College Basketball will be quickly approaching and Phenom Hoops simply can’t wait, as we are already talking college ball on our platform. There are plenty of players that you will want to watch out for this upcoming season, as we dive into some of the sophomores that could be in for a breakout-type season. We first start in the ACC as these sophomores could make a bigger name for themselves in more than one way.
6’11 James Scott – Louisville
Louisville will be looking to rebuild and make their mark with the new coaching staff, and one player that could be a breakout-type prospect in the ACC is the 6’11 big man from Charleston in James Scott. Scott will have some adjusting to do but he knows what it takes to play under Coach Kelsey. But this is a young man who finished the season shooting 79 percent from the floor, can finish at the rim well (52 total dunks as a freshman), and can make an impact on the defensive end. He is still an extremely young prospect, but he has a chance to make his mark in the ACC and only build on that in the coming years.
6’6 Dennis Parker Jr. – NC State
Parker is an interesting prospect to keep an eye on for the Wolfpack. He came in as a freshman and stepped up early for his team, showing those flashes that made him a high recruit around the region. He played in 25 games and started in 12 but his minutes started to fall towards the end of the regular season. After averaging 4.7ppg and 3.2rpg, Parker returns and could be a really vital piece with his length at 6’6, versatility, and improvement overall. This will be a team with several new names on the roster, but with Parker’s understanding of Keatts and what is needed from him, he could have that breakout sophomore campaign.
6’3 Braeden Shrewsberry – Notre Dame
The Irish certainly have some terrific young talent. Some may find it odd to find Shrewsberry on the list, especially with Markus Burton on the roster, but Burton already had his breakout year as a freshman in which he averaged 17.5ppg. So, we are looking at Shrewsberry, a 6’3 guard who played in 33 games and started 15, ultimately finishing second in scoring on this team. He, along with Burton, creates a strong duo on the court for Notre Dame as Shrewsberry opens up the offense with his shot-making ability (210 FGA last year). He averaged 10.2 points per game and he could be a huge help even more if he can continue to make a name for himself in the conference.
6’3 Jaland Lowe – Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh lost some strong talent from last year and they will need players to step up to compete in the ACC this year. One player who had a very good season last year was Lowe, averaging 26.5 minutes per game and 9.6 points. The 6’3 guard was second on the team in assists with 109 and was active both offensively and defensively. Lowe was able to get valuable experience last season but with the losses of Blake Hinson and Carlton Carrington, he will need to elevate his game even more. Which is why he could be in for that “breakout” type season for the Panthers.