Def Pen Sports continues its NCAA basketball preview series this week with a focus on the Pac-12. A conference that often catches flack for many reasons, the Pac-12 does have a large crop of individual talent, comparable to any conference in the college hoops. The balance between quality returning players and a strong freshmen group makes for an interesting player hierarchy in the conference this year. Let’s take a look at our 2019 top-10 Pac-12 players.
10) Payton Pritchard (Oregon)
Just a couple of months ago, Oregon had a barren roster, with Payton Pritchard as the lone bright spot. Now, after some big recruiting wins and the addition of a few key transfers, the Ducks are once again Pac 12 favorites. One thing still hasn’t changed, though: Pritchard still projects to be the team’s star. The senior has started in 107 games since his freshman season, including his time as the starting point guard for Oregon’s Final Four squad in 2017. Over the past two years, Pritchard has averaged 13.7 points, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 49.5% from two-point range and 37.1% from three. He saw his percentage from outside fall this past season, as it plummeted from 41% in 2018 to just 33%, but he still projects as an elite shooter and high-level distributor. With the 6’2 point guard at the helm, look for Oregon to return to top-20 status.
9) CJ Elleby (Washington State)
A member of the Pac-12 All-Freshman team last year, CJ Elleby rose from unknown frosh to one of the top returning players in the conference. Elleby is a 6-foot-6 combo forward who contributes in every facet of the game. The sophomore averaged 14.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 3 APG while shooting 41% from deep on four attempts per game last season. All the while, he made his mark on the defensive end. Elleby plays passing lanes well and has the versatility to guard a couple of different positions. It will be a make-or-break year for Elleby as Washington State will rely on him, as their best player, to lead the team to improvement.
8) McKinley Wright (Colorado)
After being a surprise star for Colorado as a freshman and putting together one of the best first seasons in team history, McKinley Wright IV was projected by many to put up huge statistics last year as a sophomore. While his percentages increased by a fair amount, he saw a decrease in other key statistics, namely points and assists. He may not have quite lived up to the hype he had last preseason, but Wright still put up 13.0 points and 4.8 assists per game and is a phenomenal talent. With the Buffaloes returning the vast majority of their production from last season, he’ll have a chance to be the catalyst of a legitimate Pac 12 contender and NCAA tournament team. He’ll be one of the league’s premier guards.
7) Isaiah Mobley (USC)
The first freshman on this list is Isaiah Mobley. A southern California kid, Mobley has serious buzz heading into his freshman year. Listed at 6-foot-10, 235 pounds, Mobley will be held to a high standard, as USC is expected to have a top frontcourt in the conference and country. The lanky big man is a fluid athlete and can score inside and out. He can score with hooks in the post as well as serve as a floor-spacing big, displaying touch from all over the floor. His length, fluidity, and IQ allow him to serve as an impactful rim protector and overall defender. He projects as a switchable big man defensively, which will surely prove valuable. His offensive decision-making and overall strength have room to improve, but Mobley’s overall talent will provide a major boost to the Trojans.
6) Nick Rakocevic (USC)
Although USC is bringing two five star freshmen into their frontcourt, the biggest contributor figures to be Nick Rakocevic, who averaged 14.7 points and 9.3 rebounds last year and racked up 15 double-doubles. Rated as a fringe top-250 recruit in 2016 and, by some services, as a small forward, Rakocevic has not only developed into a legitimate big man but one of the best in the Pac 12. In order for him to take the next step as a player, Rakocevic will need to extend his game outside of the paint, which is something he planned to work on this offseason. We’ve already seen him become a significantly better free throw shooter, so developing a jump shot isn’t out of the question. Onyeka Okongwu will likely push him for minutes, but for now, the starting center spot belongs to Rakocevic, and he should be one of the better players in the league.
5) Shakur Juiston (Oregon)
Shakur Juiston is a Pac-12 newcomer who is poised to provide a major boost to the Oregon Ducks. Juiston was one of the top grad transfers in last year’s cycle. A former JUCO prospect, Juiston left the Junior College ranks for UNLV for two seasons, though his second year was limited to just eight games due to a meniscus injury. In 41 games at UNLV, Juiston averaged about 14 PPG and 10 RPG with suffocating defense against multiple positions. An impressive feat for the 6-foot-7 forward. A relatively late addition, Juiston provides two-way impact and another veteran presence to the team. Most importantly, Juiston has the versatility to accommodate some growing pains that may come with such a young team. Look for the all-around forward to produce in a major way for the new-look Oregon Ducks.
4) Jaden McDaniels (Washington)
One of two top-10 recruits to join the Washington Huskies this season, Jaden McDaniels is considered by a fair number of people to be a top-five talent in the upcoming draft. The 6’10 forward is a high-level scorer and has tremendous ball skills for a player his size. He had a decorated senior season for Federal Way High School; in addition to being named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington for the 2018-19 high school season after averaging 23.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, he led his team to a third-place finish in the 4A state tournament, was a First Time All-state selection and Second Team Naismith All-American, and won the North Puget Sound League MVP award. He’ll make a huge impact in the frontcourt this season alongside fellow top recruit Isaiah Stewart.
3) Isaiah Stewart (Washington)
Ranked in the top three in the 2019 class by ESPN, Isaiah Stewart arrives in Seattle with high expectations. The high-energy big man is viewed as a first-round prospect in the 2020 draft and is one half of a highly touted frontcourt pairing with the aforementioned Jaden McDaniels. Stewart projects as an uber-productive big man thanks in large part to his athleticism and motor. At 6-foot-9, 240 pounds with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. Stewart dominates opponents with his strength, quickness, and ability to run the floor with ease. As you can expect, he is an elite rebounder thanks to those physical tools. The athletic big man is an active rim runner with a budding face-up game, particularly in the mid post. Defensively, he shuts down opponents and seems to be everywhere on the floor. Stewart will help Washington remain a strong defensive team, as he is sure to be a menace in Mike Hopkins’s 2-3 zone.
2) Tres Tinkle (Oregon State)
The son of Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle, Tres is the leading returning scorer in the Pac 12 after averaging 20.8 points per game last season. He puts up his points in a very efficient manner; over the past two years, Tinkle has shot 56.3% from two-point range and 32.8% from three on 5.0 attempts per game, acting as a stretch four within the Beavers’ offense. While scoring is where he stands out, it’s far from the only thing he can do – over the past three seasons, the 6’8 forward has averaged 7.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in addition to his gaudy point totals. Look for him to keep Oregon State relevant in the Pac 12 this season, as there’s a strong chance that he’ll once again lead the conference in scoring.
1) Nico Mannion (Arizona)
Nico Mannion is viewed as one of the top talents in all of college basketball, with many scouts projecting him as a top 10 draft pick in 2020. Mannion, a freshman point guard, possesses elite playmaking ability and three-level scoring ability. Offensively, he is the complete package. Listed at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, the Arizona native displays exceptional athleticism. He is not the most physically imposing in terms of strength, broad shoulders, or general size. However, Mannion gets wherever he wants on the floor with high-level quickness, burst, and leaping ability. The crafty point guard exudes confidence and composure on the ball. Mannion plays fearlessly and decisively- always in control of the game. An active defender as well, the quick guard is a pest at the point of attack who can reliably read passing lanes off the ball as well. His negative wingspan is the most glaring black mark on Mannion’s profile, but his quick feet and IQ should help compensate on defense. Look for Mannion to bring life back into the Arizona basketball program.
