College Basketball: Ten mid major players off to scorching hot starts

We are two weeks into the college basketball season and what better time to start showing some mid-major players love? Sure a lot of the headlines surround the P5 schools and player standouts, but there are some mid-major college basketball players who really deserve some national-level attention.

While the sample size is still small, let’s break down ten mid-major players who are off to scorching hot starts this college basketball season.

C Ante Brzovic, College of Charleston

Stats: 27.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks, 56.8% FG, 63.6% 3P

Ante Brzovic went into the portal when Pat Kelsey left to take the job at Louisville. Soon after Chis Mack took the vacated position at the College of Charleston, Brozvic announced he would be returning. Through his first four games this season, the 6-foot-10 senior from Croatia has scored over 25 points, grabbed 9 or more rebounds, and dished at least 4 assists in three of them. All three of those games ended as wins for the Cougars. He is currently playing at a 33.3 percent usage rate with a 9.9 box plus/minus. Mack is playing through Brzovic and the Croatian is performing at a high level.

SF Nique Clifford, Colorado State

Stats: 20.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 stocks, 62.7% FG, 47.1% 3P

Nique Clifford built some buzz around his stellar play last season. This year though, he came back to school and has continued his production across the board. The 6-foot-5 win, who played his first three seasons at Colorado before transferring last season to the Rams, has quickly become the focal point of this offense. While he is averaging 12.8 shots (4.3 threes) he is doing so efficiently. He is rebounding the ball well, especially on the defensive end, and he is moving off the ball when it is not there. In Colorado State’s lone P5 games of the season, against Ole Miss in their most recent contest, Clifford had 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting 8-12 from the field.

C Oscar Cluff, South Dakota State

Stats: 18.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 stocks, 62.2% FG

Oscar Cluff transferred from Washington State in the off-season when his head coach left for Stanford. Cluff is now fourth in NCAA Divison 1 basketball in rebounding at 12.0 per game. Through the four games, the 6-foot-11 center is bringing down 4.3 offensive rebounds per game. The senior is finishing at a high clip around the basket and attempted 5.5 free throws (shooting 77.3 percent) per game.

PF Nick Davidson, Nevada

Stats: 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 blocks, 1.0 steals, 70.0% FG, 81.8% 3P

Nick Davidson is skilled, and his ability to stretch the floor and move the ball, at 6-foot-10, has been a large reason why Nevada is off to a 4-0 start and averaging 81.8 points per game. The junior big man has knocked down 9 of his 11 three-point attempts on the season and he has finished with three or more assists in three of the Wolf Pack’s four games.

PF Tyson Degenhart, Boise State

Stats: 17.3 points. 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 59.5% FG, 81.0% FT

In Boise State’s win this weekend against Clemson, Tyson Degenhart finished with 20 and 11 while going 7-10 from the field. From a production standpoint, the 6-foot-8 senior has been about as steady as they come over the past three seasons. He is now the leading scorer for a very talented Broncos lineup that has an NCAA Tournament run on their mind. In the two games this season Degenhart has played more than 25 minutes, he has combined to score 45 points and grab 18 rebounds while shooting 15-25 from the field.

PG Donovan Dent, New Mexico

Stats: 17.3 points, 8.8 assists, 2.0 steals, 54.3% FG

Donovan Dent enters this college season with the expectations as one of the best point guards in college basketball (not just mid-major, but all of Division 1). The 6-foot-2 junior has not disappointed to start the season. In two high major games played so far (UCLA and St. John’s), Dent is averaging 14.5 points, 7.0 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 13-25 (52%) from the field. New Mexico has high expectations coming off a 26-10 season and NCAA Tournament bid. They already have a win over UCLA to show for it.

G Xaivian Lee, Princeton

Stats: 15.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 41.7% 3P

Xaivian Lee experienced a breakout season last year as he finished seventh in Ivy in scoring as a sophomore. Lee returned to Princeton this season, has continued shooting at a high clip, and has added to his playmaking. In four of his five games played, the Tigers are currently 4-1, the 6-foot-2 guard has distributed five assists or more so far. The primary initiator is also knocking down 2.0 threes per game.

F Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB

Stats: 18.0 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.6 steals, 2.4 blocks, 55.0% FG

Over the past two seasons, Yaxel Lendeborg has averaged a double-double. The New Jersey native, who spent two seasons at JUCO before transferring to UAB last season, is the reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-9 forward started the season off with a 22-point, 15-rebound, 5-block showing against Vermont. He has been steady ever since, even dishing out five or more assists in three of UAB’s five games played.

SG Max Shulga, VCU

Stats: 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.8 steals, 46.9% FG, 38.9% 3P

Max Shulga entered the transfer portal this off-season and was committed to Villanova for a split second before deciding to come back to VCU for his senior season. The 6-foot-4 guard, who came to VCU with Odom from Utah State, is coming off a first-team All-A10 season. Shulga, a native of Ukraine, while shooting at an efficient clip, has dished four or more assists and grabbed five or more rebounds in all four of VCU’s games this season.

C Noah Williamson, Bucknell

Stats: 19.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.0 blocks, 49.2% FG

Noah Williamson took a step forward last college basketball season, averaging 12.3 points and shooting 49.5 percent from the field. Now, a junior, the 7-footer from Latvia is playing with a lot of confidence. He has scored in double figures in four of his five games played, including a 26-point outburst against Richmond this weekend. In that game against Richmond, Williamson also added five blocks and four assists while going 9-13 from the field. The early returns for Williamson are that he has taken another step forward for his junior season.