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We are in a new age of college basketball. NIL has turned the transfer portal into an all-out frenzy. It has also dramatically changed the NBA Draft, encouraging even guaranteed first-round picks, like Florida’s Thomas Haugh and UConn’s Braylon Mullins, to stay in school an extra year.
There has also been a massive influx of international players coming stateside and joining the college ranks. In short: the talent pool has arguably never been this deep. Here are a few breakout candidates who demand your attention as we gear up for what promises to be an exciting campaign:
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Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue Boilermakers
Daniel Jacobsen – Purdue Boilermakers | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
The Daniel Jacobsen sales pitch is pretty easy: he’s 7-foot-4 and he’s expected to take on starting minutes as a junior, under a coach in Matt Painter who has consistently developed the best centers in college basketball. Zach Edey, Oscar Cluff – now Jacobsen.
Jacobsen is already an elite shot-blocker (11.4 BLK%), able to blot out the sun for opponents hoping to score on the interior. There are certain undeniable benefits to being Jacobsen’s size with even semi-functional mobility. And he’s fluid, with strong anticipation skills.
Adding muscle to his frame is a critical next step, but Jacobsen finishes effectively above the rim. He high-points rebounds on both ends and embraces the dirty work necessities of his position. He is not particularly advanced as a post scorer or passer, but Jacobsen also does not overextend himself. He keeps a lid on turnovers, he flashes touch in the mid-range (and even hit 3-of-8 from deep last season).
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There is a very simple path to extreme two-way impact on a Purdue team that’s never far from contention.
Davis Fogle, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Davis Fogle – Gonzaga Bulldogs | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
Davis Fogle was extremely impactful in limited minutes off the bench for Gonzaga as a freshman. He should start and blossom into possibility their best player as a…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/5-breakout-candidates-college-basketball-172700619.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-29 17:27:00
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