In the latest edition of ‘P.I. Pulse’, Pro Insight’s Esayas Gebrekidan highlights who he deems as the top breakout candidates in college basketball after pouring through countless hours of film throughout the 2023-24 NCAA season:
With the college season underway, we will continue to ramp up our 2025 NBA draft coverage and to kick things off, we’ll spend the month of November taking a look through our Film Study lens to analyze the NCAA’s top returners, transfers, and breakout players for the 2024-25 cycle.
With that, here are 20 breakout candidates to keep a close eye on throughout the next six months:
6’0” Guard | Tulsa | Sophomore
💡➡️ All the makings of a guard that could take a leap in his second year with his athleticism, quickness, basketball IQ, and defensive motor
💡➡️ Potential to be a multi-level scorer with his ability to get to his spots off the bounce and move without the ball
💡➡️ Made the most of his 14.5 MPG last season, averaging 7.2 PPG, 1.4 APG and 1.1 SPG, shooting 45.7% from the field and 36.8 3FG% on 2.5 3PA/game
💡➡️ Has displayed an ability to generate offense with his speed, handle and change of pace
💡➡️ Good screen navigator – punished teams for dropping in coverage as he connected on 38.5% 3FG in PnR situations
💡➡️ Defends the length of the floor, moves well laterally, applies ball pressure, and plays with active hands
5’11” Guard | San Francisco | Sophomore
💡➡️ Scrappy, high IQ, team-first guard who plays with great energy and intensity on both ends
💡➡️ Shifty handler with downhill speed and ability to change direction
💡➡️ Collapses defenses and forces rotations; finds teammates with crafty passes
💡➡️ Shot 35.4 3FG%, 38.5% on C&S 3s, and 48.7% on unguarded C&S attempts, last year
💡➡️ Defends the length of the floor, turns ball handlers and applies ball pressure
💡➡️ Great gap defender – stunts and plays with active hands as he generates steals + deflections
💡➡️ Sees the floor, plays man and ball, shows good awareness on rotations + as a help defender
Xzayvier Brown
6’2” Guard | St. Joseph’s | Sophomore
💡➡️ A-10 Rookie of the Year – earned significant minutes (30.9) due to his two-way play, ranked #2 on the team in PPG (12.7), #2 in APG (3.3) and led team in SPG (1.8)
💡➡️ Shifty with the ball – handles pressure and makes good reads OTD
💡➡️ Flashes of three-level scoring: 44.7% on MR attempts, 40 3FG%, and 50.4% in the paint
💡➡️ Great movement shooter and threat off the ball as a C&S option (44.1 3FG%)
💡➡️ Effective and efficient in PnR situations, which accounted for 29.9% of his offense, getting into the paint (59.5% at the rim) and from three (39.5%)
💡➡️ POA defender who guards the length of the floor – relentless with his ball pressure and plays with active hands
💡➡️ Great effort and energy, fights over screens, plays in the gaps, and good awareness as he forces opponents into contested FGA
Quadir Copeland
6’6” Guard | McNeese State | Junior
💡➡️ High energy role player who brings versatility and a team-first mindset
💡➡️ Strong finisher in the paint (55.5 FG%); uses his frame and length to finish over and through defenders
💡➡️ Big guard; can initiate offense and has playmaking ability, totaling 12 games with 4+ assists, last season
💡➡️ Strong on-ball defender who’s physical and disruptive with his length
💡➡️ Glue guy traits in how he makes hustle plays, crashes the boards, dives for/chases loose balls, etc.
6’5” Guard | Georgia | Sophomore
💡➡️ Started 36 games in 2023-24; earned All-SEC Freshman honors
💡➡️ Good change of speed and separation off the dribble to get to the rim or to his mid-range jumper
💡➡️ Puts pressure on defenses with his downhill speed and ability to makes live-dribble reads
💡➡️ Great defensive rebounder (3.4 DRPG, last year) who uses this as an opportunity to push the ball in transition
💡➡️ Disruptive defender on and off the ball, plays with active hands, has good awareness, and an understanding of rotations + help defense
6’9” Forward | Saint Joseph’s | Junior
💡➡️ High-motor forward with plus-length. Can shoot, rebound, rim-run, and protect the paint
💡➡️ Elite rim finisher (68.7 FG%)
💡➡️ Ranked in the 90th percentile or better in PPP in transition offense (97th percentile, 1.512 PPP), offensive rebound putbacks (91st percentile, 1.442 PPP) and PnR offense (93rd percentile, 1.429 PPP)
💡➡️ Growing game from range – 39.5 3FG% on unguarded C&S attempts and 46.5 3FG% on PnP in 2023-24
💡➡️ Good awareness – understands when to relocate to space the floor
💡➡️ Rim protector and shot blocker (1.5 BPG) with good timing and instincts
💡➡️ Leverages length to alter shots – held opponents to 33 FG%, 27.5 3FG% and 41.8 FG% in the paint, last year
6’5” Guard | Duke | Sophomore
💡➡️ Quality freshman season, as he averaged 7.7 PPG, 2.1 APG, and 2.4 RPG
💡➡️ Should earn an increased role with the departures of Jared McCain and Jeremy Roach
💡➡️ Adds value both on and off the ball with his ability to shoot and set the table, as he shot nearly 41% on his three-point attempts and averaged 2.1 APG last season
💡➡️ Growth as a slasher will be pivotal, especially as a lead handler in this system
6’5” Guard | Michigan | Junior
💡➡️ Physical guard with a strong frame who can beat you OTD while using his body to create space on drives
💡➡️ Flashes of three-level scoring while adding value as secondary playmaker
💡➡️ Gets in the paint and finishes through contact (55.5% of his attempts were at the rim, last year)
💡➡️ Impressive as a playmaker (3.1 APG in 2023-24); initiates offense, good court vision and ball placement
💡➡️ Strong defender who uses his length and frame to frustrate opposing handlers; held opponents to 38.4 FG% and 32.4 3FG% as a soph
💡➡️ Doesn’t generate steals, but plays with active hands, often causing deflections on and off the ball
6’0” Guard | UC Riverside | RS-Sophomore
💡➡️ Led team in PPG (12.6), APG (4.5) and SPG (1.3) last season and was named Big West Freshman of the Year and All-Big West Honorable Mention
💡➡️ Shifty; can beat opponents OTD and is hard for defenses to contain in space
💡➡️ 3.14:1 AST:TO; takes care of the ball and displays good IQ as he adjusts to defensive coverages
💡➡️ Great off-ball mover; forces the defense to commit to him as he navigates screens
💡➡️ Competitor who embraces all matchups and doesn't let his size hinder him from being physical on D
💡➡️ Turns ball-handlers, plays with active hands, applies ball pressure, and as the primary defender in 2023-24, opponents shot 33.7 FG%, 31.9 3FG% and 33.3% at the rim
6’4” Guard | Arizona | Sophomore
💡➡️ Two-way standout who embraced his role as a defender, while also contributing as a slasher and floor-spacer
💡➡️ Effective off-ball mover – thrived as a cutter as a frosh, converting 57.1 FG% on basket cuts
💡➡️ Great effort on the offensive boards (1 ORPG) and consistently got tap outs, too
💡➡️ Generated transition opportunities on D, which accounted for 21% of his 2023-24 offense
💡➡️ Game-changing defender – makes players work to get open, locks and trails as he denies the pass, etc.
💡➡️ Physical, plays with active hands, and pressures the ball, as he averaged 1.1 SPG
6’3” Guard | Pittsburgh | Sophomore
💡➡️ Will see an increased role after a solid freshmen season in which he averged 9.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, and shot 35.2 3FG%
💡➡️ Offers some scoring diversity: floaters, mid-range jumpers, movement shooting, etc.
💡➡️ Crafty and shifty ball-handler with a great first step and downhill speed
💡➡️ 2.36:1 AST:TO ratio, great court vision and ability to engage the defense as he finds teammates on drive and kicks and dump-offs – all while limiting turnovers
💡➡️ Solid defender who embraces the physicality, fights over screens, turns ball handlers and plays in the gaps
6’11” Forward | FAU | Junior
💡➡️ Displays flashes of his versatile game and skill as a D-P-S stretch big
💡➡️ Pushes the ball in transition, has good open court speed, and uses his long strides to cover ground
💡➡️ Secondary playmaking skill set in transition and out of the post
💡➡️ Good awareness and navigation as an off-ball mover (converted 78.6% of his attempts on basket cuts, last season)
💡➡️ Improved shooter from range but it remains an area of growth; showed promise as a C&S option from range in 2023-24 (32.4 3FG%)
💡➡️ Defensively, utilizes his length to his advantage, sagging off of quicker guards but makes up for the space with his 7’2” WS
💡➡️ Averaged 1.1 BPG as a soph; effective weak-side defender; contests opponents at the rim
6’8” Forward | South Carolina | Sophomore
💡➡️ Physical forward with strength, skill, vision, and touch
💡➡️ Scores in the post off dump-offs, rolls, put-backs and via a rim running
💡➡️ Seals defenders, carves out space in the post and finishes with both hands
💡➡️ Good effort and positioning as a rebounder – boxes out – averaged 2 ORPG (1.122 PPP, 58% FG) as a freshman
💡➡️ High-level finisher in the paint – converted 62.1 FG% of such attempts in 2023-24
💡➡️ Versatile defender who holds his own on the perimeter; moves his feet laterally and forces opponents to finish through him
💡➡️ In the post he uses his size and strength to force bigs off the block. Doesn’t give up easy buckets
6’8” Forward | Iowa State | Sophomore
💡➡️ Skilled sharpshooter who earned big minutes (30.8 MPG) and was given the green light to let it fly as a frosh
💡➡️ Elite floor-spacer – converted 46.1 3FG% (35/76) on unguarded C&S attempts and 37.6% on total C&S attempts in 2023-24
💡➡️ Excelled off the ball as a movement shooter, converting 43.3 3FG% coming off screens, last year
💡➡️ Quick and high release with an innate ability to get his shot off over defenders
💡➡️ Leverages his shooting to force hard closeouts to beat opponents off the dribble and via backdoor cuts, as he knocked down 48.7% of his mid-range jumpers and 46.2% of his floaters, last season
💡➡️ Has displayed an ability to score and make plays out of the post
💡➡️ Capable defender with versatility and engagement on and off the ball
6’10” Big | UConn | Junior
💡➡️ Rim-running big who brings size, strength, toughness, and the potential to be a nightly double-double
💡➡️ Does all his work in the paint – finishes with both hands and plays through contact (converted 61.9% of his attempts at the rim as a soph)
💡➡️ Plays big in the post, shows his hands and uses his strong frame to seal or duck in
💡➡️ Active on the offensive boards (2.5 ORPG in 2023-24); consistently creates second-chance opportunities
💡➡️ Rim protector (1.2 BPG in 2023-24) who also alters countless additional shots thanks to his excellent timing and instincts
💡➡️ Disciplined defender who maintains a strong base, moves opponents off their spot, prevents entry passes, and doesn't bite on shot fakes
💡➡️ Demonstrated an ability to defend on the perimeter in spurts, holding his own when required to switch, moving his feet well, and using his length to disrupt ball handlers
6’10” Big | Loyola Chicago | Sophomore
💡➡️ High motor big with elite athleticism and length; earned A10 All-Defense Team and All-Rookie Team honors in 2023-24
💡➡️ Started 30 games, averaged 17 MPG, 6.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG and converted 66.4% of his FGA as a frosh
💡➡️ Ranked in the 98th percentile in PPP (1.650) on offensive rebound putbacks, last season
💡➡️ Athleticism and length allows teammates to find him with lobs on rolls and cuts
💡➡️ Provides versatility on the defensive end and has made progress switching onto guards in iso and PnR situations
💡➡️ Ranked 14th in BPG (2.3) and led the nation in BLK% (14.4%), last season
💡➡️ Great timing, instincts and awareness contesting attempts as opponents converted just 45.2% of their attempts at the rim, last year
6’0” Guard | Oregon | Sophomore
💡➡️ 2023-24 Pac-12 All-Freshman team
💡➡️ Intriguing blend of speed, playmaking and scoring while adding value both on + off the ball
💡➡️ Versatile scorer and a a slithery slasher who knocks down pull-up jumpers and C&S 3s
💡➡️ Rated in the 78th percentile in dribble jumpers, 93rd percentile in runners, and 75th percentile in finishing at the rim last season, via Synergy
💡➡️ Competitor on D who evades/fights through screens and is incredibly quick laterally, but does have limitations as a switchable defender due to his size
💡➡️ Increased usage on deck with the loss of Jermaine Couisnard
Dan Skillings, Jr.
6’6” Guard | Cincinnati | Junior
💡➡️ Athletic big guard with shooting and playmaking upside
💡➡️ Capable from range – 28.4 3FG% in 2023-24 – but remained a threat, converting 37.5% of his unguarded C&S 3s
💡➡️ Has shown improvement as a secondary playmaker over time, regularly setting up teammates in transition and on kick-outs
💡➡️ Crashes the boards (2.4 ORPG, last season), creating second-chance opportunities
💡➡️ Solid defender – active in the gaps, plays long, takes away the shot and defends the drive on closeouts
6’8” Wing | Xavier | Sophomore
💡➡️ Swiss Army knife with a diverse, two-way skillset
💡➡️ Has reportedly added over 40 pounds of muscle since last season, according to Sean Miller’s podcast
💡➡️ Smooth athlete who consistently moves without the ball and contributes as a cutter/play-finisher
💡➡️ Adds value with his vision as a passer and activity on the offensive glass, but must improve as a shooter to reach his ceiling as a prospect (4-26 from 3 as a frosh)
💡➡️ Defends multiple positions on the perimeter with fluidity, and may be able to slide up the lineup even more thanks to the added bulk
Jaret Valencia
6’9” Forward | Monmouth | RS-Sophomore
💡➡️ Earned CAA All-Rookie Team and All-Defensive Team with averages of 8.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 1.0 APG, last season
💡➡️ Athletic, wiry forward who moves well for his size
💡➡️ Play-finisher who can elevate for put-backs, lobs, or layups/dunks
💡➡️ Defends multiple positions with his size, mobility, and instincts, where he alters shots at the rim and contests jumpers with his length
💡➡️ Per Synergy, ranked in the 88th percentile in defending shots at the rim, in 2023-24
