If you think this year's NBA playoffs will be exciting, wait until you see the 2022-2023 NCAA men's basketball season. You won't want to miss the current season because many top-quality players returned for their fifth year of eligibility in college.
The super seniors we will feature have more than just a couple of years' worth of experience. If you're looking for some of the best talents in the NCAA, look no further than these skilled veterans.
Kendric Davis
Davis has been called one of the best Super Seniors in the college basketball world, and his accomplishments have earned him recognition from coaches and scouts across the country. He is known for his athleticism, shooting ability, and leadership qualities on and off the court.
Born and raised in Memphis, Davis was a standout high school athlete and was recruited by several college teams before committing to play for the University of Memphis Tigers.
As a sophomore, Davis averaged 14.2 points and 6.7 assists per game. As a junior, he increased those stats to 19.0 points and 7.6 assists per game, demonstrating his exceptional ability to score points for himself and his teammates. Davis' scoring average increased to 19.4 last season, but his assist total fell to 4.4. Moreover, he has shot 37.2% from beyond the arc over the last two seasons, making him an obvious asset to the Tigers' offense.
Caleb McConnell
McConnell was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and won the National Championship with his team back in 2022. During the 20-game Big Ten regular season in 2021-2022, McConnell led the conference in total steals (43) and steals per game (2.2).
Moreover, he ranked 15th in defensive rebounds (86) and defensive rebounds each game (4.3). Furthermore, his 11 blocks were good for a league-tied 24th place, and his 0.6 blocks per game were good for a 22nd-place finish. In 32 games last year, McConnell posted 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2.1 assists in 29.9 minutes per game.
The only downside with McConnell is that he doesn't play defense very well. It might be because he's spent most of his career playing against weaker teams who didn't have much size on their front line, but it could also be because he doesn't want to get involved defensively as often as possible so that he can focus more on offense instead.
Matthew Mayer
Mayer played for Baylor for four years and made 33 appearances in his final season. The 6'9" guard, in his debut season as a starter, averaged 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game.
His 32.4% three-point percentage was his lowest since his inaugural year (2018-2019). Mayer was a four-star prospect who chose Baylor over several other colleges, including Kansas State, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Texas, which were all dominant in college basketball odds.
Mayer initially joined the transfer portal after declaring for the NBA draft, during which time he still had his collegiate eligibility. In the end, he decided to forgo the draft. This season, he's back as a senior and looking to improve his draft value.
Marcus Carr
Marcus Carr, a starting point guard, has declared that he will play for the University of Texas again in 2022-23, using his COVID-19 eligibility year. Carr, a transfer from the University of Minnesota, played in all 34 games for Texas and was named to the Big 12's third-team All-Conference. He led the team with 3.4 assists and 30.8 minutes per game while ranking second in scoring (11.4 ppg) and fourth in total steals (32).
Carr has 1,747 points in 126 career games at three different colleges, shooting 33.6% from 3-point range. There were only four players in the country with 1,700 points, 500 assists, and 400 rebounds in their careers at the end of the previous season, and he was one of them.
Hunter Maldonado
Maldonado was named first team all-Mountain West after leading his team to the NCAA for the first time in seven years. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.7 rebounds that season. With 1,701 points, Maldonado ranks ninth on the Cowboys' all-time scoring list.
Maldonado's return gave the Cowboys a huge boost, as he averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game the previous season.
The 6-foot-7 guard's NBA value may rise if he improves his shooting accuracy and consistency. Last season, he shot 55.5% from the field on 2-point attempts, but just 25% on 3-pointers, which was roughly in line with his career mark of 27.2%.
Final Thoughts
This year's college basketball season will be exciting to watch because of the many outstanding super seniors who are expected to contribute to winning teams. There have been some great super seniors in the current season, and we've highlighted a few of them who have made significant contributions to their teams' success and sustained momentum as they prepare to enter the professional courts.