2.) Noah Reynolds – Green Bay
Green Bay hasn’t had a season with 10+ wins since 2019-20, but under first-year head coach Sundance Wicks and Reynolds, the Phoenix sit 12-8 on a three game win streak. After spending two seasons at Wyoming, averaging 14.5 PPG as a sophomore, Reynolds wanted a new challenge and an opportunity to lead his own team while continuing to showcase his skills. Following over Wicks, a former Wyoming assistant, Reynolds has only further developed his game in Green Bay, averaging career-highs of 19.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 4.6 APG, while shooting a career-best 52% on field goals and 38% from three.
And he truly has become a leader for these Phoenix, starting all 20 contests of the early season, Reynolds has contributed a 24-point effort at Valparaiso, 31 points to beat out UIC, and more recently, notched a career-high 39 points against Wright State. With Green Bay off to a 7-2 start in the Horizon League despite being picked dead last in the preseason poll, look for Reynolds to continue exceeding expectations throughout the rest of this season.Â
1.) Jordan King – Richmond
Despite being picked just 11th in the A10’s preseason poll, the Spiders have a 12-5 record that’s featured wins over UNLV, Charlotte, and now four straight to start conference play. A major reason for that has been the early success of former Siena and East Tennessee State transfer Jordan King who’s averaging a career-high 18 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 1.3 STLPG since joining Richmond.
To start the season off 1-0, it was King’s season-high 34 points that led a win over VMI. Last week, King fell just one basket shy of tying that season-high with 31 points to force a 77-70 win over George Mason. King can score it in droves, and he does so efficiently shooting 48% from the field and 42% from three to lead that undefeated in-conference start for the Spiders. If his efficiency and production keeps up at this level, look for King and Co. to finish far above the 11th spot in the A10 this season.
