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The Power 4 Conferences — ACC, SEC, Big East and Big 12 — always have the major clout in the national basketball landscape, whether it is player and coaching personnel, broadcast mileage and financial capacity.
However, some great talents outside the Power 4 have seemingly fallen outside the so-called basketball radar. These players have been busting it out in their conferences and made a name for themselves during the past season.
Some of them have forgone their enlistment to the NBA draft to bring glory to their schools. Others wanted to make the NCAA Tournament and possibly gain fame for helping their teams enter the Final Four.
Here are the Top 10 players playing outside the Power 4 Conferences who are expected to shine in the 2024-25 college basketball season (per CBS Sports).
Top 10 stars to look out for outside Power 4 Conferences
#10. Cedric Coward, Washington State
An incoming senior in Washington State in the 2024-25 college basketball season, Cedric Coward hopes to follow up on his breakout 2023-24 season with Eastern Washington where he put up 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. The six-foot-six Coward was one of the best players in the nation in terms of shooting percentage, ranking 14th at 66.2%.
His transfer to the Cougars reunites him with coach David Riley and improves his NBA draft stock once the new NCAA season rolls on.
#9. Xaivian Lee, Princeton
Xaivian Lee stepped up big time for Princeton last season, tallying amazing numbers of 17.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.0 spg. Dubbed "the best talent in the Ivy League" the six-foot-four incoming junior has to prove the hype in the 2024-25 college basketball season and help the Tigers make their second NCAA Tournament in three years.
#8. Xzayvier Brown, Saint Joseph's
Xzayvier Brown is fresh from an impressive stint with Saint Joseph's where he was the second-best scorer behind Erik Reynolds II. The six-foot-two Brown, who averaged 12.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.8 spg for the Hawks last season, returns for the 2024-25 college basketball season in a bid to help Saint Joseph's make the NCAA Tournament after a nine-year wait.
#7. Max Shulga, VCU
Max Shulga became one of the steadiest shooters in the nation, making 41.5% of his 3-point attempts last season. The fifth-year senior from Ukraine is back for another year for the Ryan Odom-coached Rams and the 6-5 guard will be depended upon as the Rams bid to secure an NCAA Tournament berth.
Shulga averaged 14.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 3.6 apg and was selected in the Atlantic 10 First Team with last season's solid effort.
#6. Tyrese Hunter, Memphis
Tyrese Hunter could become one of the most exciting players to watch out for in the American Athletic Conference as he was able to thrive in the Big 12 last season. The six-foot Texas transfer, who tallied 11.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 4.1 apg, will have former NBA playmaking genius Penny Hardaway guiding him on the sidelines as he is expected to help Memphis return to the NCAA Tournament.
#5. Donovan Dent, New Mexico
The New Mexico Lobos will have an alpha leading the pack in the 2024-25 college basketball season in Donovan Dent. The 6-2 guard has turned from an off-the-bench spark to a major contributor for Richard Pitino's men last season.
Expect Dent to improve on his averages of 14.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 5.4 apg as he is set to be the main playmaker for the Lobos following the departures of Jamal Mashburn Jr. and JT Toppin.
#4. Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon
Tyon Grant-Foster found a home in Grand Canyon last season after having unsuccessful stints with Kansas and DePaul. The 6-7 Grant-Foster, who tallied 20.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.7 spg and 1.5 bpg in the 2023-24 season, was instrumental in upsetting Saint Mary's in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament and he's back to help Bryce Drew surpass expectations once again.
#3. Tyson Degenhart, Boise State
Tyson Degenhart is coming off an excellent 2023-24 season for Boise State, leading the Broncos to a First Four bid in the NCAA Tournament. The six-foot-eight incoming senior averaged 16.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg for Boise State and he's expected to produce more for the team in the 2024-25 college basketball season if it wants to make it to the tournament anew.
#2. Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Graham Ike's contributions for Gonzaga last season were underrated, thanks in part to the emergence of Ryan Nembhard and Anton Watson in the Bulldogs. Back for the 2024-25 campaign, Ike hopes to improve on the 16.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg averages and help Gonzaga make enjoy a good NCAA Tournament run.
#1. Robbie Avila, Saint Louis
Robbie Avila looks to prove his breakout 2023-24 season in Indiana State was no fluke as he tries to carry the Saint Louis Billikens on his shoulders in the 2024-25 college basketball season. Avila was one of the greatest stories in last year's NCAA campaign, tallying awesome figures of 17.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 4.1 apg. He reunites with former Indiana State Josh Schertz to help the Billikens top the Atlantic 10.
Are there any other players outside the Power 4 Conference who are bound to have a solid stint in the 2024-25 college basketball season? Let us know your views in the comments section below.
