During the one-and-done era, college basketball has almost exclusively become a gateway into the NBA. High-profile freshmen are always fun to watch, but there is plenty of veteran talent ready to break out in 2017-18.
The college game has certainly changed over the past decade, as teams shift annually with ever-changing rosters. Whether it's new freshmen, transfers or even graduate transfers, coaches always have to adjust to new players.
Sometimes, when one player leaves, another prospers.
Here are eight breakout performers to watch this season:
Payton Pritchard, Oregon — Pritchard was a key member off the bench last season for Oregon's Final Four squad. He averaged 7.4 points and 3.6 assists while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range. He entered Oregon as a ballyhooed high school scorer and should be able to take on more of a scoring role this season for Dana Altman. Few teams endured as much turnover as Oregon, which lost its entire starting lineup to the NBA. Pritchard is in a position to emerge as the team leader this season.
Kyle Guy, Virginia — Guy entered Virginia as a McDonald's All-American. Though he shot 49.5 percent from 3-point range last season, he failed to produce like some of the nation's other highly touted freshmen, averaging just 7.5 points per game. The Cavaliers lost three key backcourt contributors, which should help Guy see a substantial uptick in playing time from last season's 18.6 minutes per game.
Wenyen Gabriel, Kentucky — After averaging just 4.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season, Gabriel, a lanky small forward with a nice outside shooting touch, could become a late-bloomer — by Kentucky's standards — as a sophomore. Gabriel showed flashes of raw talent on both ends of the court last season, but he never established a guaranteed role in John Calipari's rotation. With a new crop of five-star recruits on the roster, Gabriel has to impress early.
Charles Matthews, Michigan — It's possible Matthews, a transfer from Kentucky who sat out last year, is the best player on Michigan's roster. The Chicago native couldn't crack Calipari's lineup as a freshman, so he left for greener pastures. Matthews has elite scoring potential on the wing. At 6-5, he can shoot over smaller defenders or use his length to get by people and score in the lane. Matthews should help ease the Wolverines' loss of Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin in the backcourt.
Joshua Langford, Michigan State — Hobbled by an injury early, Langford gave Spartans fans only a taste of his best form as a freshman last season. He joined Miles Bridges at East Lansing as a McDonald's All-American, earning the reputation as a silky shooter and slasher. Tom Izzo probably was most disappointed with Langford's spotty defense, but the 6-5 shooting guard could become a first-round NBA Draft pick with a more refined sophomore season.
De'Ron Davis, Indiana — Davis looks poised for a breakout season with Archie Miller taking over as Indiana's coach. A 6-10 sophomore, he lost weight this offseason, which should help him stay out of foul trouble by becoming a more agile defender. Davis averaged just 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game last season, but he should take a massive leap with Thomas Bryant now in the NBA.
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas — Limited to just 11 games last season as a freshman, the 7-foot, 280-pound Azubuike could become Kansas' go-to man in the paint. The Jayhawks lack frontcourt depth, so he should see all the minutes he can handle. He averaged 5.0 points and 4.4 points per game before an injury last season. Those numbers could more than double as Azubuike tries to lead Kansas to a deep NCAA Tournament run.
Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga — After enjoying a nice summer for Japan in the U19 World Cup, averaging 20.6 points per game, Hachimura looks poised for an expanded role with the Bulldogs this season. Dangerous in transition, Hachimura should help ease Gonzaga's pain of losing four of its top scorers from last season's national championship runner-up team.
