College Basketball: The top 10 players through first three weeks

The season is still early and the sample size is small, but we are entering the heavy part of “Feast Week” games, and some of college basketball’s top players have already experienced signature moments. Kam Jones’ triple-double against Purdue. Cooper Flagg’s performances against Kentucky followed up by Arizona. Johni Broome against Houston, Chaz Lanier’s shooting in the Bahamas, and Hunter Dickinson in both his UNC and Michigan State matchups. Each of those performances was memorable. 

Not only has each of the players mentioned had a signature moment, but they have been able to sustain the success outside of that individual game, or games. It was difficult whittling this list to just ten. Players like Texas’ Tre Johnson, Villanova’s Eric Dixon, and Arkansas’ Adou Thiero, as well as others, have started their seasons with some big showings as well.

UPDATED: College Basketball Top 25 After Week 3

I will take a look at top mid-major and freshman performers later in the week For now, let’s take a look at how I would rank the top ten performers in college basket through the first three weeks.

1. G Kam Jones, Marquette

Stats: 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 63.6%, 44.4% 3P

Kam Jones picked up where he left off last season, and then some. Jones is taking on initiation duties along with his established primary scoring duties. Jones secured Marquette’s first triple-double since Dwyane Wade in the Golden Eagles 76-58 win over Purdue. Marquette, who has started the season 6-0, is now ranked No. 11 by On3 and Jones leads the way in points and assists.

2. C Johni Broome, Auburn

Stats: 20.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 3.3 blocks, 65.5% FG

Johni Broome had a signature performance in Auburn’s win over Houston, and has followed that up with consecutive dominant performances. He has controlled the paint in each game he has played this season, and his 4-0 Tigers have jumped to No. 2 in the updated On3 top-25.

3. C Hunter Dickinson, Kansas

Stats: 17.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.8 steals, 56.9% FG

Not only has Hunter Dickinson been the best player on the best team so far this season, he has also been at his best in their biggest games. The 7-footer had 28 and 12 against Michigan State and 20 and 10 against UNC. Both games Kansas won. While this list is based on play this season, Dickinson has scored 2,297 career points and grabbed 1,200 career rebounds. His standard has been high throughout his college career.

4. F Alex Karaban, UConn

Stats: 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.3 blocks, 63.6% FG, 54.2% 3P

Alex Karaban is the only returning starter from last season’s National Championship winning team. UConn is now 4-0 to start this season and Karaban is leading the way in points and blocks and sits top three on the roster in rebounds and assists. While he has been a role player through his first two seasons in college, the 6-foot-8 junior is shooting efficiently while still moving the ball as a playmaker for Dan Hurley’s group.

5. F Cooper Flagg, Duke

Stats: 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.8 steals, 44.6% FG

Cooper Flagg came into the season with a massive reputation. The freshman forward has played heavy minutes, in a featured role, and connected the pieces for On3’s No. 9 ranked Duke team. In the Blue Devil’s two P5 games, Kentucky and Arizona, Flagg has gone for 26 and 11 and 24 and six respectively. He currently leads Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

6. C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

Stats: 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.2 blocks, 87.2% FG

Ryan Kalkbrenner got off to a scorching hot start to the season going for 49 points on 20-22 shooting. While his season has not maintained that initial status, he has continued to play efficiently and has established himself around the rim. Kalkbrenner struggled with foul trouble in last weeks’ loss to Nebraska, but the totality of what he has put together this season keeps the three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year on this list.

7. F JT Toppin, Texas Tech

Stats: 19.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.5 steals, 62.3% FG

JT Toppin seems to be a magnet for the ball. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 3.5 stocks (steals + blocks) per game this season while cleaning up on the boards. He is efficient around the basket and does a lot with the minutes he is playing (26.5 per game). Texas Tech is on the doorstep of a top-25 ranking and he is leading the 5-1 Red Raiders in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks through the first six games.

8. G Chaz Lanier, Tennessee

Stats: 17.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 48.8% FG, 54.8% 3P

A lot of eyes were on Rick Barnes’ group after losing Dalton Knecht and three other starters from last year’s team. So far, the Volunteers are 6-0 to start the season and Chaz Lanier has scored the ball at a high, and efficient clip. The 6-foot-4 North Florida transfer scored 25 and 26 points against Virginia and Baylor respectively this week. He shot 13-22 from three in those two games.

9. G PJ Haggerty, Memphis

Stats: 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 49.1% FG, 50.0% 3P

Memphis is off to a 4-0 start to the season and the Tigers have been led by the 6-foot-3 transfer from Tulsa. PJ Haggerty’s 21.2 points last season finished second in the AAC and 15th in Division 1 college basketball last season. He is getting to the line 9.0 times per game this season where he is shooting 86.1 percent. Up next for Haggerty is a matchup with UConn in the opening round of the Maui Invitational.

10. C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford

Stats: 22.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 51.0% FG, 45.8% 3P

Maxime Raynaud is a clinician on the block and the 7-footer has gone for 20 or more points in each of his last four outings. Stanford, who is now 6-0 on the season, runs a lot of their half court offense through Raynaud. He has shown the ability to take on one-on-one matchups while finding the open man when he is doubled. Raynaud is also knocking down his threes at a high clip on 4.0 attempts per game. Game in and game out, through the early part of this season, Raynaud has been a dominant factor for a team with an average win-margin of 16.5 points.