 minutes.
30.(t) Sayeed Pridgett
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Position: Guard
School: Montana
Class: Senior
Points per game: 19.8
Bottom line: This 6-foot-5 combo guard isn’t much of a threat from beyond the arc, but he can take the ball to the bucket and has a flair for the spectacular.
The Oakland native drew fouls at a high rate and improved his free-throw percentage considerably this season.
30.(t) Marreon Jackson
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Position: Guard
School: Toledo
Class: Junior
Points per game: 19.8
Bottom line: Ever since the 2019 Mid-American Conference tournament, which did wonders for his confidence, this 6-foot Rocket launcher has been a different player.
This season, he was cast in a leadership role, which plays to his uncommon court vision. After some early struggles, his shot got back on track.
30.(t) Terrell Gomez
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Position: Guard
School: California State, Northridge
Class: Junior
Points per game: 19.8
Bottom line: This 5-foot-8 fireball can flat-out stroke it.
He was one of the select few who hit at a 40-percent clip from 3-point range and 90 percent at the free-throw line.
He worked hard to finish better at the rim.
30.(t) Loren Cristian Jackson
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Position: Guard
School: Akron
Class: Junior
Points per game: 19.8
Bottom line: There are more sub-6-foot guards than bigs on this list, an indication of how much college ball has evolved in recent years. Well, here’s another one.
The 5-foot-8 Chicago product entered March with five games of 30-or-more points in the season.
29. Andrew Kostecka
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Position: Guard
School: Loyola (Maryland)
Class: Senior
Points per game: 19.9
Bottom line: Despite a late-season ankle injury, the 6-foot-4 sniper still led the Patriots League in points.
He was the second player in Greyhounds history to earn all-conference first-team honors twice in his career.
27.(t) Carlik Jones
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Position: Guard
School: Radford
Class: Junior
Points per game: 20.0
Bottom line: The Big South Conference Player of the Year was the only one to average at least 10 points, five rebounds and five assists this season.
He believes there’s yet another level in his game.
The kid isn’t alone.
27.(t) Obi Toppin
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Position: Forward
School: Dayton
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 20.0
Bottom line: He stands 6-foot-9 and hails from Brooklyn. Need more?
OK, this physical freak hits a high percentage of 3-pointers and a really, really high percentage of close-in shots.
Oh, and did you catch his between-the legs, over-the-top, can-you-toppin-this dunk against George Washington in the regular-season finale? Can’t wait for the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
26. Daniel Oturu
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Position: Center
School: Minnesota
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 20.1
Bottom line: You’re likely to see this athletic 6-foot-10 big in the NBA next season.
He was among the Big Ten leaders in points, rebounds, blocked shots and field-goal percentage.
He's the son of Nigerian immigrants who grew up in the Twin Cities region.
25. Quintin Dove
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Position: Forward
School: Tennessee at Martin
Class: Senior
Points per game: 20.2
Bottom line: This low-key big was a silent assassin on the offensive backboard, where he grabbed 13 rebounds in one game alone.
The jukin’ juco transfer produced eight double-doubles (points-rebounds) in the regular season.
22.(t) Eugene German
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Position: Guard
School: Northern Illinois
Class: Senior
Points per game: 20.5
Bottom line: The all-time Huskies points leader has been known to go hot and cold, but as a go-to scorer, he was as dependable as a DeKalb, Illinois, winter.
He had 18-plus points in 23 of 31 games.
22.(t) Payton Pritchard
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Position: Guard
School: Oregon
Class: Senior
Points per game: 20.5
Bottom line: If not the best player in the country — just ask him — then this cocksure point guard has my vote as the most valuable to his team.
He’s in select company as one of only three Pac-12 players with 1,900 points and 600 assists in his career.
A year ago, he dipped his toes in the NBA draft pool. Expect a cannonball splash next time.
22.(t) Colbey Ross
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Position: Guard
School: Pepperdine
Class: Junior
Points per game: 20.5
Bottom line: While his shot went hot and cold this season, this 6-foot-1 floor leader kept Waves afloat with consistent all-around play.
You’ll find his name among the assists leaders in the country.
21. Ryan Daly
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Position: Guard
School: St. Joseph’s
Class: Senior
Points per game: 20.6
Bottom line: A long season for the Hawks got a bit longer in mid-February, when their best player was hobbled by a foot injury.
The 6-foot-5 floor leader produced nine games of at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.
19.(t) Terrell Brown
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Position: Guard
School: Seattle
Class: Junior
Points per game: 20.7
Bottom line: Despite a groin problem, this old-school guard was a glue guy for his Redhawks team.
He closed February on a roll — 29.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists over the last three games.
19.(t) Nathan Knight
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Position: Center
School: William & Mary
Class: Senior
Points per game: 20.7
Bottom line: You won’t find this agile big in many mock drafts, but more than one NBA scout is intrigued by his 6-foot-10 size and 7-foot-2 wingspan.
The two-way terror was the second player in Colonial Athletic Association history to be named both the Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
17.(t) Myles Powell
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Position: Guard
School: Seton Hall
Class: Senior
Points per game: 21.0
Bottom line: The Big East Preseason Player of the Year gutted out various physical ailments this season, when he became the No. 3 scorer in team history.
He and his co-conspirators would have been headed to their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in as many years.
17.(t) Nate Darling
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Position: Guard
School: Delaware
Class: Junior
Points per game: 21.0
Bottom line: In his Blue Hens debut, the redshirt junior more than doubled his 10.1-points average of a season ago.
The 6-foot-5 Nova Scotia native is a threat to go off for 30 in any game, a number that he reached four times in the regular season.
16. Marcus Burk
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Position: Guard
School: Indiana-Purdue Indianapolis
Class: Junior
Points per game: 21.3
Bottom line: This Campbell transfer was a rock with a team in transition.
The hometown kid led the Jaguars in points, field-goal percentage and 3-point field-goal percentage.
15. Trevon Allen
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Position: Guard
School: Idaho
Class: Senior
Points per game: 21.6
Bottom line: As the only double-figure scorer on his team, the four-year veteran shot the ball more and distributed it less this season.
He’s the 17th player to reach 1,000 career points in Vandals history.
14. Jalen Harris
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Position: Guard
School: Nevada
Class: Junior
Points per game: 21.7
Bottom line: Even though the Wolf Pack have none of their starters and coaches from a year ago, this explosive 6-foot-5 team leader kept them in the hunt for a second consecutive NCAA tournament berth.
This season, he became the first player in team history to score 30 points or more in four consecutive games.
13. Terry Taylor
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Position: Guard
School: Austin Peay
Class: Junior
Points per game: 21.8
Bottom line: At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year rated among the most versatile moveable pieces in the country.
The Peay-shooter leds the team in points, rebounds, blocked shots and steals.
10.(t) Jordan Ford
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Position: Guard
School: St. Mary’s (California)
Class: Senior
Points per game: 21.9
Bottom line: This 6-foot-1 big shooter hits with Gael force — 40-plus percent from beyond the arc and 80-plus at the free-throw line.
On the heels of five 30-plus-points games in the regular season, he erupted for 42 versus Pepperdine in the West Coast Conference tournament.
10.(t) Grant Riller
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Position: Guard
School: Charleston
Class: Senior
Points per game: 21.9
Bottom line: In recent weeks, his name has shown up in some NBA mock drafts. Other than his turnover rate, what’s not to like here?
The 6-foot-3 point guard has size, shoots for distance, draws fouls, handles the ball and even rebounds.
10.(t) Jordan Roland
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Position: Guard
School: Northeastern
Class: Senior
Points per game: 21.9
Bottom line: The George Washington transfer doesn’t crave attention, but he’s his own worst enemy.
The 6-foot-1 off guard can finish at the rim, in the mid-range game and beyond the arc.
He scored a season-high 42 points versus Harvard in the first week of the season.
8.(t) Benjamin Stanley
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Position: Forward
School: Hampton
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 22.0
Bottom line: A year ago, the 6-foot-6 New Zealander was the third man off the bench.
This season, he was the No. 2 scorer on the team. If not the most improved player in the country, then he's certainly on the short list of them.
8.(t) Mason Jones
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Position: Guard
School: Arkansas
Class: Junior
Points per game: 22.0
Bottom line: This Southeastern Conference Player of the Year candidate was a 6-foot-5 man among boys at the end of the season.
He closed February with a 26.4-points average in the final 10 games. Then he dropped 36 on LSU in the March opener.
7. Jerrick Harding
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Position: Guard
School: Weber State
Class: Junior
Points per game: 22.2
Bottom line: Can this 6-foot-1 point guard score the ball a little bit? Does it snow in Ogden, Utah, in January?
This season marked the third consecutive season that he averaged 20-plus points per game.
6. Mike Smith
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Position: Guard
School: Columbia
Class: Senior
Points per game: 22.8
Bottom line: After a torn meniscus limited him to eight games in the 2018-19 season, the Ivy League points leader came back with a vengeance.
At 5-foot-11, he wreaks havoc off the dribble whether it's on a 3-ball or drive to the bucket.
5. Luka Garza
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Position: Center
School: Iowa
Class: Junior
Points per game: 23.9
Bottom line: The 6-foot-11 pivot worked out three days a week in the Alps last summer. Vrooooom! His game took off to nearly 24 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots per game.
If the Big Ten Player of the Year candidate trains at Mount Everest next time, then watch out, people.
4. Antoine Davis
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Position: Guard
School: Detroit Mercy
Class: Sophomore
Points per game: 24.3
Bottom line: He’s equal parts Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry, college style.
While this gifted 6-foot-1 guard can beat defenders off the dribble, his long-distance bombs drop jaws more.
His typical workout consists of hundreds of 3-balls, and he claims to have once drained 101 without a miss.
3. Jermaine Marrow
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Position: Guard
School: Hampton
Class: Senior
Points per game: 24.8
Bottom line: This marks the second consecutive season in which the 6-foot point guard has averaged 24-plus points per game.
While he didn't shoot the ball as well from 3-point land, more frequent trips to the free-throw line made up for it.
Better yet, he also was on the short list of the assists leaders in the country.
2. Jhivvan Jackson
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Position: Guard
School: Texas at San Antonio
Class: Junior
Points per game: 26.8
Bottom line: This Puerto Rican beacon saw his points averages shoot up, up, up from 18 to 23 to 27 in three seasons.
The kid isn’t bashful — he attempted nearly 11 3-pointers per game – but he also hits at a 36 percent clip from beyond the arc.
In early February, he toasted Old Dominion for 45 points in an overtime victory.
1. Markus Howard
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Position: Guard
School: Marquette
Class: Senior
Points per game: 27.8
Bottom line: This 5-foot-11 havoc wreaker stands as the all-time Warriors/Golden Eagles scorer — and that covers a lot of great history.
More than half of his field-goal tries (nearly 10 per game) were from 3-point territory, where he connected at a crazy 41 percent rate.
If the kid isn’t a Naismith Award finalist, then something is wrong here.