College basketball rankings: Drew Timme, Oscar Tshiebwe headline Top 101 players for 2022-23 from CBS Sports (2024)

It’s interesting that the returning National Player of the Year didn’t get the top spot. Timme has a strong multi-year résumé as a two-time consensus All-American and one of the driving engines of KenPom’s No. 1 team two years running. Timme has been absolutely lethal in the NCAA Tournament as well, averaging 22.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists over Gonzaga’s nine tourney games the last two years. And this year, with Chet Holmgren off to the NBA, Timme could put together his best season yet as the Bulldogs are likely to rely heavily on his scoring ability.

Tshiebwe’s 15.2 rebounds per game were the most by any player since two players topped that mark in the 1978-79 season. To put that into perspective, the NCAA Tournament didn’t expand to 64 teams until 1985. Tshiebwe also averaged 17.4 points per game and landed a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team after producing 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game as well. Tshiebwe won both the Naismith and the Wooden awards as the nation’s best player, and he should make another run at those spots for what looks like a top-5 Kentucky team.

If not for Tshiebwe’s rebounding bonafides, Bacot probably would get more credit as an elite glass-cleaner himself. He averaged 16.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game last year and rebounded at a Tshiebwe-like rate when it mattered most, in the NCAA Tournament. In the Tar Heels’ six tourney games, Bacot brought the Tar Heels to within a hair (a healthy ankle?) of a national title, putting up 15.3 points and 16.5 rebounds per contest. He enters this year as the presumptive ACC Player of the Year and the foundation of a Tar Heels team that returns four starters and enters the year with national title aspirations.

Houston reached the Final Four two years ago and the Elite Eight last year, and yet this could be Kelvin Sampson’s best Cougars team. Sasser is a big reason why, with him serving as the headliner for what looks like college basketball’s best backcourt. Sasser played in just 12 games last year before he was knocked out for the year with a season-ending injury, but before then, he averaged 17.7 points per game while shooting 43.7% from behind the 3-point arc. While the Cougars will be excellent defensively and likely dominant on the glass, Sasser is a valuable piece in that he can get points in bushels, at any time, regardless of the defense.

The Big Ten has another loaded crop of big men, so for Jackson-Davis to be the first Big Ten player on this list is a pretty strong indication of how good he is, and will be this season. Jackson-Davis was a third-team All-American two seasons ago, then a second-team All-Big Ten selection last year, though he also earned his first Big Ten All-Defensive Team nod. Over the last two years, he averaged 18.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, with Jackson-Davis setting career highs last year in field goal percentage (58.9%) and blocked shots per game (2.3). With Indiana standing as a Big Ten favorite, he should have every chance to stay in the national conversation.

A consensus second-team All-American as a freshman, Dickinson increased his numbers across the board as a sophom*ore … and finished second-team All-Big Ten. Honors aside, Dickinson is one of the top returning players to college basketball, and he put up 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game last year. If the Wolverines are going to make it to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend for the third-straight year, he’s going to have to once again prove to be an All-America candidate, and probably get some help from the Wolverines’ younger players.

Jaquez was so good at doing the dirty work for the Bruins that he made first-team All-Pac-12 a year ago. He does so many little things to help UCLA win, and he scored a career-best 13.9 points per game last year, to go with 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. This year, expect him to set a new career high in scoring, with Mick Cronin noting in an interview that he thinks Jaquez could push toward All-America honors this year. He’s certainly proven himself to this point, starting 89 of the 97 games he’s played in for the Bruins, including all 32 games for the Bruins’ Final Four squad in 2021.

Opponents just can’t match up with Edey, whose size and skill at 7-foot-4 and 295 pounds makes him a problem with a capital ‘P.’ And with fellow center Trevion Williams off to the G League, the center spot should belong solely to Edey. He led the nation in offensive rebound rate and ranked second in fouls drawn per 40 minutes, putting 7.6 whistles on opponents per 40. And with Purdue so willing to play through him — he took a third of the Boilermakers’ shots when he was on the court last year —his averages of 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game could get left in the dust.

Davis is the highest-ranked transfer from this past offseason on this list. The TCU-to-SMU-to-Memphis star drew plenty of attention in the portal after putting up 19.3 points, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game over the last two seasons at SMU. That ability to both score and distribute will come in handy for a senior-heavy Memphis team, one that could push into the top 25 at some point this year. If the Tigers have that kind of season with Davis playing a starring role, All-America mention certainly isn’t out of the question.

CBS Sports is buying into the potential of the former five-star prospect. Love has been a streaky player to this point in his career, but when he’s been good, like he was in the odd-numbered rounds of the NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 27 points per game in wins over Marquette, UCLA and Duke, he’s been really good. The key now is becoming that player more consistently. Love finished last season averaging 15.9 points and 3.6 assists per game, and if he can ramp up his efficiency on one of the nation’s elite teams, he could be an honors candidate.

11. Keyonte George, Baylor
The top freshman on CBS Sports’ list, George is the top-ranked shooting guard and No. 9 overall player in 247Sports’ rankings. He showed his ability in Baylor’s preseason trip, where he averaged 22.8 points per game.

12. Mike Miles, TCU
A second-team All-Big 12 pick last year, Miles averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game for a team that finished just shy of the Sweet 16.

13. Nick Smith, Arkansas
The second freshman on this list, Smith actually finished the 2022 recruiting cycle as 247Sports’ top-ranked player. He could lead Arkansas in scoring.

14. Dereck Lively, Duke
As the No. 2 overall player in 247Sports’ rankings, Lively is the highest-ranked prospect in Duke’s No. 1-ranked class. Lively’s length and athleticism could make him a big-time rim protector.

15. Adama Sanogo, UConn
Sanogo is a bruising center who averaged 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game a year ago. He enters this year as the centerpiece for a UConn squad that finished just outside the top 25 in the AP’s preseason poll.

16. Adam Flagler, Baylor
Flagler led last year’s Baylor team, which won a share of the Big 12 title and finished as a No. 1 seed, in scoring at 13.8 points per game. He could take on more of a distributive role this year.

17. Jalen Wilson, Kansas
Wilson helped Kansas to the national championship a year ago, and was at his best in Big 12 play, when he averaged 13.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while leading the Big 12 in offensive rating and ranking second in effective field goal percentage.

18. Isaiah Wong, Miami
Wong played a major role in helping No. 10 seed Miami to an unlikely tournament run to the Elite Eight, He averaged 16.3 points per game over the run, including 22 and 21 points, respectively, in the first two rounds.

19. Timmy Allen, Texas
Allen joins Miles and Flagler as returning second-team All-Big 12 players. He put up 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game in his first season with the Longhorns after transferring over from Utah.

20. Colin Castleton, Florida
Florida may be flying slightly under the radar this year, and if the Gators exceed expectations, Castleton will likely be at the center of that effort. He averaged 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game last year.

21. Kris Murray, Iowa
A 38.7% 3-point shooter, Murray averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last year. But his per-40-minute numbers show a player who should take off with added time this year: 21.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.8 steals.

22. Tyger Campbell, UCLA
Campbell put up 11.9 points and 4.3 assists per game last year. But Mick Cronin has said Campbell should take on more of a scoring role this year, and the 41% 3-point shooter is equipped to do that.

23. Terquavion Smith, NC State
Smith was good enough at the NBA Draft Combine that there were real questions about whether he’d come back. It’s good for the Wolfpack that he did: he averaged 16.3 points per game last year.

24. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Creighton could have a top-10 team this year, and Kalkbrenner is the backbone of that squad as an excellent shot-blocker, interior scorer and offensive rebounder. He produced 13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

25. Dariq Whitehead, Duke
Whitehead is recovering from a fractured foot, but should get a chance to show why 247Sports ranked him as the No. 1 small forward and No. 3 overall player in the 2022 class.

26. Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona
27. Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois
28. Kevin McCullar, Kansas
29. Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
30. Cason Wallace, Kentucky
31. RJ Davis, North Carolina
32. Matt Bradley, San Diego State
33. Harrison Ingram, Stanford
34. Jordan “Jelly” Walker, UAB
35. Will Richardson, Oregon
36. Nijel Pack, Miami
37. Jayden Gardner, Virginia
38. Hunter Maldonado, Wyoming
39. Tyrese Hunter, Texas
40. LJ Cryer, Baylor
41. Brandon Miller, Alabama
42. Cam Whitmore, Villanova
43. DaRon Holmes, Dayton
44. Anthony Black, Arkansas
45. Jeremy Roach, Duke
46. Caleb Daniels, Villanova
47. DeAndre Williams, Memphis
48. PJ Hall, Clemson
49. Posh Alexander, St. John’s
50. Javonte Perkins, Saint Louis

51. Arthur Kaluma, Creighton
52. Justyn Mutts, Virginia Tech
53. Jared Bynum, Providence
54. Kevin Obanor, Texas Tech
55. Santiago Vescovi, Tennessee
56. Julian Strawther, Gonzaga
57. Amari Bailey, UCLA
58. Jamal Shead, Houston
59. Darius McGhee, Liberty
60. Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
61. Johni Broome, Auburn
62. Antoine Davis, Detroit
63. Avery Anderson, Oklahoma State
64. Colby Jones, Xavier
65. Cliff Omoruyi, Rutgers
66. Kyle Lofton, Florida
67. Sahvir Wheeler, Kentucky
68. Isiaih Mosley, Missouri
69. Kyle Filipowski, Duke
70. Jack Nunge, Xavier
71. GG Jackson, South Carolina
72. Ace Baldwin, VCU
73. Kel’el Ware, Oregon
74. Jamarion Sharp, Western Kentucky
75. Matthew Cleveland, Florida State

76. KJ Williams, LSU
77. Matthew Mayer, Illinois
78. Marcus Carr, Texas
79. Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana
80. Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin
81. Rasir Bolton, Gonzaga
82. Trey Alexander, Creighton
83. Ryan Nembhard, Creighton
84. Chucky Hepburn, Wisconsin
85. Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama
86. Isaiah Stevens, Colorado State
87. Grant Sherfield, Oklahoma
88. Jake Stephens, Chattanooga
89. Caleb Mills, Florida State
90. Jarace Walker, Houston
91. Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee
92. Graham Ike, Wyoming
93. Norchad Omier, Miami
94. Kerr Kriisa, Arizona
95. Leaky Black, North Carolina
96. Tramon Mark, Houston
97. Jalen Cook, Tulane
98. Jett Howard, Michigan
99. Reece Beekman, Virginia
100. Tyler Burton, Richmond
101. JJ Starling, Notre Dame