5. Clayton Custer (Loyola-Chicago)Top Ten Mid-Major Players By Position: Small Forward--CBB Central
Vitals: 6-1, 185 pounds, redshirt senior
Stats: 13.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, .528/.451/.770
Missouri Valley Player of the Year. NCAA All-Region. A Final Four.
The toughest thing on Clayton Custer’s plate for this season is attempting to replicate what he did last season. Truth be told, it’s hard to be much better. Custer was everything you could want as a point guard, protecting the ball and running the team when necessary, but changing the game with his deadly outside shot and polished floater package when the opportunity presented itself. His runner that hit every bit of rim imaginable to beat Tennessee in the Sweet 16 will be remembered most, but those who followed the Ramblers all season know Custer made plays like that all season long when it mattered most. So while he may not play with the same flair as some of the other players on this list, he’s clearly one of the nation’s elite floor generals.
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Honorable Mention:
Ahmaad Rorie (Montana), Tookie Brown (Georgia Southern), Jeff Dowtin (Rhode Island), Marcus Evans (VCU– health concerns), Bryce Aiken (Harvard), Matt Morgan (Cornell), Jordan Barnes (Indiana State), Keyshawn Evans (Illinois State), Sam Merrill (Utah State), Colbey Ross (Pepperdine)
Top Ten Mid-Major Players By Position: Center--CBB Central
1. Milik Yarbrough (Illinois State)
Vitals: 6-6, 230 pounds, Redshirt Senior
Stats: 16.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.8 apg, .453/.290/.804
One of college basketball’s best transfers a season ago, Yarbrough headed to Normal after 2 years at Saint Louis and did not disappoint. In the college game, he can switch 1-5 defensively, create offense for others, and is an absolute load in transition. His passing ability meshes perfectly with Illinois State PG Keyshawn Evans, who is more of a natural scorer, making Illinois State extremely hard to guard. If he can straighten out his act off the floor, he has a chance to be a very good NBA player.
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Honorable Mention:
Courtney Stockard (Saint Bonaventure), Eric Williams (Duquesne), Javon Bess (Saint Louis), BJ Stith (Old Dominion), Sandy Cohen (Green Bay), Myles Stephens (Princeton), Daniel Utomi (Princeton), Marques Townes (Loyola-Chicago), Terry Taylor (Austin Peay), Kevon Harris (Stephen F. Austin), Zach Jackson (Nebraska-Omaha), Matej Kavas (Seattle)
5. Cameron Krutwig (Loyola-Chicago)
Vitals: 6-9, 260 pounds, Sophomore
Stats: 10.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, .598/.000/.735
This is probably an aggressive ranking for the sophomore, but I’m a massive Krutwig fan. The big-bodied in-state product was a key contributor on the Ramblers’ Final Four team, impressing with his high basketball IQ, excellent passing ability, and extremely developed post game. With a summer in a college weight room under his belt, Krutwig should be able to take the next step and dominate in the Missouri Valley.
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10. Phil Fayne (Illinois State)
Vitals: 6-9, 215 pounds, Senior
Stats: 15.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.9 rpg, .595/.000/.514
Fayne is the perfect 3rd option next to Milik Yarbrough and Keyshawn Evans, a high-level athlete who finishes well around the rim, put the ball on the deck, and switch defensively. He’s efficient and doesn’t need the ball in his hands to succeed, making him so valuable to a Redbird team that I believe will contend for an at-large bid.
Honorable Mention:
Nico Carvacho (Colorado State), Trayvon Reed (Texas Southern), Pauly Paulicap (Manhattan), Demajeo Wiggins (Bowling Green), Loudon Love (Wright State), Trey Porter (Nevada), Josh Cunningham (Dayton), Rashaan Holloway (UMass), AJ Brodeur (Penn), Chris Lewis (Harvard), Trey Moses (Ball State), Shawntrez Davis (Bethune-Cookman), Matt Rafferty (Furman), Cameron Jackson (Wofford)
Winner: Missouri StateSummer League Kick Starts Johnson's NBA Career--missouristatebears.com
Dana Ford has already shown tremendous promise with his turnaround at Missouri State. Ford has added proven D-1 talent in South Florida’s Tulio Da Silva (8 ppg and 5.6 rpg), and Nevada’s Josh Hall, (6.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg). Other transfers include Xavier transfer and former Missouri Mr. Basketball, Jared Ridder, and JUCO star Joshua Webster. Although none of these players will be eligible next season, Ford has already made the most of his first offseason.
MBU, MVC & OVC Academically Excellent--Valley Hoops InsiderWhich mid-major league has the best odds to be two-bid worthy?
— Alex Riley (@AlexRileySN) July 12, 2018
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The Missouri Valley isn’t quite on the level of those above, but there is going to be plenty of quality teams in the league next year. All it takes is one or two to have a strong showing in non-conference play, and then suddenly they’re in the conversation for an at-large bid.
ISAIAH RIVERA
2020 prospect Isaiah Rivera also received an offer from St. John’s earlier this week. Rivera himself announced the offer on his personal Twitter account. Isaiah is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound shooting guard, who currently attends Geneseo High School in Geneseo, Illinois and also plays for Quad City Elite. As of now, St. John’s joins a crop including Southern, the Drake Bulldogs, Loyola-Chicago Ramblers and New Mexico Lobos as programs who’ve offered.
