In the latest edition of ‘P.I. Pulse’, Pro Insight’s Esayas Gebrekidan highlights who he deems as the top returners in college basketball after pouring through countless hours of film throughout the 2023-24 NCAA season:
With the college season underway, we will begin 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 returners to keep a close eye on throughout the next six months.
Top CBB Returners
Adama Bal
6’7” Guard | Santa Clara | Senior
💡➡️ All-WCC First Team in 2023-2024, leading the team in PPG (14.4) and APG (3.1)
💡➡️ Brings a healthy blend of scoring and playmaking. Thrives with the ball in his hands as he’s able to generate offense both for himself and for his teammates
💡➡️ Converted 35.4% of his overall 3s (4.9 3PA/game) and 40% in PnR situations
Darren Buchanan, Jr.
6’7” Forward | George Washington | RS-Sophomore
💡➡️ Offers a physical style of play, good size, length, athleticism, and versatility on both ends
💡➡️ Started 21 games as a RS-frosh, averaging 15.6 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1.3 SPG, while shooting 54.6 FG% and 32.3 3FG% (38.5% on C&S 3s and 46.2% from the corners)
💡➡️ Dynamic play-finisher with the ability to slash, roll and convert put-backs
💡➡️ Uses his size to frustrate opponents, often forcing contested shots and turnovers
Walter Clayton, Jr.
6’3” Guard | Florida | Senior
💡➡️ 2023-24 Coaches Second-Team All-SEC and 2023-24 All-SEC Tournament team
💡➡️ Multi-level scorer that keeps the defense honest and creates opportunities for his team with his ability to get downhill
💡➡️ In PnR possessions as the ball-handler, he shot 62.5% on mid-range attempts and 54.2% on attempts at the rim, last season
💡➡️ Physical POA defender who forces tough shots and turnovers
RJ Davis
6’0” Guard | UNC | Graduate Student
💡➡️ Reigning ACC Player of the Year who led the Tar Heels with a career-high 21.2 PPG and 1.2 SPG in 2023-24
💡➡️ Tied his career-high with 3.5 APG, while limiting his TOs (1.5/game)
💡➡️ Speedy/crafty guard who’s effective with the ball in his hands, using his handle and speed to penetrate and find gaps
💡➡️ Sufficient shooter at 43 FG% (16 FGA/game) and nearly 40% from 3 on high volume (7.7 3PA/game)
💡➡️ Embraces physicality, fights over + through screens and gets there on the catch with active hands
6’2” Guard | New Mexico | Junior
💡➡️ Winner who does all the little things
💡➡️ Clutch performer who hit three game-winners and totaled 3 double-doubles, last season
💡➡️ Averaged 14.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG and 5.1 APG, connecting on 52.0 FG% and 37.5 3FG%
💡➡️ Bends defenses with his high basketball IQ, vision and elite speed
💡➡️ Possesses good hands and quick instincts to force turnovers (1.5 SPG), while holding opponents to 32 FG% and 23.4 3FG%
Darius Hannah
6’9” Big | Bradley | Graduate Student
💡➡️ Member of the 2023-2024 MVC Most-Improved Team, breaking out with career-highs in points (11.5 PPG), rebounds (6.3 RPG), assists (1.9 APG), blocks (1.2 BPG) and steals (1.2 SPG)
💡➡️ Athletic, high-motor big and a paint presence on both ends
💡➡️ Great screen-and-roll option and an elite lob threat who finishes above the rim. Per Synergy, ranked in the 97th percentile in PPS, converting 75% FG in the paint
💡➡️ Secondary playmaking threat (1.9 APG) — effective in short rolls and DHOs, finding cutters and shooters when the weak side defense collapses
💡➡️ Capable perimeter defender who brings great energy, plays long, understands positioning, and rotates to contest shots and get deflections
💡➡️ Posted a 95.2 defensive rating last season, holding opponents to 37 FG% and 32.1 3FG%
Dajuan Harris, Jr.
6’2” Guard | Kansas | Graduate Student
💡➡️ Two-way guard with great vision and IQ. One of the better defensive guards in the nation.
💡➡️ Has ranked in the top-15 nationally in APG for the last two seasons
💡➡️ Uses his speed and processing ability to dissect the defense
💡➡️ Effective off the ball, penetrates the defense on cuts, handoffs and as a floor spacer (career 39 3FG%)
💡➡️ Turns opponents and forces teams into mistakes with his POA defense
💡➡️ Turns stops into transition opportunities with his ball pressure and physicality
💡➡️ Active in the gaps, good instincts and awareness as he sees plays develop
6’5” Guard | Marquette | Senior
💡➡️ Averaged 17.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1.1 SPG with shooting splits of 50.1/40.6/72.4 in 2023-24
💡➡️ Microwave scorer who’s exceptional at manipulating the defense to get to his spots
💡➡️ In PnR possessions as the ball handler, connected on 52.6% of his 3PA, last year
💡➡️ Diverse on/off-ball scorer who excels at coming off screens, cuts, or handoffs
💡➡️ Improved defender who played with better effort, embraced matchups and showed greater awareness on and off the ball as a junior
Ryan Kalkbrenner
7’1” Big | Creighton | Senior
💡➡️ Elite size with plus-length
💡➡️ Has great touch around the rim, converting 69.4 FG% at the rim in the half court
💡➡️ Converted 63.8% of his post-up attempts and ranked in the 97th percentile in PPP (1.223)
💡➡️ Best offensive rebounding big in the nation, averaging 2.5 ORPG and 1.711 PPP on put-backs in 2023-24
💡➡️ Expanding his game – attempted a career high 54 3PA, converting 29.6% last year
💡➡️ 3x Big East DPOY. Defensive anchor and the nation's top shot blocker (3.1 BPG) and rim protector as opponents converted just 34.9% on attempts at the rim
6’8” Forward | UConn | RS-Junior
💡➡️ Averaged 13.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 1.5 APG with shooting splits of 49.5/37.9/88.5 as a RS-Soph
💡➡️ Three-point specialist who converted 39.3% of his attempts in the half court in 2023-24
💡➡️ Strong finisher at the rim, where he converted 70% of his attempts in the half court, effectively using his shooting prowess to set up his dribble-drive game
💡➡️ Made strides defensively, displaying his versatility to defend multiple positions
6’4” Guard | Princeton | Junior
💡➡️ Skilled guard who takes and makes tough shots but also beats you with his off-ball movement and playmaking
💡➡️ Dynamic when he gets downhill into the middle of the defense and either finishes at the rim or finds teammates
💡➡️ Gravity as a shooter opens up finishing opportunities, where he converted 59.3% at the rim with finesse or through contact
💡➡️ Led the team in APG (3.2) and assisted on 24.8% of his team’s FGM
💡➡️ Cerebral, high-motor defender with great helpside instincts – rotates and plays with great effort as he closes out to contest shooters
Yaxel Lendeborg
6’9” Forward | UAB | Senior
💡➡️ Reigning AAC DPOY. Plays with a high motor, evidenced by his activity on the offensive boards (3.2 ORPG) and his ability to defend multiple positions effectively while remaining a rim presence (2.1 BPG)
💡➡️ Led the team in points (13.2), rebounds (10.4), blocks (2.1) and finished second in assists (2.1) in 2023-24
💡➡️ Active cutter who converted 73.9% of such attempts, last season
💡➡️ Capable range shooter, converting 33.3 3FG% on low volume, while knocking down 37.5% (12/32) of his C&S attempts
💡➡️ Good vision when doubled in the post and making reads in transition
💡➡️ Toolsy defender who can stay in front of guards, while offering weakside rim protection
6’1” Guard | Iowa State | Junior
💡➡️ Standout two-way guard
💡➡️ Floor general with speed, vision and decision-making to set up himself and his teammates
💡➡️ Increased his scoring output (+5.1 PPG) and his shooting from range, (+19.1% and 3.2 attempts/game) while assisting on nearly 30% of his teams FGM as a soph
💡➡️ Menace on the defensive end, hounding opponents with his active hands, physicality and ability to cut off drives
💡➡️ Forces the opposition into turnovers, both on and off the ball (2.7 SPG in 2023-2024)
Ryan Nembhard
6’0” Guard | Gonzaga | Senior
💡➡️ High IQ guard who possesses good awareness as he punished defenses with his fundamental approach to the game
💡➡️ Stepped into the lead guard role in his first season at Spokane and helped lead the Bulldogs to the Sweet 16, while setting the program’s record for assists (243)
💡➡️ PnR situations accounted for 35.9% of his offensive output in 2023-24
💡➡️ Dangerous off screens with his pull-up game from the mid-range, where he converted 61% of those attempts as a junior
6’9” Forward | Georgia Tech | Sophomore
💡➡️ 6’9”, athletic and long (7’2” WS). Adds value with his two-way skillset and high motor
💡➡️ Averaged 12.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1 APG a year ago, ranking #2 in the ACC in FG% (55.8%) #6 in ORPG (2.55) and #7 in RPG (8.2)
💡➡️ Makes a living in the paint, converting 60.8% of his attempts at the rim in the half court in 2023-24
💡➡️ Scores in a variety of ways – especially as a roller, post scorer and via the offensive glass
💡➡️ Although the sample size is small (4-12), showcased his ability to stretch the floor (33.3 3FG%)
💡➡️ Defensively, alters plenty of shots with his ability to play vertically, as he forced opponents into 38.1 FG% at the rim last season
💡➡️ On the perimeter, he utilizes his length and ability to move his feet to keep ball handlers in front, offering some switchability
Maxime Raynaud
7’1” Big | Stanford | Senior
💡➡️ Stretch big who plays with a high motor and effects the game with his post play, cutting and rim-running
💡➡️ Had a career year on his way to earning PAC-12 Most Improved Player in 2023-24, with averages of 15.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 2 APG on 56.7 FG% (career high) and 36.1 3FG%
💡➡️ Scores with both hands around the rim and is an improved finisher through contact (converted 59.7% of his post-up attempts last season)
💡➡️ Underrated and improved playmaker
💡➡️ He’s made some nice strides as a defender, showing an increased level of physicality and an ability to guard in space, holding opponents to 27.5% from range (-12.2% from 2022-2023) and 41.7% at the rim
6’9” Forward | Indiana | Junior
💡➡️ Started every game, averaged 28.7 MPG and improved in almost every statistical category, 15.4 PPG (+9.3), 6 RPG (+2.3), 2.7 APG (+1.9), 33 3FG (+8.3%) as a sophomore
💡➡️ Uses his physicality to move defenders with his strong base and finesse when finishing at the rim (60 FG%)
💡➡️ Averaged 2.5 APG (20.4 AST%), last yeast – sees the floor well and makes plays out the post
💡➡️ Shot 33.3% from 3 (1.4 3PA/game), an improvement from his freshman season
💡➡️ Excels at protecting the paint – whether in the post or as a help defender – he uses his length and big frame to play vertically, forcing opponents to finish through him
💡➡️ Can hold his own on the perimeter – moves his feet well for his size and uses his body/frame to make ball handlers uncomfortable
6’5” Guard | Wake Forest | Senior
💡➡️ Breakout junior year with Wake Forest, finishing the season with splits of 48.5/40.5/78.3
💡➡️ Three-level scorer – 40.5 3FG%, 45.7% mid-range, 58.2% rim
💡➡️ Score-first, fundamentally sound guard who plays with great pace and beats opponents with his quick first step
💡➡️ Plays with a low center of gravity and creates space in a variety of ways; does a good job of playing off two
💡➡️ Has developed into a guy who can get to any spot he wants at the CBB level – scores in a variety of ways and is efficient in the process
💡➡️ Excels as an off-ball defender, playing in the gaps and has good instincts and awareness with his ability to strip defenders on drives
Mark Sears
6’1” Guard | Alabama | Graduate Student
💡➡️ 2023-24 accolades: First Team All-SEC, First Team All-American, Bob Cousy Finalist
💡➡️ Dynamic shooter with range and touch, totaling 50.8 FG%, 43.6 3FG% and 85.7 FT% last season
💡➡️ Smart, cerebral off-ball mover who relocates and drifts to open spots for C&S opportunities
💡➡️ 97th percentile in C&S situations and 83rd percentile on dribble jumpers last season, per Synergy
💡➡️ His gravity as a shooter and scorer opens up his playmaking, as he can find the open teammate after creating an advantage (4.0 APG last season)
6’1” Guard | UNLV | Sophomore
💡➡️ Outstanding freshman season as he started every game, leading his team in points (13.6 PPG), assists (5.2 APG) and 3FG% (36.2%), on his way to earning Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year
💡➡️ Poised, smart ball handler who has all the makings of an elite floor general
💡➡️ Pass-first guard who’s patient with the ball – excels at playing with his speeds and angles
💡➡️ In PnR possessions, he displayed great ability navigating screens, getting the primary defender on his hip, then attacking the big
💡➡️ Flashes of three-level scoring, shooting 36.4% from range but will need to be more efficient from mid-range (40.0 FG%) and a better finisher in the paint (51.4%)
💡➡️ Has quietly become a very sound defender who’s scrappy and physical – also has the functional lateral movement to keep ball-handlers in front
💡➡️ Good activity, discipline and instincts off the ball, sticking to his man as he locks and trails, denies passes, rotates on closeouts, etc.
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