Seven mid-major underclassmen for you to pay attention to
At this point in the season, the players getting the most notoriety are with high-major programs. You take a look through college basketball Twitter, and you see talk of All-American teams, and NBA Draft picks.
With the recent explosion of North Dakota State junior Grant Nelson and Santa Clara freshman Brandin Podziemski, I wanted to take a look at other mid-major players who are having stand-out seasons.
Here are seven mid-major underclassmen to start paying attention to.
Sr. SG Ben Sheppard (Belmont)
Ben Sheppard is a shooting guard at Belmont University. The 6-foot-6 senior is averaging 19.4 points and shooting 41.5 percent from three this season. The high school graduate of Atlanta (GA) Greater Atlanta Christian has scored 1,397 career points. Sheppard has a COVID year remaining.
Jr. Post Josh Cohen (St. Francis, PA)
Josh Cohen is a post player at St. Francis of Pennsylvania. The 6-foot-10 junior is averaging 21.3 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting 59.7 percent from the field. The high school graduate of Lincroft (NJ) Christian Brothers Academy has averaged 13.3 points in his college career. Cohen redshirted in 2019-20, and he has a COVID year available.
Jr. F Dillon Jones (Weber State)
Dillon Jones is a forward at Weber State University. The 6-foot-6 junior is averaging 15.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals this season. The graduate of Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Christian has scored 961 career points and grabbed 732 career rebounds. Jones has a COVID year available.
Fr. C Micah Handlogten (Marshall)
Micah Handlogten is a center at Marshall University. The 7-foot-1 freshman is averaging 8.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and is shooting 67.9 percent from the field. The high school graduate of Huntersville (NC) Southlake Christian dad, Ben Handlogten, played for two seasons with the Utah Jazz after scoring 1,167 career points at Western Michigan.
Jr. F Clarence Daniels (New Hampshire)
Clarence Daniels is a forward at New Hampshire University. The 6-foot-6 junior is averaging 15.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and is shooting 39.3 percent from three. The Lake Region State College alum averaged 20.5 points and 11.1 rebounds in his lone season at the school. Daniels played two seasons at D-II Montana State-Billings. He has a COVID year available.
Fr. F Yann Farell (St. Bonaventure)
Yann Farell is a forward at St. Bonaventure University. The 6-foot-6 freshman is averaging 9.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and shot 39.8 percent from three. The high school graduate of Erie (PA) Keystone Prep Academy played his travel ball with the PSA Cardinals on Nike’s EYBL Circuit.
Jr. G Jordan Dingle (Penn)
Jordan Dingle is a guard at Penn University. The 6-foot-3 junior is averaging 24.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and is shooting 36.3 percent from three. The high school graduate of Blairstown Township (NJ) Blair Academy has scored 1,408 career points and made 184 career threes.