Ranking Top 10 best players in South Region of NCAA Tournament
As the NCAA Tournament gets under way in full swing on Thursday and Friday, star players will emerge from every corner of the bracket and cement themselves in history as March Madness legends. Some will come by surprise, but most simply continue their dominance from the season.
Each region is loaded with talent, but not every player with great stats is necessarily a household name entering March. Much has been made all season about the need for college basketball players to rise into the spotlight and drive viewership, and this is the chance.
Listed below are the Top 10 players in the South Region of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, plus five honorable mentions who were just too good to leave off completely. The list is not complete, with plenty of cuts made which could prove valuable in March Madness, but still offers a glimpse at who to watch for this week.
1 Reed Sheppard (Kentucky)
2023-24 stats: 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists
Reed Sheppard might come off the bench for Kentucky, but he is currently projected as the first college basketball player off the board in the NBA Draft by many. His impact for the Wildcats cannot be overstated.
Offense, defense, leadership and more – not to mention crazy shooting splits – make Sheppard one of the must-watch players of the NCAA Tournament.
2 Jamal Shead (Houston)
2023-24 stats: 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists
Anyone who has spent time around Jamal Shead will talk about him being as good of a person as he is a player. And he is an incredible player. The Houston guard won both Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Shead is exactly the type of player Kelvin Sampson dream of at point guard, and the fit has brought great success.
3 Kyle Filipowski (Duke)
2023-24 stats: 17.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Kyle Filipowski’s decision to return this season gave Duke a real chance to build something special. The skilled big man is a two-time All-ACC selection looking to leave his mark as a Blue Devil.
The classic Duke villain role has been assigned to Filipowski this season, making him one to watch during the NCAA Tournament for fans and foes alike.
4 Rob Dillingham (Kentucky)
2023-24 stats: 15.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists
Rob Dillingham might be the best offensive weapon in college basketball. He is must-watch on that end of the floor, even if he comes off the bench for Kentucky.
The electric play-style which made him the SEC 6th Man of the Year will certainly make him a candidate to be the next guard who cements his NBA Draft position with a breakout March Madness run.
5 Tyler Kolek (Marquette)
2023-24 stats: 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists
Tyler Kolek is one of the best point guards in the country and makes the Marquette offense go. The two-time All-Big East selection does a little bit of everything for the Golden Eagles.
Kolek is currently coming off an oblique injury, making his health a big key this March.
6 Kam Jones (Marquette)
2023-24 stats: 16.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals
Next to Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones is the offensive punch which makes the Marquette backcourt one of the most dangerous in college basketball. His combination of shooting and rim pressure, mixed with a level of flair he brings make him an eye-catching player.
With or without the health of Kolek, expect Jones to take over games for stretches on offense.
7 KJ Simpson (Colorado)
2023-24 stats: 19.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists
KJ Simpson might not be the top NBA Draft prospect on his own team – or even the second – but he undoubtedly leads the offense from the point guard spot. A well-rounded stat line from him will be key to Colorado competing in March.
Cody Williams and Tristan da Silva could probably co-headline this entry for the Buffaloes, but Simpson gets the nod thanks to his consistency as the go-to guy all season.
8 Keisei Tominaga (Nebraska)
2023-24 stats: 14.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Keisei Tominaga might headline the list of must-watch players in the NCAA Tournament this season. Dubbed “Japanese Steph Curry” by some, he promises to bring a crowd with him everywhere he goes.
The exciting play-style, story of perseverance, and international appeal all come together to form a great story which should be covered extensively.
9 Antonio Reeves (Kentucky)
2023-24 stats: 20.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists
On a Kentucky team headlined by impact freshmen, Antonio Reeves is quietly putting together one of the best seasons in college basketball. After returning to the Wildcats for another season, he has improved his scoring output and shooting splits in a role which promises to translate.
Reeves might not get the headlines for Kentucky when they win games, but his impact is felt on a nightly basis through consistency.
10 Oso Ighodaro (Marquette)
2023-24 stats: 14.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
Perhaps the most athletic player on this list, Ighodaro has stepped into stardom for Marquette this season. The two-time All-Big East selection showcased offensive improvement to go along with his defensive impact at center.
Ighodaro might be the most likely of the three Marquette players mentioned to make the One Shining Moment highlight reel if he can get downhill for a big dunk.
Honorable Mentions: AJ Storr (Wisconsin), DJ Burns (NC State), Zyon Pullin (Florida), Tristan da Silva (Colorado), Wade Taylor (Texas A&M)