The top college basketball glue guys in the country are as follows:
Kyle Young Ohio State
Young is everything you would want from a player bringing consistent effort and toughness on each possession being a winning player and one of the top college basketball glue guys. To start, Young has improved with his skill with the basketball being able to attack off the dribble against bigs and using his physicality well. Also, he brings great mobility in screening effectively and as a cutter. Additionally, he has improved his shooting ability being able to make shots from the midrange and the perimeter at 43.3% from three. His activity is great and contributes heavily towards 2nd chance opportunities with his effort. The versatility of Young brings the capability of making plays on the perimeter and in the post. The intangibles of Young are terrific, however, the improved skill has allowed him to elevate his game. As for the defensive end, he brings great effort on this end and makes an impact in the paint. Also, he could continue to improve his positioning at times to be an improved defender. Kyle Young is the heartbeat of Ohio State and will have a larger role this season.
Connor McCaffery Iowa
McCaffery brings great versatility and contributes to winning in all aspects to Iowa. The interior passing of McCaffery is arguably the best in the country and the table setting ability is a major plus for Iowa. He does a very solid job of bringing up the ball and being in great control setting up the Iowa offense, as well as rebounding the basketball he does a good job rebounding on both ends. Furthermore, he can make open 3-pointers and does a really solid job of making open shots when he has the opportunities. He doesn’t take away offensive chances from their more offensively gifted players and really important to Iowa’s success as a glue guy. He could improve his ability to get to the rim more and make shots off the dribble. Defensively, he’s solid doesn’t move great but has solid size, and can guard multiple positions. McCaffery is a valuable piece to an Iowa team looking to have success despite the key losses of Luka Garza and Joe Weiskcamp.
Myles Johnson UCLA
Johnson brings great efficiency around the basket and has a really good touch in scoring areas. Next, he does a very good job in ball screens with getting really good positioning on rolls. Furthermore, he has the ability to score with either hand and does a solid job of working the right and left sides in the post. Also, he is a factor on the offensive glass being in a good position for put-back opportunities. Additionally, he faces up well on both blocks and plays with good patience. As for defensively, he is one of the best interior defenders in the country. He is very active in the post with the ability to deny post entries and be a great shot blocker. Myles Johnson will be a strong contributor to UCLA with his leadership and interior presence.
Race Thompson Indiana
Thompson is a great glue guy for Indiana and is going to be a major part of their success this season. First off, the effort on the boards on both ends is tremendous being a major contributor towards extra possessions. Next, Thompson runs the floor hard in transition being capable of making plays at the rim. Continued, he could continue to improve his skill around the basket working drop steps and jump hooks to be more effective. Additionally, he is really good off the ball to open up on cuts around the basket operating in the dunker position. Furthermore, he could improve his post positioning to get cleaner post entires allowing him to operate easily. As for defensively, he brings good interior toughness and activity on the glass. Also, he brings good mobility being able to contain the basketball well get out on the perimeter. Race Thompson will be a major part of Indiana’s success next year with his consistent effort and toughness.
Christian Bishop Texas
Bishop will be very important for Texas because of the versatility he will provide for them offensively with his mobility. Now, Bishop is a matchup problem with his ability to attack slower bigs with his finishing and ball-handling ability. The activity of Bishop is very good with his ability to finish on rolls, lops, and in transition is elite. Continued, the efficiency of Bishop’s game is great at 68.1% from the field. He is a good rebounder who can contribute to second-chance opportunities. The growth in Bishop’s game would be to improve his jumper from the mid-range and direct post-ups. However, the mobility without the ball is elite and his finishing around the basket is great. The overall skill Bishop has from his position poses major problems for opposing teams. As for defensively, his size can be an issue against the best post players in the country. However, his activity defensively with altering shots and ball screen defense is very good. The movement Bishop plays with makes a major addition to Texas.
Theo John Duke
John is a bruiser and gives toughness for Duke on the boards and defensively. Next, the rim protection ability is really good with his ability to alter shots around the basket. His capabilities to contribute towards second-chance opportunities are crucial for a Marquette team that has lacked an inside presence consistently. Continued, he will bring a level of intensity and consistency that is valued on winning teams. His ability to make contributions on both ends of the floor with either his screening, shot-blocking, or rebounding is valuable for Duke. Furthermore, John will need to be an efficient player for Marquette offensively when he gets his easy opportunities. John’s toughness personifies the overall toughness of a college basketball big and brings it each and every game.
Aaron Thompson Butler
Thompson brings really good steadiness and tenacity for Butler defensively. He’s extremely active on the ball and has the size to be really good on the ball. As well, creating turnovers with his activity is great. Next, he has the inability to shoot the ball that great and is not a threat from the perimeter. He can get downhill on ball screens with toughness but can struggle to finish around the basket with size in the paint. Additionally, his first step is really solid and can get by other guards. Thompson has really solid size and can make plays in transition off of turnovers. Continued, he moves very well off the ball and can come off of hands really well, and finishes strong at the rim off of cuts. Thompson is a very solid player and one of the best perimeter defenders in the country.
Jacob Young Oregon
Young plays with great energy and passion whose pace of play is at a high level making him one of the best college basketball glue guys in the country. Continued, Young did a very good job in an expanded role shooting the ball effectively from three off the catch and dribble at 36.9% from three. Furthermore, he has elite speed in the open court in transition can be great at getting to the basket. Next, the improvement to be able to finish over bigger guards is key for the next step. Also, Young does a very good job of utilizing ball screens to get his shot and get into the lane. The biggest impact offensively by Young is the energy he plays with the basketball. Now defensively, he brings really good activity on the basketball and has a consistently great motor. Jacob Young will be an impact player for Oregon just based on the energy he’ll bring to that program.
Malik Osborne Florida State
Osborne was a solid contributor for Florida State off the bench and could have a bigger role next season. . Furthermore, he has good size with the ability to drive the basketball and pull up for mid-range jumpers. Additionally, he is a good spot-up shooter on the perimeter shooting 36.5% from three. Next, he is really solid in ball screen action with his ability to pop out to the perimeter for wide-open jumpers. His consistency is really valued making him one of the college basketball glue guys for Florida State. Especially coming off the bench always being ready to have an impact when he steps on the floor. Osborne makes an impact in transition running the floor spotting up as a knockdown three-point shooter. As for defensively, he brings really good size and length out on the perimeter to disrupt offensive players. He needs to improve his ability to be a more active help-side defender. Malik Osborne will continue to be a key contributor towards a winning environment for Florida State.
Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua Baylor
Every Day Jon’s is his nickname for a reason because he delivers every day and makes him one of the best college basketball glue guys. Therefore, him being a glue guys makes all the sense towards Baylor’s success. Tchatchoua has a significant impact on the court towards the success of Baylor with his ability to come off the bench and play with great energy. Next, he is really efficient around the basket with his ability to finish at the basket with athleticism and touch. Furthermore, he is dynamic in ball screen action with the ability to hit the rim on direct dives or lobs at the rim. Continued, the ability to play above the rim makes it very difficult for defenses to rotate without a misstep otherwise he will finish. Also, the rebounding ability is really good with the athleticism and effort on the glass on both ends. The offensive improvement would come with potentially being better with the basketball in the post or mid-post. As for defensively, his length and athleticism on this end are impressive and it showed against Drew Timme in the National Championship. The consistent effort to guard out on the perimeter and in the post is really impressive. Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua will have an increased role for Baylor looking to have the same sort of impact on their success.
Images Courtesy of, Dana O’Neil , SAM CONNON,
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