Breakout Stars of Mid-Major College Basketball
Discover five rising stars in mid-major basketball, including UC Davis's Ty Johnson and Charleston’s Ante Brzovic. Who will steal the spotlight this season?
The college basketball season is still young, but we are already seeing some players separate themselves from the rest of the pack. It’s worth noting that the level of competition some teams play in their first few games can vary from NAIA schools all the way up to Power Conference schools, but regardless this season has been electric already. Let’s dive into five players to familiarize yourself with from the Mid-Major Ranks:
TY Johnson
TY Johnson of the UC Davis Aggies is starting off his senior year with a bang. The 6’3 guard is averaging 29 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 steals through the team’s first three games. Interestingly enough, he is only shooting 21.2% from 3pt, which is significantly lower from his season average of 32.1% from last year. However, it is worth noting that he is averaged 6.3 attempts from beyond the arc thus far, compared to 3.4 last season, so expect that average to grow a bit as the season goes on.
Johnson can fly up the court and blow past defenders to get to the rim. He has a knack to dish it out to teammates while being a menace on the glass despite his height. The UC Aggies are going to be a force in the Big West this season thanks to Johnson.
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Ante Brzovic
The Charleston Cougars are 3-0 with wins over Southern Illinois, South Florida, and FAU thus far and Ante Brzovic is putting the team on his back. The 6’10 senior from Croatia is averaging 33.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, while shooting 62.3% from the floor and 60% from 3pt. Let’s be honest, he won’t be able to keep this up throughout the entire season, but his performances thus far are next level. On Friday, Brzovic sank the game winning three to elevate the Cougars over FAU in their 119-116 double-overtime victory.
Brzovic has grown each year at Charleston, going from 11.6 points, 5.9 rebounds to 12.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, to now his video game figure stats. He’s loyal to the College of Charleston as he decided to stay put under new head coach Chris Mack after Pat Kelsey took the Louisville job following the end of last season.
If you want a fun Mid-Major team and player to follow this season, but can’t decide, I highly recommend following along with this Cougars team. They are deep and Ante Brzovic has the talent to lead them to the NCAA Tournament and potentially even have a Cinderella run.
Augustas Marciulionis
The Saint Mary’s Gaels are going to be right in the thick of the WCC to try and combat Gonzaga for that top spot. Augustas Marciulionis is a 6’4 senior from Lithuania who has managed to catch the eyes of some NBA scouts thanks to his performances on the court. Last season, he averaged 12.4 points, 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. Through the Gaels first three games this season, he’s averaging 16 points, 8.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and one steal, while shooting 41.2% from the shoot and 33.3% from 3pt.
Marciulionis is a majestic ball handler and a true floor general. The Gaels have a deep team this season and with Marciulionis leading the way, they’ll be a problem for Gonzaga come conference play. Keep your eyes on him as he continues to grow this season and potentially works his way onto the NBA draft board.
Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa
If you’ve been following us along via social media, you know about the love that we have for what the Columbia Lions have done thus far. After defeating Mercyhurst on Saturday morning, the Lions have moved to 5-0 and are on path to have double-digit wins by the time they enter conference play. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa is the leading figure for the craziness that this team is. Rubio De La Rosa is averaging 22 points, 5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.2 steals through his first five games. Shooting wise, he’s averaging 50% from the floor overall and 48.7% from beyond the arc. He’s missed just three free throws out of 26 attempts as well.
This kid is electric. He can slash to the basket, knock down monster threes, dish it out, and disrupt offensives on the defensive end. I’m so excited to watch what he can lead this team to do this year. All eyes are on Princeton this season, but Rubio De La Rosa and the Lions may have other plans.
Gabe Pozzato
Gabe Pozzato is a 6’7 freshman out of Italy on the Evansville Purple Aces that is poised to make a name for himself. The freshman is averaging 19.2 points, three rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals through his first four collegiate games. He’s shoot 51.8% from the floor and 35.4% from 3pt.
Pozzato has a very high ceiling and he’s a player to continuously watch as his career develops. He can knock down some tough shots with hands in his face, he can light up a highlight reel with massive dunks, and he has a strong basketball IQ for such a young age. I’ve been impressed by his ability to know when to dish it off to teammates rather than forcing shots. He has the early signs of someone that over the next four years could develop into a professional prospect.
The Evansville Purple Aces are in year three of a rebuild and Pozzato will be a key piece for David Ragland and his staff to see if they can start connecting the pieces to right the ship. Even if you don’t follow the team, follow Pozzato to see how his career unfolds.