15 Players Who Will Break Out In The 2015 NCAA Tournament

By Jerry Landry

15 Players Who Will Break Out In The 2015 NCAA Tournament

Wichita State Shockers Ron Baker Three Ball 2015 NCAA Tournament — Whether it's a coast-to-coast Tyus Edney game-winner, or a long-range Jimmer Fredette shooting clinic, every edition of the NCAA tournament features incredible performances by young breakout stars. Here are 15 players who are set to break out in the Big Dance this year.

15. Denzel Valentine - Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State Spartans Denzel Valentine 2015 NCAA Tournament big shots

15. Denzel Valentine - Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State Spartans Denzel Valentine 2015 NCAA Tournament big shots — When Denzel Valentine isn’t giving the ball directly back to the Wisconsin Badgers, the Michigan State Spartans guard is hitting big shots. After the departure of Gary Harris, Keith Appling and Adreian Payne, look for big buckets to rain down from Valentine as this Spartan steps up to fill the void in a big way.

14. Peter Hooley - Albany Great Danes

Peter Hooley Albany Great Danes UAlbany 2015 NCAA Tournament

14. Peter Hooley - Albany Great Danes

Peter Hooley Albany Great Danes UAlbany 2015 NCAA Tournament — Even if the Albany Great Danes don’t make it through to the third round of the tourney, Peter Hooley’s story will carry all the way through to “One Shining Moment.” After losing his mother on January 30, Hooley delivered an inspired performance in her honor, sinking a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left to steal a victory from the Stony Brook Seawolves in the America East Conference championship.

13. Nigel Hayes - Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin Badgers Nigel Hayes Big Ten Tournament NCAA Tournament

13. Nigel Hayes - Wisconsin Badgers

Wisconsin Badgers Nigel Hayes Big Ten Tournament NCAA Tournament — If you tune out the overwhelming talk about Frank Kaminsky, you might hear some rumbling about Nigel Hayes. Yet another big Wisconsin Badgers forward who can hit the three, watch for Hayes to be one of the biggest X-factors of the 2015 NCAA tournament.

12. Larry Nance Jr. - Wyoming Cowboys

Larry Nance Jr. Wyoming Cowboys 2015 NCAA Tournament

12. Larry Nance Jr. - Wyoming Cowboys

Larry Nance Jr. Wyoming Cowboys 2015 NCAA Tournament — The de facto leader of the Wyoming Cowboys, Larry Nance 3-balled, rebounded and carried the Cowboys to back-to-back Mountain West conference tournament upsets and ultimately a berth in the Big Dance. Keep an eye on this 6-foot-8 forward from Akron, Ohio.

11. Mamadou Ndiaye - UC Irvine Anteaters

Mamadou Ndiaye UC Irvine Anteaters 2015 NCAA Tournament

11. Mamadou Ndiaye - UC Irvine Anteaters

Mamadou Ndiaye UC Irvine Anteaters 2015 NCAA Tournament — The tallest player in the tournament field, 7-foot-6 Mamadou Ndiaye will make life tough on anyone who enters the paint against the UC Irvine Anteaters. Look for UC Irvine to be hosting a block party in the big dance, and for Ndiaye to never say die as he swats away shots via an 8-foot-3 wingspan.

10. Rysheed Jordan - St. John’s Red Storm

Rysheed Jordan St. John's Red Storm 2015 NCAA Tournament

10. Rysheed Jordan - St. John’s Red Storm

Rysheed Jordan St. John's Red Storm 2015 NCAA Tournament — The 6-foot-4 sophomore guard has been averaging 14.3 points per game over 31 minutes per game. Although not impressing during the St. John’s Red Storms’ loss to the Providence Friars, watch for the sophomore to elevate his play to the level of senior guard D’Angelo Harrison and get red-hot with the Red Storm.

9. Justin Moss - Buffalo Bulls

Buffalo Bulls Justin Moss 2015 NCAA Tournament

9. Justin Moss - Buffalo Bulls

Buffalo Bulls Justin Moss 2015 NCAA Tournament — The Buffalo Bulls and Bobby Hurley earned the program's first ever NCAA tournament bid, and the field of 68 is a perfect place for forward Justin Moss to shine. Moss tripled his minutes per game and scored more than six times what he averaged just last season. Now, it’s time for everyone to see what this MAC superstar can bring to the big stage.

8. Georges Niang - Iowa State Cyclones

Georges Niang Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Tournament

8. Georges Niang - Iowa State Cyclones

Georges Niang Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Tournament — The comeback kids wouldn’t be half as heroic if it weren’t for junior forward Georges Niang. Averaging 15.5 points per game and hauling in over five rebounds per contest, Niang is the heart that pumps the Iowa State Cyclones' attack.

7. Kyle Wiltjer - Gonzaga Bulldogs

Gonzaga Bulldogs Kyle Wiltjer 2015 NCAA Tournament

7. Kyle Wiltjer - Gonzaga Bulldogs

Gonzaga Bulldogs Kyle Wiltjer 2015 NCAA Tournament — Kyle Wiltjer posted good numbers last season, but 2014-15 is where the Gonzaga Bulldogs junior forward broke previous ceilings in both points and rebounds. Gonzaga’s fate depends on this forward’s potential to break out.

6. Jack Gibbs - Davidson Wildcats

Davidson Wildcats Jack Gibbs 2015 NCAA Tournament

6. Jack Gibbs - Davidson Wildcats

Davidson Wildcats Jack Gibbs 2015 NCAA Tournament — Back in 2008, Stephen Curry led a No. 10-seeded Davidson Wildcats team to the Elite Eight, where the Wildcats would fall to the eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks. Will Jack Gibbs have this same impact? Not likely, but that’s because the 2015 Wildcats are a much more balanced team. Look for Gibbs to break out and lead Davidson on a deep run.

5. Melvin Johnson - VCU Rams

Melvin Johnson VCU Rams 2015 NCAA Tournament

5. Melvin Johnson - VCU Rams

Melvin Johnson VCU Rams 2015 NCAA Tournament — It’s time for this junior guard to arrive. If the VCU Rams are to make a deep run, Melvin Johnson will need to boost his 12.4 points per game average to the 20s. As Treveon Graham draws more attention, look for Johnson to ascend to the top of the box score and break out for the Rams.

4. Madarious Gibbs - Texas Southern Tigers

Texas Southern Tigers cindarella Madarious Gibbs NCAA Tournament

4. Madarious Gibbs - Texas Southern Tigers

Texas Southern Tigers cindarella Madarious Gibbs NCAA Tournament — Who says a senior can’t be sensational, besides John Calipari? Madarious Gibbs is the Texas Southern Tigers’ iron man, averaging 38.5 minutes a game and 14.1 points per game. Texas Southern is a scary No. 15 seed, having already knocked off Michigan State and the Kansas State Wildcats.

3. Alec Peters - Valparaiso Crusaders

Valpo Valparaiso Crusaders Alec Peters 2015 NCAA Tournament

3. Alec Peters - Valparaiso Crusaders

Valpo Valparaiso Crusaders Alec Peters 2015 NCAA Tournament — The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward has taken the Valparaiso Crusaders back to the tournament. They've already shocked the college basketball world, so don't be overly surprised if it keeps happening with Alec Peters leading Valparaiso to running the table.

2. Melo Trimble - Maryland Terrapins

Maryland Terrapins Melo Trimble 2015 NCAA Tournament

2. Melo Trimble - Maryland Terrapins

Maryland Terrapins Melo Trimble 2015 NCAA Tournament — Nobody is talking about outstanding freshman Melo Trimble, but that will soon change. Averaging 16.3 points per game, watch for Trimble to take on added responsibility and show the nation how much the he has grown.

1. Tyler Harvey - Eastern Washington Eagles

Tyler Harvey Eastern Washington Eagles 2015 NCAA Tournament upset

1. Tyler Harvey - Eastern Washington Eagles

Tyler Harvey Eastern Washington Eagles 2015 NCAA Tournament upset — If anyone is about to go nuclear in the NCAA tournament, it’s Tyler Harvey of the Eastern Washington Eagles. The sophomore guard leads the country in scoring at 22.9 points per game. Harvey will be taking the majority of the Eagles’ shots, and if the majority of them go in, Eastern Washington will soar into the Sweet 16.

Share On Facebook

Share