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Top 10 Players in Big 12 Entering 2014-15 College Basketball Season

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Top 10 Players in Big 12 Entering 2014-15 CBB Season

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Until someone else wins the conference, the Big 12 title will run through Lawrence, Kansas this year as the Jayhawks look to capture their 11th consecutive Big 12 crown. There are plenty of other teams that will be in the discussion as the Big 12 is shaping up to be one of the top basketball conferences in America. Let's take a look at the top 10 players in the Big 12 in 2014-15.

10. Kenny Chery

Kenny Chery Baylor
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

10. Kenny Chery

Kenny Chery Baylor
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Despite this year's Baylor team being as weak as they have been in a while, one of the lone bright spots will be point guard Kenny Chery. A former JUCO All-American, Chery averaged 11.5 points and 4.7 assists per game in his first season with the Bears last year. Baylor lost several players from last year's Sweet 16 team, so it will be up to Chery to run the show in 2014-15.

9. Kyan Anderson

Kyan Anderson TCU
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

9. Kyan Anderson

Kyan Anderson TCU
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Even though TCU lost all 18 of its conference games last season, point guard Kyan Anderson emerged as one of the top players in the conference a year ago. The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 17 points and 4.5 assists per game while shooting an impressive 40.7 percent from three-point range. Anderson has a good chance to average over 20 points per game for a TCU team that should be improved from a year ago.

8. Kelly Oubre

Kelly Oubre Kansas
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

8. Kelly Oubre

Kelly Oubre Kansas
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The lone freshman to make the list, Kelly Oubre will help fill the void left behind by Andrew Wiggins at Kansas. A consensus top 25 recruit, Oubre is an athletic wing who excels at getting to the basket and knocking down open shots. There are a lot of mouths to feed at Kansas, but I have a feeling Oubre will emerge as one of the top dogs for the Jayhawks.

7. Jonathan Holmes

Jonathan Holmes Texas
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

7. Jonathan Holmes

Jonathan Holmes Texas
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Texas boasts perhaps the top frontcourt in the entire country and senior power forward Jonathan Holmes is a big reason why. Along with massive center Cameron Ridley and highly touted freshman center Myles Turner, Holmes headlines a Texas team that is ranked 10th in the country in the preseason AP poll. Last season, Holmes was one of the top post players in the conference averaging 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Longhorns.

6. Marcus Foster

Marcus Foster Kansas State
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

6. Marcus Foster

Marcus Foster Kansas State
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Foster was one of the surprise freshman stars in college basketball last season for Kansas State. In his first year in Manhattan, Foster averaged 15.5 points per game on 39.5 percent shooting from three. The All-Big 12 second teamer is poised to have a monster sophomore season for the Wildcats and is a big reason why they have a chance to make the NCAA tournament in 2014-15.

5. Le'Bryan Nash

Le'Bryan Nash Oklahoma State
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

5. Le'Bryan Nash

Le'Bryan Nash Oklahoma State
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The once highly touted recruit Le'Bryan Nash is now a senior at Oklahoma State and has had three solid but unspectacular years in Stillwater. 2014-15 could be the year Nash finally breaks out thanks to the departures of Marcus Smart and Markel Brown. Nash has averaged at least 13 points and four rebounds in all three of his seasons, but has the potential to average around 17 and eight this season as the unquestioned leader of the Cowboys.

4. Perry Ellis

Perry Ellis Kansas
Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

4. Perry Ellis

Perry Ellis Kansas
Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

While talented recruits have come and gone, Kansas forward Perry Ellis has put together a nice career for the Jayhawks. Despite Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid dominating the headlines, Ellis averaged 13.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season. As a junior, Ellis is now the veteran presence for a young Kansas team that is looking to capture its 11th consecutive conference championship.

3. Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield Oklahoma
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

3. Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield Oklahoma
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma is ranked 19th in the preseason AP Poll and shooting guard Buddy Hield is a big reason why. Hield was a breakout star last season averaging 16.5 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 38.6 percent from three. If Oklahoma is going to challenge Kansas and Texas for a Big 12 championship, Hield will need to take his game to another level this season.

2. Georges Niang

Georges Niang Iowa State
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

2. Georges Niang

Georges Niang Iowa State
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The most versatile player in the Big 12, Georges Niang is now the go-to guy for Iowa State with the departures of DeAndre Kane and Melvin Ejim. A true point forward, Niang averaged 16.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season. Niang has used this offseason to get into better shape, losing almost 30 pounds. A slimmer Georges Niang could mean trouble for Big 12 opponents.

1. Juwan Staten

Juwan Staten West Virginia
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

1. Juwan Staten

Juwan Staten West Virginia
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The top player in the Big 12 in 2014-15 is Juwan Staten from West Virginia. Staten put together an impressive junior season in which he averaged 18 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. The All-Big-12 first teamer was one of the top all-around players in the country last season and could have an even bigger year in 2014-15. Staten is one of the top shooters in the conference, posting a 40 percent clip from long range last season.

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