NCAAB · 1 year ago

SportsGrid’s College Basketball Mid-Season All-Americans

David Connelly

Host · Writer

Zach Edey - Purdue
There has never been anybody like Zach Edey in college basketball history. His size, girth, footwork, and touch make him a complete cheat code that nobody has found a way to stop. He was the shoo-in pick for National Player of the Year in the preseason, and nothing has changed that throughout conference play. He's the top-ranked player in the country, per KenPom. He is also on pace for the third-highest player efficiency rating in a single season since they began tracking it in 2002-03. The only players ahead of him are Zion Williamson in 2018-19 and Edey himself in 2022-23. And for those who think he's "just tall," check in with college basketball analytics savant Evan Miyakawa on that one.
Tristen Newton - UConn
Tristen Newton has always been able to give you two things as a college basketball player: Elite playmaking and solid rebounding for his size. His biggest bugaboo throughout his career has been inefficiency with his scoring. That has completely changed in 2023, as Newton boasts a career-high field-goal percentage and points per game. He has become a legitimate scoring threat while maintaining his rebounding and assist rates. Just look at his 31-point outburst against Kansas at The Phog in early December.
Kevin McCullar - Kansas
If you ask most casual fans, they'll likely tell you that Hunter Dickinson is the most important player for Kansas. It couldn't be further from the truth. Kevin McCullar does everything for the Jayhawks, and his impact is clear when watching the team operate. From scoring to rebounding to playmaking to defense, McCullar is at the center of it all and is capable of putting up triple-doubles, something he did in back-to-back games to Kentucky and Chaminade already this season.
PJ Hall - Clemson
Hall is a rare breed in today's world of college basketball. The senior has rode it out for four seasons at Clemson, a program that has made the NCAA Tournament just once since he has been on campus, during his freshman campaign, where he had a small bench role. After putting up substantial numbers in his sophomore and junior campaigns, Hall has taken his game to another level and earned himself national recognition as one of the best players not only within the ACC but also in the entire country.
Kyle Filipowski - Duke
While Kyle Filipowski's role in regards to minutes has not grown much since his freshman season, the big man is simply finding ways to be a more efficient player. His points, rebounds, assists, field-goal percentage, and KenPom offensive efficiency rating are all up from a season ago, while his turnovers have plummeted. We are seeing a serious sophomore leap from Filipowski this season, and he's got the inside rail to be this year's ACC Player of the Year.
Zach Edey - Purdue
There has never been anybody like Zach Edey in college basketball history. His size, girth, footwork, and touch make him a complete cheat code that nobody has found a way to stop. He was the shoo-in pick for National Player of the Year in the preseason, and nothing has changed that throughout conference play. He's the top-ranked player in the country, per KenPom. He is also on pace for the third-highest player efficiency rating in a single season since they began tracking it in 2002-03. The only players ahead of him are Zion Williamson in 2018-19 and Edey himself in 2022-23. And for those who think he's "just tall," check in with college basketball analytics savant Evan Miyakawa on that one.
Tristen Newton - UConn
Tristen Newton has always been able to give you two things as a college basketball player: Elite playmaking and solid rebounding for his size. His biggest bugaboo throughout his career has been inefficiency with his scoring. That has completely changed in 2023, as Newton boasts a career-high field-goal percentage and points per game. He has become a legitimate scoring threat while maintaining his rebounding and assist rates. Just look at his 31-point outburst against Kansas at The Phog in early December.

SportsGrid’s College Basketball Mid-Season All-Americans

Sports Betting

Sportsbook Promos

Social Casinos