We always read about players having a “breakout” season, but what’s the best way to quantify that? I’m taking the easy route today, and looking for major jumps in scoring averages. This week’s Top Ten list focuses on high-major players who are averaging eight or more points more than they scored last season. I’ve also kept it to guys who averaged under 15 points per game last season, which eliminated a few players like Eric Dixon, the Villanova forward whose average has risen from 16.6 to 25.7.
That said, here is my list of the top ten breakout scorers five weeks into the season:
*Stats are through December 10th
10. Zuby Ejiofor — St. John’s Red Storm
2024-25 season stats: 13.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg
After playing limited minutes behind Joel Soriano last year, Ejiofor became the new lead big for the Red Storm. He has three games of 20+ points, including a career-high 28 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Kansas State. His most impressive performance came against Baylor, when he posted 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.
9. Brendan Hausen — Kansas State Wildcats
2023-24 season stats: 15.2 ppg and 3.0 rpg
After coming off the bench at Villanova, Hausen has emerged as one of the best pure shooters in the country, shooting 43% from deep on over eight attempts a game. After dropping a career-high 27 points at St. John’s this past weekend, Hausen now leads Kansas State in scoring. Despite four other transfers on the K-State roster arguably getting more offseason attention, the junior sharpshooter has been the Wildcats’ top prize out of the portal.
8. Seth Trimble — UNC Tar Heels
2024-25 season stats: 16.0 ppg and 4.3 rpg
The junior guard nearly left the Heels via the portal this offseason but opted to return. And despite guards RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau remaining on the roster, and two five-star guards (Drake Powell and Ian Jackson) joining the mix, Trimble has managed to carve out a big role in the lineup. He’s shooting an impressive 51% from the field and 50% from deep. In a win over Dayton, UNC’s best result to date, Trimble scored a career-high 27 points and added 10 rebounds.
Today's Picks: Texas A&M at Texas, Duke at Wake Forest, Ole Miss at Missouri and more
Who should you put your money on this weekend?7. Gabe Madsen — Utah Utes
2024-25 season stats: 21.8 ppg and 2.0 apg
One of the best scorers in the country that no one is talking about is Madsen, who leads the Utes in scoring and is shooting 50% from the field, 43% from three and 88% from the line. The fifth-year senior already has five games with at least 24 points, including a 28-point effort in a win over Eastern Washington.
6. Andrej Stojakovic — Cal Bears
2024-25 season stats: 19.4 ppg and 4.9 rpg
The former five-star prospect has become the clear go-to option for the Bears, scoring in double figures in all 10 outings. His two best games have been against Cal’s best competition to date, scoring 26 points at Missouri and 25 in a loss to Stanford.
5. Jaylen Blakes — Stanford Cardinal
2024-25 season stats: 16.3 ppg and 5.5 apg
Blakes was a solid bench piece for Duke over the last three years. This year, the senior is showing he can be a go-to option on a good squad. He’s second on the team in scoring and shooting 48% from the field, and he has five games with at least 18 points. And even in his lone single-digit game, Blakes still managed to dish out 10 assists and get four steals to help Stanford beat Santa Clara.
4. Adou Thiero — Arkansas Razorbacks
2024-25 season stats: 18.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg
It was a risk for the athletic forward to follow Coach Cal from Kentucky to Arkansas, but it has worked out in Thiero’s favor. He leads the team in scoring on an impressive 62% shooting from the field, and he has notched five games of at least 20 points — including a pair of 26-point outings.
3. Nick Martinelli — Northwestern Wildcats
2024-25 season stats: 20.8 ppg and 6.6 rpg
When Northwestern star guard Boo Buie left, the question was how the Wildcats would replace his offensive production. Few thought the answer would come via the frontcourt, with Martinelli becoming an All-Big Ten performer. The 6-foot-7 forward broke out with 32 points and 14 rebounds against Dayton, and is coming off 27 points in Northwestern’s home win over Illinois last Friday.
2. Trey Kaufman-Renn — Purdue Boilermakers
2024-25 season stats: 18.9 ppg and 6.7 rpg
Two-time NPOY Zach Edey is gone, and the season-ending injury to starter Daniel Jacobsen hurt Purdue’s depth. Yet Coach Matt Painter’s ability to create star frontcourt players remains unbeaten, with TKR leading the team in points and rebounds. His top performances include 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in a win over Alabama, as well as 25 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Ole Miss. He and Braden Smith have become one of the best tandems in the entire country.
1. John Tonje — Wisconsin Badgers
2024-25 season stats: 21.5 ppg and 5.1 rpg
A year ago, Tonje was limited to just eight games and 10 mpg before a season-ending injury at Missouri. Now healthy, he’s more than thriving, becoming one of the best pure shooters from the field and the foul line, where he’s at 93%. Tonje went for a career-high 41 points in a win over Arizona and 33 points (including 25 in the second half) in a comeback win over Pittsburgh to claim the title at the Greenbrier Tip-Off.
After losing AJ Storr to Kansas, Wisconsin was projected to take a step back in the Big Ten. But with Tonje playing at an even higher level than Storr, the Badgers could be a real contender for the regular-season title.
