In a recent list from college basketball insider Andy Katz, five new faces in the Big 12 Conference earned praise among the nation’s best.
The list featured five different Big 12 teams, with representatives from West Virginia, Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas, and Kansas State all mentioned.
NO. 1 – COLEMAN HAWKINS, KANSAS STATE
The most recent player to commit on the list, Kansas State’s new wing Coleman Hawkins, earned Andy Katz’s No. 1 spot. After withdrawing his name from the NBA Draft, the senior hit the transfer portal as one of the highest-profile names available. In 2023, Hawkins posted 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while connecting on 25.1% of shots from the field and 36.9% from three. With his commitment, the Wildcats added a legitimate Big 12 Player of the Year threat to their roster.
NO. 4 – A.J. STORR, KANSAS
It’s no secret that Bill Self is approaching godfather-levels of dominance in the transfer portal after landing several of the top names since the uptick in transfers, and A.J. Storr headlines an elite group of athletes heading to Lawrence in 2024-25. The 6-foot-7 sophomore averaged 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game at Wisconsin last season, and will ahve a good chance to build on his numbers as a junior.
NO. 10 – J.T. TOPPIN, TEXAS TECH
Former New Mexico forward J.T. Toppin was a massive pick up for Grant McCasland and the Red Raiders this offseason as the former Mountain West Freshman of the Year generated some serious NBA buzz in his first season of college basketball. Toppin averaged nearly a double-double in his freshman campaign with 12.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while connecting on 62.3% of his shots from the floor, goold for the 11th-best conversion rate in the country.
NO. 11 – NORCHAD OMIER, BAYLOR
Anytime a player is compared to that of NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley, that speaks volumes. Morier’s new coach, Scott Drew, opened his press conference about the newest members of the Bears basketball team by comparing Omier to the Round Mound of Rebound which put expectations for the former Hurricane through the roof. As a senior in 2023, Omier was one of the best players in the country, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game.
NO. 12 – TUCKER DEVRIES, WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia started their incoming portal class off hot with the addition of Tucker DeVries, who elected to follow his Dad to Morgantown for his final season of eligbility. Upon taking the podium at his introductory press conference, West Virginia’s Darian DeVries announced that Tucker would be following him and committing to the Mountaineers. The 6-foot-7 junior posted some unreal numbers last season at Drake, with 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
