The conference season is underway and let’s face it, the A-10 is down. The possibility of a three-bid league seems optimistic even for the most faithful fans, and most would consider a two-bid season successful given how the 14 squads have faired thus far.
The league is young though, and will undoubtedly improve as the next wave of A-10 stars rise.
Let’s take a look at what the All-Rookie team might look like if the season ended today.
Luka Brajkovic – Davidson
Luka has lived up to the hype for Davidson He’s averaging nearly 12 points and over 6 rebounds per contest for the 3-1 Wildcats. His advanced metrics may be even more impressive, as he ranks in the top 10 in the A-10 in both offensive rating and effective field goal percentage. Not only is he a skilled offensive player, but he ranks 12th in block percentage and 16th in defensive rebounding percentage. His best game yet came last Saturday as he scored 14 points and snagged 7 boards in a gutsy win over VCU.
Nick Honor – Fordham
Nick Honor is doing all he can to keep the Rams afloat. He’s leading the team in scoring with 16.4 ppg and has had only one game where he’s scored fewer than 10 points. Honor has the ability to heat up quickly, evidenced by his 23 points in the second half against St. Bonaventure that nearly erased a 21 point deficit. He’s also shooting over 80% from the line and is connecting from behind the arc at a 35% clip. Fordham may be winless thus far in the conference, but if they can put quality players around Honor in the coming years, he alone can make them competitive.
Obi Toppin – Dayton
Obi Toppin may already be the most athletic player in the A-10. By the time he graduates, he will be one of the most athletic players in the country. For a player of his length, he also owns a surprising amount of skill. In only 23 minutes per game, he’s averaging 12.3 points and 4.4 boards. He’s impressive around the rim on both sides of the ball and has the highest offensive rating in the A-10 for any player that has played in at least 20% of their teams’ possessions. His biggest knock right now is his inconsistency, as he’s had multiple games where he’s scored only three or four points. His best game thus far came against Georgia Southern where he went 9-10 from the field for 22 points in only 20 minutes to hand the Flyers a four-point win.
Kyle Lofton/ Osun Osunniyi – St. Bonaventure
The Bonnies aren’t good enough this season to have two players on the All-Rookie team, but you can almost guarantee that one of these freshman will earn the honor. I couldn’t decide which one. Sue me.
The Bonnies appear to have another 4-year starter in Lofton. He’s averaging 37.3 mpg, 13.7 ppg, and has the eighth highest offensive rating in the league. His 3-point shot is still raw but is likely to develop given his ability to consistently knock down mid-range jumpers.
Osun is improving daily. He’s already taken the starting center role from Amadi Ikpeze and should average over 30 minutes per game the rest of the season. Since the start of the conference season (I know it’s early), Osun is leading the league in offensive rating and offensive rebound percentage and is third in effective field goal percentage. Osunniyi’s greatest strength is as a rim protector, and his block percentage ranks 11th in the nation.
Sincere Carry – Duquesne
Sincere Carry has been a large part of the Duke’s revival under Keith Dambrot. He’s averaging 11.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 5.6 points per game, and is shooting over 37% from three-point territory. He ranks in the top 20 in the conference in true shooting percentage, effective field goal percentage, assist rate, and steal percentage. Carry has also played his best basketball in important situations for the Dukes, including a 15 point performance against Penn State, his 17 points in a close loss to Davidson, and a 32 points outburst in an OT win against UIC.
Also Considered: Jared Bynum, Tyrese Martin, Jake Wojcik, Jack Clark, Jalen Cobb, Luke Frampton
