The Big Ten separates itself from the rest of the high-major leagues in college basketball in that many league teams opt to go the development route rather than using transfers or one-and-done future NBA players. A byproduct is that there are several players who emerge as key contributors each season and become national names.
This list is mostly players set for large roles this season, including some legit all-league candidates. Note: Players must have averaged fewer than 11 points per game last season to qualify.
1. Coen Carr, 6-foot-6 junior forward, Michigan State
2024-25: 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 20.7 minutes per game
Despite not having a reliable jumper, the athletic Carr has shown he can be highly effective. He shot 61.1 percent from the field last season and had two of his best games in the NCAA tournament, including 18 points against Bryant and 15 points in the Sweet 16 victory over Ole Miss. The season-ending torn patellar tendon injury suffered by incoming FAU transfer forward Kaleb Glenn provides more opportunity for Carr to become the next Spartans star.
2. Morez Johnson, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, Michigan
2024-25: 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 17.6 minutes per game at Illinois
Johnson was effective off the bench with Illinois, shooting 64.2 percent from the field and producing 10 double-digit scoring outings. One was a 20-point, 11-rebound effort against Penn State. He’s now at Michigan, in a potential logjam with two other frontcourt transfers (UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg and UCLA’s Aday Mara). But based on Coach Dusty May’s work with bigs in his first year at Michigan, look for Johnson to still have a big impact this season.
3. Nolan Winter, 6-foot-11 junior forward, Wisconsin
2024-25: 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 21.1 minutes per game
Winter had a strong second season as a full-time starter, playing alongside four-year starter Steven Crowl. With Crowl gone, Winter — who scored in double digits 17 times last season — will be the new focal point of the frontcourt. In addition, the departure of high-scoring guard John Tonje should make Wisconsin’s offense more balanced, inside and out.
4. Freddie Dilione V, 6-foot-5 junior guard, Penn State
2024-25: 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 24.6 minutes per game
The former Tennessee Vol started 28 games for the Nittany Lions last season and was sixth on the team in scoring. With the top five scorers gone, Dilione looks set up to be the focal point of the offense this season. He had 17 double-figure games, including 21 against Oregon. One area of improvement for Dilione is from beyond the arc, where he shot just 28.9 percent last season.
5. C.J. Cox, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, Purdue
2024-25: 6.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 18.6 minutes per game
Cox was an impact freshman last season, starting 23 games and shooting 46.1 percent from the field. He had some big moments, including a 23-point outing against Nebraska. While Purdue does return its top three scorers, Cox should have a larger role in the offense because of his efficiency and less competition for minutes on the wing.
6. Connor Essegian, 6-foot-4 senior guard, Nebraska
2024-25: 10.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 22.5 minutes per game
After a limited role at Wisconsin, Essegian became one of the best sixth men in the Big Ten last season, shooting a career-high 37.7 percent from three-point range on six attempts per game. He had five 20-point games, including 29 against South Dakota. With both starting guards gone, including leading scorer Brice Williams, look for Essegian to become a focal point of the Huskers’ offense.
7. Jeremy Fears, 6-foot-2 junior guard, Michigan State
2024-25: 7.2 points, 5.4 assists, 23.7 minutes per game
Carr isn’t the only Spartan due for a larger role, as Fears is the one ballhandler returning after 6-foot-2 junior Tre Holloman transferred to NC State and 6-foot-1 freshman Jase Richardson went pro. That leaves Fears, who was third in the Big Ten in assists at 5.4 per game as a starter. One area of improvement for Fears is to simply become a better shooter: He shot 39.7 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from three-point range.
8. Dylan Grant, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, Rutgers
2024-25: 5.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 18.8 minutes per game
All of the attention at Rutgers last season was on freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, both of whom went in the top five of the NBA draft. Grant started 18 games for the Scarlet Knights after barely playing early in the season (he saw action in just three of the first 13 games, for a total of 20 minutes). He had a trio of double-digit games. In the two games where he played 30-plus minutes, Grant had his best games (19 points and eight rebounds against Maryland, 12 points and four rebounds against Minnesota). He has a much larger role awaiting him this season.
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9. Trent Perry, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, UCLA
2024-25: 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 11.3 minutes per game
Perry is a former top-40 prospect who was buried on the depth chart. But several guards on the Bruins’ roster are gone, though New Mexico transfer Donovan Dent, a 6-foot-2 senior, figures to handle the largest share of the scoring load. Still, coach Mick Cronin has had plenty of successful guard development stories over the years, and Perry has a pathway toward being part of the core rotation this season.
10. Kwame Evans, 6-foot-9 junior forward, Oregon
2024-25: 6.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 16.3 minutes per game
Evans is a former five-star prospect who hasn’t had the career many expected to this point. Yet in the final 10 games last season, Evans proved to be an effective role player, with multiple games of either 10-plus points or 10-plus rebounds. The Ducks don’t look to have much returning in the frontcourt outside of 7-footer Nate Bittle. That provides an opportunity for Evans to not only start but have the kind of impact many thought he could out of high school at Montverde Academy.
