Big Ten basketball’s best players in the 2021-22 season
ROSEMONT, Ill. (BVM) — The college basketball season is upon us, and plenty of talent will be out on the court yet again this year. Within the Big Ten, there are plenty of stars who are bound to make the league deep and competitive once again.
Whether it’s young incoming freshman or returning upperclassmen, the Big Ten will boast some of the best players in the country this season, with the conference’s big men as the featured stars. With that, let’s look at the best men’s basketball players in the Big Ten this season.
HONORABLE MENTION
Caleb Houstan, G/F Michigan
Houstan enters the Big Ten as the favorite to win conference freshman of the year. The five-star recruit is a top-10 player in the 2021 class, and was a McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade Florida Boys Basketball Player of the Year last spring. The sky’s the limit in year one for the sharpshooter, and he just might become one of the best players in the league while leading the Wolverines to a deep postseason run.
Jonathan Davis, G Wisconsin
The Badgers’ sophomore may not appear on many player of the year lists, but he has a legitimate chance to breakout. Although he only averaged seven points per game off the bench last season, Davis will be a starter and perhaps Wisconsin’s most-featured player this year. The former four-star recruit and Wisconsin Mr. Basketball also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup this summer, giving him plenty of valuable experience and momentum coming into the fall.
Donta Scott, F Maryland
Scott comes into his junior season as another breakout candidate on what should be an improved Maryland team. His Terps’ teammate Eric Ayala could probably also be put on this list, but Scott is a do-it-all type guy every successful team needs. Last season, the Philadelphia native averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game, and also led the team in field-goal percentage and three-point percentage. His ability to play inside and out on both ends should help Maryland to a successful season.
Ron Harper Jr., G/F Rutgers
Although it seemed like Harper Jr. may not be in a Rutgers uniform this season after entering into the NBA Draft process over the summer, he is back, and his return is a boost for Rutgers and the Big Ten as a whole. Harper Jr. is already a 1,000-point scorer for the Scarlet Knights, and was a third team All-Big Ten selection last season. His scoring punch should keep Steve Pikiell’s team in the NCAA Tournament hunt once again this year.
Jaden Ivey, G Purdue
Ivey is one of the greatest talents in the Big Ten and possibly the biggest threat within the honorable mention players above to challenge for the player of the year award. Although he started slow his freshman season, he came on at the end, averaging over 18 points per game across his final six contests, including a 26-point effort in the NCAA Tournament against North Texas. Ivey was also a member of the FIBA U19 World Cup gold medal squad this summer and displayed plenty of explosiveness throughout the tournament, something that could lead Purdue to a Final Four if it continues.
TOP CANDIDATES
- Trevion Williams, F Purdue
From one Boilermaker to another, Williams also has a legit shot at Big Ten Player of the Year honors, and will be an integral part of a potential national-contending team. Williams is a name most Big Ten fans are already plenty familiar with, as the 6-foot-10 big man was a first team all-conference performer last season and also earned an All-American honorable mention nod from the AP. After testing the NBA Draft waters, the senior is back to lead the Boilermakers just as he has done the last few years. Last season, Williams averaged 15.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest, also racking up an impressive 11 double-doubles. Built in a similar mold as former Purdue great Caleb Swanigan, Williams should have a chance to build on his junior season with a young core that could help lead the Boilermakers to a Big Ten title.
- E.J. Liddell, F Ohio State
Liddell is another player on this list who considered the NBA, but his return to the Buckeyes keeps them as a top-25 team entering the season. As a sophomore, Liddell averaged an impressive 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, showing his ability on both ends of the court. He made a big jump from his freshman campaign, and was named a first team All-Big Ten player when all was said and done. Although just 6-foot-7, his 240-pound frame allows him to play strong inside. However, one of his greatest attributes compared to a guy like Williams, or a couple of other big men who appear later on this list, is his ability to step out and shoot from deep. Liddell does lose his top running mate in Duane Washington Jr. this season among a couple of others, but if he continues to grow, Ohio State should be squarely in the mix in the Big Ten, and he could be looking at a player of the year award.
- Hunter Dickinson, C Michigan
Dickinson burst on the scene last year and helped Michigan to a Big Ten title and Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament. The 7-foot-1 center was a consensus All-American and Big Ten Freshman of the Year, averaging a team-leading 14.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The four-star prospect from Virginia’s size allows him to contain what is clearly a conference full of talented big men, and helped Michigan to become one of the top defensive teams in the nation last season. Dickinson also displays a sweet lefty hook on offense, and will look to improve his post game going right as well as his mid-range and 3-point shots. If Dickinson becomes even more lethal offensively with the incredible talent Michigan is bringing in this season, he may not just win conference player of the year, but perhaps will also lead his team on a Final Four run.
- Trayce Jackson-Davis, F Indiana
Out of the guys on this list, it’s quite possible that Jackson-Davis has the greatest long-term talent and greatest NBA potential of anyone. The big man will enter his third year at Indiana, surprising many when he pulled out of the NBA Draft and returned considering the Hoosiers moved on from Archie Miller and replaced him with Mike Woodson. A first team All-Big Ten performer, Jackson-Davis was the engine that led the Hoosiers to success last season, averaging 19 points and nine rebounds while playing over 34 minutes per game. He built on what had been an already impressive freshman season, joining the Hoosiers’ program after an incredible career at Center Grove High School. Like others on the list, Jackson-Davis will need to improve a bit as a shooter, but already has a high NBA stock. His return along with several others could propel the Hoosiers to a top-half finish in the Big Ten.
- Kofi Cockburn, C Illinois
Cockburn is the favorite after being named preseason Big Ten Player of the Year. He is yet another guy on the list that considered jumping into the NBA, and perhaps was the most surprising return after withdrawing and then entering the transfer portal. After Ayo Dosunmu left for the NBA, Adam Miller transferred to LSU and multiple assistant coaches jumped ship, it appeared Brad Underwood’s team could be a bottom feeder in this year’s Big Ten standings. However, along with the returns of Da’Monte Williams and Trent Frazier, Cockburn has the Illini looking like a potential top-10 squad. At 7-feet, 285 pounds, Cockburn is simply a man among boys when out on the court at the college level. Last season, Cockburn averaged 17.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, helping the Illini to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With Dosunmu and Miller gone, Cockburn will be the main focus on offense for Illinois, and how he handles that could very well determine Illinois’ success. If he fine tunes his scoring and continues his strong presence on the opposite end, the big man may not only find himself at the top in the Big Ten, but could also become a true national player of the year candidate.
