Top 5 Big Ten forwards to watch out for in 2024-25 college basketball season ft. Great Osobor
The Big Ten had four teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll, with seven additional programs receiving the votes. The 2024-25 college basketball season will mark the first year with 18 teams in the conference.
The Oregon Ducks, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans and Washington Huskies joined the Big Ten via conference realignment earlier this year. Here's a look at the five best forwards in the league.
5 forwards in Big Ten to lookout for in 2024-25 season
#1: Great Osobor
Great Osobor initially joined the Montana State Bobcats as an unranked prospect in the 2021 recruiting class. He spent two seasons with the program before joining the Utah State Aggies via the transfer portal ahead of last season.
Osobor averaged 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 57.7% from the field in 2023-24. He joined the Washington Huskies via the transfer portal in the summer.
#2: Dawson Garcia
Dawson Garcia initially joined the Marquette Golden Eagles as a four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class.
He spent one season with the program before joining the North Carolina Tar Heels via the transfer portal.
After just one year, he joined the Minnesota Golden Gophers via the transfer portal ahead of the 2022–23 season.
Garcia averaged 17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field, 31.9% from three-point range and 80.2% from the free-throw line last season.
#3: Payton Sandfort
Payton Sandfort joined the Iowa Hawkeyes as a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class.
He averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field, 37.9% from three-point range and 91.1% from the free-throw line last season.
#4: Malik Reneau
Malik Reneau joined the Indiana Hoosiers as a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class.
He averaged 15.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 55.8% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range and 68.3% from the free-throw line in 2023-24.
#5: Brooks Barnhizer
Brooks Barnhizer joined the Northwestern Wildcats as a three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class.
He averaged 14.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.9% from the field, 34.8% from three-point range and 76.6% from the free-throw line last season.