The highly anticipated 2014-2015 college season is finally upon us, with teams beginning their non-conference slate of their schedule next week. Most national coverage won’t begin until Friday, November 13th, but it’s never too early to put out our initial NCAA POY Watch for the season. With a ton of talent leaving the college ranks following last season due to graduation or the loaded 2014 NBA Draft, coming up with a list before seeing any live action was a bit challenging but there are a few rwturning players that make the cut. Preseason top ranked teams like Kentucky, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Duke could have a plethora of POY candidates but we settled on just one from each team. Players just missing our initial cut were Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin, Darrun Hilliard of Villanova, Chasson Randle of Stanford, and Marcus Foster of Kansas State. Check out our first NCAA POY Watch for November….



Connecticut Senior ’13-’14 Stats: 12.1 ppg, 3.4 ast, 1.6 stl The wiry point guard has played second fiddle, or third, or fourth option over his 4 seasons with the Huskies, playing behind both Kemba Walker and Shabazz Napier on the way to winning 2 NCAA crowns. But with Napier now with the Miami Heat, it’s finally Boatright’s turn to run the offense at UConn. The defending National Champs boast a talented roster including NC State transfer Rodney Purvis, junior Omar Calhoun, and and star frosh Daniel Hamilton, meaning the Huskies should be one of the favorites in the American Athletic Conference.



Wichita State Junior ’13-’14 Stats: 11.6 ppg, 5.4 ast, .380 3PT% Fresh off another deep NCAA Tourney run, one of the nation’s top floor generals Van Vleet returns to the Shockers for his junior season. He’s a Bob Cousy Award nominee and leads Wichita State, along with swingman Rod Baker in making the Shockers the favorites again in the Missouri Valley Conference.



North Carolina Junior ’13-’14 Stats: 17.5 ppg, 4.2 ast, .389 3PT% Paige emerged last season as one of the nation’s top scoring guards and returns to Chapel Hill for his junior campaign to lead the resurgent Tarheels in the ACC. The Heels boast one of the most talented up-and-coming rosters in the nation featuring players like Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Theo Pinson, and Nate Britt, meaning Marcus could put up major numbers by season’s end.



Louisville Junior ’13-’14 Stats: 14 ppg, 8.4 reb, 1.3 blk The 6’8 and 240lb forward passed up millions in the NBA to return to Louisville for his junior season. Harrell is the energizer bunny of the college ranks, reminding many of the Denver Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried. Montrezl should be one of the nation’s top big men, capable of domination opposing front courts, potentially leading the nation in double-doubles.



Michigan Junior ’13-’14 Stats: 12.9 ppg, 4.3 reb, 2.9 ast If history is any indication, LeVert should emerge as the “next up” in Michigan’s backcourt following the success of Tim Hardaway Jr, Trey Burke, and Nik Stauskas. He has prototypical size for the SG position at the next level, so enjoy him while you can, as a potential Big Ten and National POY candidate.



Kentucky Sophomore ’13-’14 Stats: 10.9 ppg, 4 ast, 3.2 reb As the Preseason #1 ranked team in the nation, the Wildcats have a bevy of POY candidates like Aaron Harrison, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and star freshman Karl Towns. While it appears that Coach Cal will be going with the platoon system early in the season, I give the nod to Andrew Harrison as a POY candidate since he will have the ball in his hands the most as the starting PG.



Arizona Sophomore ’13-’14 Stats: 9.1 ppg, 5.7 reb, 1.4 ast With Nick Johnson and Aaron Gordon now off to the NBA, sophomore swingman Hollis-Jefferson should emerge as the Wildcats’ top player as they make a run at a National Championship. He’s a do-it-all forward in the mold of former Zona standout Andre Iguodala, and he could put up monster numbers as a sophomore.



Duke Freshman Touted as the best big man entering the college ranks since Tim Duncan, Okafor will undoubtedly be the focus of Coach K’s offense this season at Duke. He’s a double-double machine that dominated the HS ranks and is the early frontrunner to be the #1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.



Kansas Sophomore ’13-’14 Stats: 9.7 ppg, 2.6 reb, 2.5ast The former highly touted HS recruit got lost in the mega hype surrounding former Jayhawks Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid last season. But with a quietly productive freshman season behind him, Selden should be the focal point for Coach Self, despite another stellar incoming freshman class. He’s already pegged as a Top 10 Lottery pick in 2015 and could be one of the best players in the country this season.

