2022-23 preseason player of the year picks for every D-1 conference
It’s not easy to track all of the moving pieces in men’s college basketball in the transfer portal era. This offseason saw over 1,800 players entering and exiting the transfer portal. Others made last-minute decisions about leaving college or staying — some of it based on name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities. Some top recruits decommitted from their original choices and recommitted to other programs, while others reclassified.
One of the biggest consequences of this movement: some of the mid-major leagues lost nearly every player on their 2021-22 all-conference teams to other leagues. But the transformation of the sport’s landscape has created more intriguing player of the year races in each conference.
After focusing on the top coaches of every conference, and with the rosters more or less set as we approach the 2022-23 season, we predict the preseason player of the year in every Division I league — with the knowledge that, come March, this list may look different. We also pick their strongest competition for the honor.
Navigate to each league:
American | America East | ACC | Atlantic Sun | A-10| Big 12 | Big East | Big Sky | Big South | Big Ten | Big West | CAA | C-USA | Horizon | Ivy | MAAC | MAC | MEAC | MVC | MW | NEC | OVC | Pac-12 | Patriot | SEC | SoCon | Southland | SWAC | Summit | Sun Belt | WCC | WAC
American Athletic Conference
Marcus Sasser | 6-2| G | Houston Cougars
Before suffering a season-ending foot injury midway through last season, Sasser (17.7 PPG, 44% from 3) led a Houston squad that averaged 116 points per 100 possessions and held opponents to just 79 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court, according to hooplens.com.
Top Competition: Kendric Davis | 6-0 | G | Memphis Tigers
Last year’s AAC player of the year averaged 19.4 PPG and shot 40% from 3 in SMU’s half-court offense, per Synergy Sports data.
America East Conference
Dylan Penn | 6-foot-3 | G | Vermont Catamounts
Penn (16.6 PPG, 5.0 APG at Bellarmine last season) arrives in Burlington after making 60% of his shots in transition in 2021-2022, per Synergy Sports data — and also being named MVP of the ASUN tournament.
Top Competition: Charles Pride | 6-4 | G | Bryant Bulldogs
Pride averaged 20.3 PPG during Bryant’s run to the NEC tournament championship last season, and now the all-NEC first-teamer will help his squad compete for the America East crown in its first season in the league.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Armando Bacot | 6-11 | F | North Carolina Tar Heels
Bacot (16.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.7 BPG) is a candidate for every national player of the year award after leading the Tar Heels on an incredible turnaround and to the national title game last season.
Top Competition: Isaiah Wong | 6-4 | G | Miami Hurricanes
After averaging 16.2 PPG during Miami’s surprising Elite Eight run last season, Wong is one of America’s top returnees — and one of the ACC’s top players.
Atlantic Sun Conference
Darius McGhee | 5-9 | G | Liberty Flames
That McGhee (24.6 PPG, 39% from 3) is seeking his third consecutive Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year award this season should tell you everything you need to know.
Top Competition: Ahsan Asadullah | 6-10 | C | Lipscomb Bisons
It’s never a good idea to give Asadullah (15.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG), an all-ASUN first-teamer last year, too much space, as the big man made 67% of his shots against zone in 2021-22, per Synergy Sports data.
Atlantic 10 Conference
Yuri Collins | 6-0 | G | Saint Louis Billikens
After securing all-Atlantic 10 first-team honors last season, Collins (11.1 PPG, 7.9 APG, 1.9 SPG) will once again lead a Saint Louis squad aiming for the NCAA tournament.
Top Competition: DaRon Holmes II | 6-10 | F | Dayton Flyers
If his finish last season is an indication of what’s to come — Holmes connected on 67% of his shots inside the arc in Dayton’s final nine games — then the reigning A-10 rookie of the year could become a star this season for Anthony Grant’s squad.
Big East Conference
Adama Sanogo | 6-9 | F | UConn Huskies
Sanogo (14.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 1.9 BPG) is one of college basketball’s most imposing forces, as proven by the 41.5% clip opposing teams were limited to last year when he was on the floor, per hooplens.com.
Top Competition: Jack Nunge | 7-0 | C | Xavier Musketeers
Sean Miller’s history of helping big men reach their ceiling should bode well for Nunge (13.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG), who played a key role in his team’s run to the NIT championship last season.
Big Sky Conference
Jubrile Belo | 6-9 | F | Montana State Bobcats
The Big Sky’s reigning player of the year and defensive player of the year (12.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.8 BPG) is back to defend his crown.
Top Competition: Daylen Kountz | 6-4 | G | Northern Colorado Bears
Kountz (21.2 PPG, 42% from 3) entered the NBA draft after a stellar 2021-22 season, but decided to return to Northern Colorado — which has conference championship ambitions with him back in the mix.
Big South Conference
Isaiah Wilkins | 6-4 | G/F | Longwood Lancers
Wilkins (12.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 39% from 3) led Longwood to its first Division I NCAA tournament appearance last season, and returns as the leader of a team that should be the favorite to win the league’s automatic bid again.
Top Competition: Zack Austin | 6-5 | F | High Point Panthers
With Austin (14.4 PPG, 2.2 BPG, 1.3 SPG) on the floor last season, High Point connected on 52% of its shots inside the arc, per hooplens.com.
Big 12 Conference
Mike Miles Jr. | 6-2 | G | TCU Horned Frogs
The Big 12 knew what Miles (15.4 PPG) was all about prior to March, but the whole country really got to know his potential when he scored 21 points in TCU’s 69-42 win against Seton Hall in the first round of the NCAA tournament — and followed it up with 20 points in a hard-fought, 85-80 overtime loss to top seed Arizona in the second round.
Top Competition: Jalen Wilson | 6-8 | F | Kansas Jayhawks
You could make the case that Wilson (15 points, four rebounds, two assists and a block) was the best and most important player for Kansas in its 72-69 come-from-behind victory over North Carolina in the national title game. But now he has to prove he can be a consistent presence for Bill Self and evolve into the leader of the defending champs.
Big Ten Conference
Trayce Jackson-Davis | 6-9 | F | Indiana Hoosiers
If Indiana can get the best version of Jackson-Davis (18.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.3 BPG) — a star who made 70% of his shots at the rim last season, per hoop-math.com — then the Hoosiers will have the potential to chase the Big Ten title and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
Top Competition: Zach Edey | 7-4 | C | Purdue Boilermakers
You could put Hunter Dickinson in this spot too, but Edey (14.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.2 BPG) did a lot last season with just 19.0 MPG. Those minutes will climb significantly this season, along with his production.
Big West Conference
Joel Murray | 6-0 | G | Long Beach State Beach
Murray (16.7 PPG, 37% from 3), a 2021-22 all-Big West first-teamer, returns after scoring 24 points or more in nine games last season for Dan Monson’s squad.
Top Competition: Noel Coleman 6-1 | G | Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors
Coleman (14.8 PPG, 44.1% from 3, 81.3% from the free throw line) lost a chunk of last season to injury, but returns healthy to put Hawaii back in the hunt for the Big West championship.
Colonial Athletic Association
Aaron Estrada | 6-3 | G | Hofstra Pride
The reigning CAA player of the year is back to pursue another POY honor. If he can mirror last season’s impressive numbers — 18.5 PPG, 93.5% from the charity stripe — it shouldn’t be difficult.
Top Competition: Jameer Nelson Jr. | 6-1 | G | Delaware Blue Hens
The son of Saint Joseph’s legend Jameer Nelson made 40% of his shots from beyond the arc in league play, and led Delaware to the CAA tournament championship after averaging 13.6 PPG.
Conference USA
Jordan Walker | 5-11 | G | UAB Blazers
The reigning C-USA player of the year had an incredible 2021-22 season: 20.3 PPG, 4.9 APG, 40% from 3. He’ll be difficult to dethrone.
Top Competition: Dayvion McKnight | 6-1 | G | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
With Jamarion Sharp, last year’s C-USA defensive player of the year, and Boise State transfer Emmanuel Akot next to him, McKnight (16.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.5 APG) should have another strong season.
Horizon League
Antoine Davis | 6-1 | G | Detroit Mercy Titans
The 2021-22 co-player of the year, Davis (23.9 PPG, 38% from 3) has finished top-four in scoring nationally for the last four seasons and now in his fifth year, is 933 points shy of Pete Maravich’s Division I career scoring record of 3,667 points.
Top Competition: Jarred Godfrey | 6-5 | G | Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
After earning a spot on the all-Horizon League first team a year ago, Godfrey (15.2 PPG, 38% from 3) has the skills to battle Davis for the league’s player of the year honors.
Ivy League
Tosan Evbuomwan | 6-8 | F | Princeton Tigers
After leading Princeton to the 2021-22 Ivy League regular-season championship, the unanimously named reigning conference player of the year (16.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG) hopes to take the Tigers to their first NCAA tournament since 2017.
Top Competition: Jordan Dingle | 6-3 | G | Pennsylvania Quakers
The Penn star who averaged 20.9 PPG last year led a squad that shot 53.1% from inside the arc when he was on the floor, per hooplens.com.
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Nelly Junior Joseph | 6-9 | F | Iona Gaels
With Joseph (13.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG) on the floor last season, Rick Pitino’s squad not only made 51% of its shots inside the 3-point line, it also held opponents to just 91 points per 100 possessions, according to hooplens.com.
Top Competition: Jose Perez | 6-5 | F | Manhattan Jaspers
Perez (18.9 PPG, 4.5 APG), an all-MAAC first-teamer, scored an impressive 25 points or more in eight games last season for Manhattan.
Mid-American Conference
Sincere Carry | 6-1 | G | Kent State Golden Flashes
While Carry (17.9 PPG, 4.8 APG) participated in pro tryouts after last season, he ultimately decided to return to college basketball and help his team compete for the MAC championship.
Top Competition: Emoni Bates | 6-9 | G/F | Eastern Michigan Eagles
Assuming Bates (9.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG) gets past his legal challenges stemming from an offseason arrest, the player who was once hailed as “The Next Kevin Durant” will be one of the most talented prospects in the history of the MAC.
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Joe Bryant Jr. | 6-1 | G | Norfolk State Spartans
The reigning MEAC player of the year, Bryant (16.7 PPG, 92% clip from the free throw line) is the frontrunner to win the award again, and lead Norfolk State to its third MEAC championship in four years.
Top Competition: Nendah Tarke | 6-4 | G | Coppin State Eagles
Few leagues in the country suffered a greater offseason exodus of talent via the transfer portal than the MEAC. But Coppin State head coach Juan Dixon held onto Tarke (13.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.9 SPG), who can help his team compete for the MEAC crown.
Missouri Valley Conference
Ben Sheppard | 6-6 | G | Belmont Bruins
Belmont enters its first year in the MVC with Sheppard — who made 37% of his 3-point attempts against man-to-man defense last year per Synergy Sports data — starring for a program with a multitude of new faces.
Top Competition: Marcus Domask | 6-6 | F | Southern Illinois Salukis
Every member of last season’s all-MVC first team transferred out of the league, which opens the door for Domask (15.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.9 APG) to compete for player of the year honors.
Mountain West Conference
Matt Bradley | 6-4 | G | San Diego State Aztecs
Bradley (16.9 PPG, 40% from 3) was last year’s Mountain West newcomer of the year after he transferred from Cal. With him on the court last season, San Diego State held its opponents to just 82 points per 100 possessions, according to hooplens.com. Promising for his player of the year candidacy.
Top Competition: Hunter Maldonado | 6-7 | G | Wyoming Cowboys
Maldonado (18.5 PPG, 6.3 APG, 5.7 RPG, 56% inside the 3-point line) is back for a sixth year, and has a real chance to capture the award.
Northeast Conference
Jordan Minor | 6-8 | F | Merrimack Warriors
Minor (15.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.4 BPG) made 78% of his shots in transition, per Synergy Sports data, and is the veteran who can lead Merrimack to another league title in the final year of its four-year transition to Division I athletics.
Top Competition: Josh Cohen | 6-10 | F | St. Francis (PA) Red Flash
Cohen (12.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG), a talented junior and anchor of a team that returns most of last year’s starters, could have a breakout campaign.
Ohio Valley Conference
Ray’Sean Taylor | 6-1 | G | SIU Edwardsville Cougars
By the end of this season, Taylor (17.6 PPG) could be the best player on the best team in the OVC.
Top Competition: Parker Stewart | 6-5 | G | UT Martin Skyhawks
Stewart (19.2 PPG in 2020-21) is easy to root for as he returns to Tennessee-Martin two years after the death of his father, former UT-Martin head coach Anthony Stewart.
Pac-12 Conference
Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 6-7 | F | UCLA Bruins
After battling various injuries throughout 2021-22, Jaquez (13.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG) is healthy and ready to put together a complete 2022-23 season that could end with Wooden Award contention, along with a lengthy stay for the Bruins in the NCAA tournament.
Top Competition: Will Richardson | 6-5 | G | Oregon Ducks
An undisclosed injury cost Richardson (14.1 PPG) the last five games of the 2021-22 regular season. But he’s ready to build on a campaign that included marks of 40% from 3 and 78% from the charity stripe last season.
Patriot League
Tucker Richardson | 6-5 | G | Colgate Raiders
Richardson (12.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG), a senior, was one of the Patriot League’s most versatile threats last season. See: His 37% success rate from 3 and 55% clip inside the arc for proof.
Top Competition: Jalen Rucker | 5-10 | G | Army Black Knights
With Rucker (17.1 PPG, 37% from beyond the arc) returning, Army could participate in its first NCAA tournament 55 years after former head coach Bob Knight rejected an invitation in favor of the NIT.
Southeastern Conference
Oscar Tshiebwe | 6-9 | F | Kentucky Wildcats
Tshiebwe (17.4 PPG, 15.1 RPG, 1.6 BPG) could become only the second player in history to win the Wooden Award twice — Ralph Sampson achieved the feat in 1982 and 1983 — while also leading the program to its first national championship since 2012.
Top Competition: Nick Smith Jr., | 6-4 | G | Arkansas Razorbacks
The No. 3 recruit in the class of 2022 is also a projected top-four pick in ESPN’s most recent mock draft.
Southern Conference
Ques Glover | 6-0 | G | Samford Bulldogs
Samford made 55% of its shots inside the arc and 37% of its 3-point attempts last season with Glover (19.2 PPG), a first-team all-conference guard, on the floor, per hooplens.com.
Top Competition: Mike Bothwell | 6-3 | G | Furman Paladins
After entering the NBA draft following last season, Bothwell (15.7 PPG) decided to withdraw and return to Furman, which will be looking to win a Southern Conference championship under his leadership.
Southland Conference
Isaac Mushila | 6-5 | F | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders
After earning all-Southland Conference second team honors last year, Mushila (13.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG) could be a double-double machine (he had 13 last season) again.
Top Competition: Trevian Tennyson | 6-4 | G | Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders
Mushila will be challenged for the award by teammate Tennyson (12.0 PPG, 37% from 3) — especially if this group sits atop the league standings at the end of the season.
Summit League
Max Abmas | 6-0 | G | Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
In his first three seasons in college basketball, Abmas averaged 14.5 PPG/37% from 3, 24.5 PPG/43% from 3 and 22.8 PPG/39% from 3. This season could be the best of his career, however; a scary thought for the rest of the Summit League.
Top Competition: Mason Archambault | 6-0 | G | South Dakota Coyotes
A standout under Eric Peterson, Archambault (14.5 PPG, 39% from 3) hopes to improve on last season’s performance, when he made 93% of his free throw attempts, the No. 6 mark in America in 2021-22.
Sun Belt Conference
Jordan Brown | 6-11 | F | Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
Brown (15.3 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.1 BPG) has found a home at Louisiana — his third school, after stints at Nevada and Arizona — where he made 12 of 27 3-point attempts last season.
Top Competition: Vado Morse | 6-0 | G | James Madison Dukes
In his program’s first season in the Sun Belt, Morse (15.3 PPG) could lead JMU to a league championship.
Southwestern Athletic Conference
Tyrone Lyons | 6-7 | G\F | Southern Jaguars
Lyons (13.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG) made 47% of his 3-point attempts against man-to-man defense last season per Synergy Sports data. He’s the best equipped to lead Southern to the SWAC championship.
Top Competition: Joe French | 6-5 | G | Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
The sharpshooter (15.8 PPG, 91.2% from the charity stripe, 44.1% from 3) finished last season as one of the top-40 3-point shooters in America.
Western Athletic Conference
Jovan Blacksher Jr., | 5-11 | G | Grand Canyon Lopes
With Blacksher Jr. (15.8 PPG, 39% from 3) on the court last season, Grand Canyon’s opponents averaged just 86 points per 100 possessions, according to hooplens.com.
Top Competition: Cameron Tyson | 6-3 | G | Seattle U Redhawks
After a surprising run that ended with a share of the WAC crown last year, Seattle may not sneak up on anyone this season, but Tyson the all-WAC first-teamer could anchor another conference title chase.
West Coast Conference
Drew Timme | 6-10 | F | Gonzaga Bulldogs
An Associated Press first team All-American last season, Timme (18.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG) could be the reason Oscar Tshiebwe fails to win a second Wooden Award.
Top Competition: Logan Johnson | 6-2 | G | Saint Mary’s Gaels
The return of Johnson (11.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.0 SPG) should position Saint Mary’s to reach its fourth tournament in six years.
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