NCAA Takeover: The Best Scorers in College Basketball

Joel Piton
Jan 13
7 min read

Scoring in college basketball has been harder to come by than ever this season. With tighter defensive schemes, fewer freebies at the rim, and little margin for error, there are no easy buckets—every point has to be earned. Yet even in a league where offense feels suffocated, a handful of blue-chip studs have found ways to force the issue, bending defenses and stuffing stat sheets night after night. Some are household names living up to the hype; others are unexpected standouts announcing themselves on the national stage. Just a couple months into the season, here are ten players forcing their way into mock drafts and demanding attention. Let’s take a look.

AJ Dybantsa — BYU

Position: SF

Age: 18

Draft Projection: Top 3

Stats: 23.1 PPG - 7.2 RPG - 3.9 APG - 58.3 FG%

At 6’8”, AJ Dybantsa is a walking bucket whose scoring prowess has pushed him into the top three of nearly every draft board. The BYU standout is currently tied for fourth in the nation in scoring, and his efficiency only makes the numbers more staggering. Dybantsa is shooting close to 60 percent from the field, a mark that becomes even more impressive when you consider the difficulty of his shot diet. From deep threes to pull-up jumpers and contested finishes, he consistently converts looks that would be considered low-percentage attempts for just about anyone else. Simply put, Dybantsa is a special talent—one college basketball fans should be very excited about.

Cameron Boozer — Duke

Position: PF

Age: 18

Draft Projection: Top 3

Stats: 23.3 PPG - 9.7 RPG - 4.2 APG - 58.0 FG%

I still need a glimpse at Cameron Boozer’s birth certificate. The son of Carlos Boozer, the 6’9” power forward carries his father’s jumper and rebounding—but Cameron’s ceiling is significantly higher. A 40% shooter from three, Boozer has expanded his game beyond scoring, consistently creating opportunities for teammates and operating comfortably as a hub in the offense. Playing on a roster stacked with NBA talent certainly helps, but Boozer has clearly emerged as the group’s most promising star. While you’d like to see him rack up more blocks, his impact on defense is undeniable. He's averaging 2.4 steals a game with guard-like defense and is capable of covering virtually every position on the court. His skill and versatility will make him a top-three selection in next year’s draft for sure.

Dior Johnson — Tarleton State

Position: G

Age: 21

Draft Projection: N/A

Stats: 23.8 PPG - 2.5 RPG - 1.5 APG - 56.9 FG%

Dior Johnson has single-handedly put Tarleton State on the map. Once a high-school phenom, Johnson’s path to this moment has been anything but conventional. He played for nine different high schools and was once viewed as a future NBA guard, but constant movement and stalled commitments made it difficult for him to gain traction at the next level. Stints at Clarendon College and UCF followed before Johnson landed at Tarleton last fall—and that’s where the narrative flipped. Now college basketball's leading scorer, Johnson has forced his name back into the conversation. The 6’3” combo guard is an aggressive, fearless scorer with elite handle and the confidence to hunt tough shots on demand. There's a bit of a skill gap between Dior and his conference, and he's not appearing on any draft boards yet, if ever. But his run has been undeniable and it's a reminder that redemption stories are alive and well in college hoops.

Labaron Philon — Alabama

Position: G

Age: 20

Draft Projection: Top 10

Stats: 21.3 PPG - 3.4 RPG - 5.1 APG - 53.7 FG%

Projected as a lottery pick, Labaron Philon has taken a massive leap in his sophomore season at Alabama. The 6’4” combo guard and hometown hero ranks 16th in the nation in scoring at 21 points per game while shooting a blistering 43 percent from three. Philon isn’t just a scorer either—he’s a willing passer, and alongside Aidan Holloway, the two form one of the most dangerous backcourts in college basketball. The SEC is competitive as hell, yet the Crimson Tide currently sit second in the conference, ahead of perennial powers like Kentucky, Texas, and last year’s champions, Florida. Unfortunately, cramping issues may sideline Philon for the next few weeks, putting Alabama’s strong 7–1 start under some pressure. When he’s on the floor, though, few guards in the country can match his blend of scoring punch and control.

PJ Haggerty — Kansas State

Position: SG

Age: 21

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

Stats: 22.7 PPG - 5.0 RPG - 4.7 APG - 50.2 FG%

PJ Haggerty is on his fourth NCAA team, but this is easily the most efficient version we’ve seen. After averaging 20-plus points per game at two AAC programs, Haggerty took his talents to Kansas State to help energize a still-developing Wildcats roster. While the team appears on a similar trajectory to last season, Haggerty has thrived as the captain and primary scoring option, pouring in 23 points per night—good for sixth in the nation. A relentless slasher, he’s a nightmare around the rim, consistently drawing fouls and finishing through contact. His three-point shot remains a work in progress, but he’s become a true layup mixmaster with elite body control in traffic. Currently projected as a mid-to-late second-round pick, Haggerty has the type of scoring profile that could push him higher on draft boards with continued polish.

Darryn Peterson — Kansas

Position: SG

Age: 18

Draft Projection: Top 3

Stats: 22.7 PPG - 5.0 RPG - 4.7 APG - 50.2 FG%

The consensus No. 1 player in the country, Darryn Peterson has appeared in just three games due to injury, but his brief sample size has been electric. His transition from high school to the college game has looked seamless, as he’s consistently getting to his spots and scoring at will. Peterson’s release is lightning quick—unorthodox in form, yet devastatingly effective—and contested layups somehow look routine. Physical, forceful defense only seems to fuel him, pushing his scoring aggression to another level. Peterson may already be the most naturally gifted scorer in college basketball, but he’ll need a larger body of work to fully prove it. Even so, he’s quickly turning casual observers into Kansas Jayhawks believers—and for good reason.

Cameron Carr — Baylor

Position: SG

Age: 21

Draft Projection: Top 15

Stats: 20.7 PPG - 5.4 RPG - 2.1 APG - 55.6 FG%

Projected lottery pick Cameron Carr has plenty to prove after missing what was arguably the most important season of his collegiate career due to injury. Transferring from Tennessee to Baylor, Carr has fit seamlessly into the role vacated by VJ Edgecombe, operating as a two-guard built to score. His 20.5 points per game rank 25th nationally, but it's more valuable than you might think: Baylor's program hasn't featured a 20-plus point-per-game scorer since Aundre Branch in 1994. Scoring in the Big 12 is never easy, yet Carr is making it look very possible. An off-ball nightmare, he owns a sky-high, nearly uncontestable release point, and his vertical adds another layer, finishing lobs and dunks despite standing just 6’5”. Carr isn’t just productive; he’s one of the most exciting scorers in college basketball right now.

JT Toppin — Texas Tech

Position: F

Age: 20

Draft Projection: 1st Round

Stats: 20.6 PPG - 11.0 RPG - 1.9 APG - 55.6 FG%

At 6’8”, JT Toppin has helped put Texas Tech firmly on the map with a 12–4 record. The lanky forward is a double-double nightmare, tied for fifth in the nation in rebounds averaging 20.6 points, 11.3 boards, and 1.9 assists per game. Toppin thrives as a post scorer and finisher, but he’s also a dangerous mid-range threat—one you can’t afford to leave open anywhere from 15 to 25 feet. Named Big 12 Player of the Year and a Consensus Second-Team All-American last season, Toppin’s offensive impact continues to grow year after year. A projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, he carries serious upside as a reliable, high-motor double-double machine at the next level.

Keyshawn Hall — Auburn

Position: SF

Age: 22

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

Stats: 21.7 PPG - 7.8 RPG - 2.9 APG - 50.0 FG%

Auburn standout Keyshawn Hall has a very real NBA future. The projected second-round pick has brought energy and production to four different universities, and while playing for a different school every year was frowned upon, it’s hard to argue with the results when the play speaks for itself. Following a 30-point eruption against Arkansas on January 10th, Hall has continued to climb draft boards. A lean, athletic 6’7” forward, he rebounds well above his size, moves the ball willingly, and finishes decisively at the rim. The swing skill remains his jumper—shooting just 28 percent from three will inevitably hurt his stock. But if Hall can level up his perimeter shot, the rest of his game suggests a player who could push his way into first-round consideration.

Josh Hubbard — Mississippi State

Position: PG

Age: 21

Draft Projection: N/A

Stats: 22.8 PPG - 2.3 RPG - 3.8 APG - 42.8 FG%

Short king Josh Hubbard has drawn Isaiah Thomas comparisons for good reason. The new age Mississippi bullet is tied for seventh in the nation at 23 points per game—and he’s doing it at just 5’11”. Hubbard is Mississippi State’s offense, accounting for a staggering 38 percent of the team’s shot attempts when he’s on the floor. Lightning quick with the ball and armed with seemingly limitless range, he puts constant pressure on defenses the moment he crosses half court. In both style and mindset, he recalls former Campbell star Chris Clemons—size means absolutely nothing to him, and he attacks anyone with complete confidence. A junior, Hubbard will likely play out the remainder of his college career, but by the time it’s over, his production may be too loud for the NBA to ignore.

Some of these guys are underdogs, and some have been league-bound since high-school, there's been a solid mixture of the two all NCAA season long. With the regular season still unfolding, the real evaluations are only just beginning. Which of these bucket getters would you like to see lace ’em up at the NBA level? And which of them are built to survive the chaos, pressure, and perils of March Madness when every possession matters most? Some will rise, some will fade—but for now, the scoring speaks for itself. Only time will tell.