This article will continue ranking the top 50 Big East players with today’s reveal of #33 through #17. Part I, which ranks players #50 to #34 and published last week, can be found here.
- 33. Tyrique Jones, Xavier, JR, Center. Jones is a physical bruising center who has been shuffled in and out of the Musketeers’ starting lineup over the past two years. He is limited offensively, but his defense and rebounding are extremely valuable. The junior averaged 7.0 PPG and 4.5 RPG as a sophomore, but should only see a slight uptick in minutes as he will likely split playing time with Zach Hankins.
- 32. Joe Chartouny, Marquette, SR, PG. Chartouny is a perfect fit alongside Markus Howard in the Marquette backcourt as he is an excellent defender and distributor. Howard is an undersized scorer so having the 6’3’’ Chartouny around is enormously beneficial for Marquette on both ends of the floor. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Chartouny will be a crucial piece for the Golden Eagles.
- 31. Myles Cale, Seton Hall, SO, Wing. Cale is one of the most likely breakout players in the Big East this season because he should see a major increase in playing time as a result of the departure of Desi Rodriguez. The 6’6’’ wing averaged 4.3 PPG as a freshman last year, but he increased his scoring to 7.0 PPG over his last seven games.
- 30. Jahvon Blair, Georgetown, SO, Guard. Blair was thrust into a major role as a freshman and his efficiency understandably suffered. The 6’3’’ sophomore averaged a solid 9.0 PPG, but he only shot 32 percent from the field. It will be interesting to see if Blair is more comfortable in year two as a Hoya and whether he can emerge as one of the top shooters in the Big East.
- 29. Paul Jorgenson, Butler, SR, Guard. Jorgenson was in the starting lineup for a majority of last season before getting replaced by Sean McDermott for the final eight games. He will likely return to a starting role this year to provide some scoring punch in an effort to replace some of Kelan Martin’s lost production. The 6’2’’ guard will be at a size disadvantage in defending opposing wings, but Butler actually performed better last season when the Bulldogs utilized a three-guard lineup. Jorgenson averaged 10.2 PPG and shot 35 percent from three-point range as a junior.
- 28. Ryan Welage, Xavier, SR, PF. Welage is another graduate transfer who fills an important role for his new team. With Trevon Blueitt and Kaiser Gates out of the program, the Musketeers desperately needed a stretch four in their lineup. That is where Welage comes in, as he averaged 18.1 PPG and shot 43 percent from three-point range at San Jose State last year. The 6’9’’ PF will likely start and provide immediate experience and spacing for Xavier.
- 27. Nate Watson, Providence, SO, Center. Watson is an excellent offensive player who has superb touch around the rim. The 6’10’’ center struggles to rebound and defend — limiting his overall impact — but he should still see a range of 20-25 minutes per game and regularly score in double figures.
- 26. Jahvon Quinerly, Villanova, FR, Guard. Quinerly is the top-rated incoming recruit in the Big East this season and is the likely heir to Jalen Brunson at the Villanova point guard position. The 6’1’’ freshman is an excellent three-point shooter and can also create shots for himself as well as his teammates.
- 25. Paul Scruggs, Xavier, SO, Guard. After being relegated to a minor role as a freshman, Scruggs is poised for a breakout season. He is a big physical guard who should pair well with Quentin Goodin to form a tenacious defensive backcourt. Scruggs should also see an uptick in offensive production and could easily double his 4.9 PPG from last season.
- 24. Jamorko Pickett, Georgetown, SO, Wing. Pickett had an excellent freshman season where he flashed his immense offensive potential. The 6’7’’ combo forward averaged 9.6 PPG and shot 36 percent from three-point range, but he will see a bigger role in the offense with Marcus Derrickson now gone. It will be interesting to see how Pickett adjusts to playing more power forward this season.
- 23. Taurean Thompson, Seton Hall, SO, PF. Thompson is such a difficult player to rank. He is a good offensive player who averaged 9.2 PPG as a freshman at Syracuse, but he has many deficiencies in his overall game. The sophomore tends to settle for contested jump shots and is often an indifferent defender and rebounder. Seton Hall needs him to make a major impact and become its secondary scorer, so eliminating these bad habits will be critical.
- 22. Mitch Ballock, Creighton, SO, Wing. Ballock is an excellent three-point shooter who played a fairly prominent role as a freshman. The 6’6’’ wing averaged 7.3 PPG and could develop into Creighton’s top offensive option as a sophomore. Ballock often struggles defensively, especially when he plays on the blocks, but his shot-making and high basketball IQ make up for it.
- 21. Ed Morrow, Marquette, JR, Center. Morrow has seemingly flown under the radar as an impact transfer this offseason. The 6’7’’ center averaged 9.4 PPG and 7.5 RPG as a sophomore at Nebraska and he should post similar numbers this year on an improved Marquette team. He is a significant upgrade from the other centers on the Golden Eagles’ roster and he can help fill the interior scoring void that was created when Luke Fischer graduated two seasons ago.
- 20. Joe Cremo, Villanova, SR, Guard. Cremo was one of the most highly-coveted graduate transfers on the market and he has found an ideal landing spot on a terrific Villanova squad. Once Donte DiVincenzo unexpectedly left college for the NBA, the Wildcats needed a veteran scorer to step into the starting lineup. Cremo fits this description perfectly and he should immediately provide great experience and perimeter shooting, having averaged 17.8 PPG and shot 46 percent from long-range at Albany.
- 19. Sean McDermott, Butler, JR, Wing. McDermott has a chance to emerge as one of the surprise players in the conference this season. The 6’6’’ wing averaged 7.5 PPG as a sophomore, but he is now the team’s second-best player after Kelan Martin’s departure. McDermott shot 43 percent from three-point range and also has a strong floor game.
- 18. Marvin Clark, St. John’s, SR, PF. Even though St. John’s had a disappointing season, Clark proved to be a reliable contributor. The 6’6’’ senior averaged 12.5 PPG and 4.7 RPG while showcasing his floor spacing proficiency (41% 3FG). The Red Storm need Clark’s mix of toughness and offensive skill and he could even be utilized as a small-ball center when St. John’s downsizes.
- 17. Martin Krampelj, Creighton, JR, Center. Krampejl was in the midst of a breakout season (11.9 PPG and 8.1 RPG) when a knee injury severely weakened Creighton’s prospects last year. With Foster and Thomas now gone, Krampejl has an opportunity to further showcase his offensive skill. He is a great pick-and-roll finisher and it will be interesting to see if he gets more post touches as he becomes more of a focal point this year.