4.) Nate Martin – Marshall
While Martin doesn’t quite match the size of 7-foot-1 Micah Handlogten, who spent last season at Marshall, the Texas State transfer is an even better scorer and has been a double-double machine early this season. Averaging 11.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, and shooting 58% from the floor, Martin is tied for the sixth most double-doubles in the nation with nine alongside guys like Zach Edey, Joel Soriano, and Hunter Dickinson.
Marshall and head can Dan D’Antoni had to deal with a lot of roster turnover this past offseason and while he isn’t necessarily the team’s leading-scorer, Martin has played a major role in a 3-0 start to Sun Belt play. A stretch from the Cypress, TX native that included a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocked shots to upset Louisiana, followed by a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double to defeat his former program Texas State.
Undoubtedly, the Thundering Herd were up-and-down to open the season, featuring losses against some quality programs including Radford, Duquesne, UNC Wilmington, and No. 16 Kentucky. But behind Martin and a slew of effective contributors, Marshall will finish better than seventh in the Sun Belt come season’s end.
3.) Kimani Hamilton & Duke Miles – High Point
Why is nobody talking about Alan Huss’ High Point? The Panthers have a 13-4 record, are 2-0 to start their Big South campaign, have wins over Iona, Western Carolina, Radford, and even took Hofstra to overtime. A major reason why the first-year head coach is finding so much success is because of his transfer duo in Hamilton and Miles who both arrived at HPU this past offseason.
A 6-foot-2 junior guard, Miles has evidently become the Panthers main scorer and ball-handler with a team-leading 19.1 PPG and 3.8 APG after transferring in from Troy. Hamilton, a 6-foot-7 forward formerly from Mississippi State, is averaging 13.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 2.2 APG with five double-doubles in the early season. After four consecutive seasons below .500 for High Point, Hamilton and Miles looked primed to turn things around under Huss and prove the preseason doubters wrong.
