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Justin Carter's five underrated players from mid-major schools who are playing in 2024 March Madness.
March Madness has arrived. For many, these next few weeks are the first time they've had a chance to tune in and watch some really good mid-major programs.
Are you in that group? If so, let's identify some mid-major players who you should pay attention to during this year's March Madness tournament.
Here are five underrated players from mid-major schools that you should keep an eye on during the NCAA Tournament.
Tucker DeVries - Drake
Two-time MVC Player of the Year Tucker DeVries, whose father Darian is the head coach at Drake, has been one of the country's best mid-major players over the last two seasons. After averaging 18.6 points per game last year, DeVries—who played high school basketball just down the road at Waukee High—saw that average leap to 21.8 points per game. He also saw his rebounds, assists, and steals all rise this season.
The assist number is particularly intriguing, as DeVries showed some increased playmaking ability. The 6-foot-7 player has always been a good scorer and a great three-point shooter, but increasing his role and the amount the ball was in his hands paid off for Drake.
Leading scorers against Quad 1 opponents among the field:
1. Tucker DeVries, Drake
2. Zach Edey, Purdue
3. Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois
4. Johnell Davis, FAU
5. Dalton Knecht, TennesseeRest of list...👇 pic.twitter.com/8s6BW8O0sn
— CBB Analytics (@CBBAnalytics) March 18, 2024
As far as scoring goes, DeVries is lethal from everywhere on the floor. He shoots above the Division I average from all five major zones—at the rim, in the paint, mid-range, above-the-break three, and corner three.
Per CBB Analytics, the Bulldogs have a net rating of +14.8 with DeVries on the floor this season. Drake faces Washington State in the first round in a very winnable 7/10 matchup for the 10-seed Bulldogs.
Shahada Wells - McNeese
It's been a long journey for Shahada Wells to get to this point. After starting his college career in 2018 at Tyler Junior College, Wells spent a season starring at UT Arlington in 2020-21, where he averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game for the Mavericks.
Your 2024 Southland Conference Tournament MVP: Shahada Wells pic.twitter.com/6iIPX7Zgpa
— Matthew Travis (@MatthewJTravis_) March 14, 2024
Then he transferred to TCU. He missed most of his first season there with a knee injury, then was a role player last season. He entered the transfer portal again, landing at McNeese this season.
Wells has been a star for the Cowboys, posting averages of 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.0 steals per game. He won Southland Player of the Year and was on the conference All-Defensive team.
McNeese will have a chance to score one of the inevitable 5/12 upsets in the first round when they take on Gonzaga.
Tyon Grant-Foster - Grand Canyon
Like Shahada Wells, Tyon Grant-Foster has taken a circuitous path to his current home. He played two seasons at Indian Hills Community College before transferring to Kansas, where he came off the bench for 22 games and averaged just 8.1 minutes per contest. Next came a stop at DePaul, but that only lasted one game as Grant-Foster collapsed and had to have heart surgery. He missed the rest of that season and last year.
A potential Cinderella this March: Grand Canyon 👀
12-seed led by one of the most explosive players in the country in Tyon Grant-Foster. pic.twitter.com/tuesj6XNvE
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) March 17, 2024
Grant-Foster finally got a chance this year at GCU, and he's made the most of it, winning WAC Player of the Year after averaging 19.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. The Lopes had a +19.4 net rating with Grant-Foster on the floor, an improvement of +12.3 points per 100 possessions from when he was off the floor.
Grant-Foster ranks in the 99th percentile in Hakeem Percentage, a metric from CBB Analytics that combines block and steal rates. He ranks in the 97th percentile for fastbreak points and 98th for second chance points.
Grand Canyon's tournament begins Friday night against Saint Mary's in the final game to tip off in the first round this year.
Jaedon LeDee - San Diego State
We continue the trend here of guys being on their third stop with San Diego State's Jaedon LeDee, who landed at SDSU after stints at Ohio State and TCU. A role player on last year's Aztecs team that advanced all the way to the national title game, LeDee has thrived in a larger role this year.
Digging into SDSU and man Jaedon LeDee has had A BEAST of a season. Ranked 5th on KP's poty standings. Gotta get him into foul trouble and our bigs will have to be disciplined. pic.twitter.com/D4li5DtkoX
— char dawg (@CharmiIIionaire) March 18, 2024
LeDee averaged 18.1 minutes per game in 2022-23 but is up to 32.8 per game this year. He's averaging 21.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Aztecs on 55.7/41.0/73.4 shooting splits. He led the Mountain West Conference in points per game this season and earned a spot on the All-MWC First Team.
The Aztecs have a +12.9 net rating in the 1,037 minutes that LeDee has played and a -0.2 net rating in the 268 minutes that he's been on the bench. The offense has cratered with him off the floor, performing 12.4 points per 100 possessions worse.
San Diego State is a five-seed in the tournament and faces an intriguing UAB team in the first round. A return trip to the national title game might be difficult since the team is in that dreaded 5/12 spot.
Jalen Blackmon - Stetson
Stetson's a real long shot to make any kind of tournament run, as the team is a 16-seed and faces UConn in the first round. Still, that doesn't mean there isn't a compelling reason to tune in and check out this game. Stetson had a non-conference win over Big 12 program UCF, a team that won seven conference games in one of the country's toughest conferences. Sure, it wasn't a win over a tournament team, but it was still a win that found the Hatters punching above their weight.
Stetson’s Jalen Blackmon is made for March.
43 PTS
12/22 FGs
5-9 3FGs
14/17 FTs
5 REBs
3 ASTsBlackmon goes all in and leads Stetson to their first tournament appearance in program history. pic.twitter.com/F0bU2kMyCC
— PDT (@PDTScouting) March 10, 2024
Jalen Blackmon has led the Hatters this season, averaging 21.5 points per game and shooting 38.9% from three on 8.2 attempts per contest. He was All-A-Sun First Team and won the conference tournament MVP award.
Blackmon has been good when he's gotten out on the run, averaging 3.5 fast break points per game, which ranks in the 98th percentile. The Hatters' net rating improved by 9.9 points per 100 possessions with Blackmon on the floor this season.
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