Most Important Player On Each CBB Top 25 Team For 2014-15 Season

There is a reason why the Utes are among the teams to watch in the Pac-12 and this is one of them. He was the first player in Utah basketball history to earn first-team honors thanks in part to his 2.56 steals per game. He also connected on more than 56 percent of his shots, third in the conference.

Michigan has been hit with turnover on its roster after having advanced to the Elite Eight last season, so this junior standout will have to step up his game. LeVert averaged close to 13 points per game last year as Michigan won the Big Ten for the first time since 1986.

He may be just a freshman, but McCullough will keep the Orange relevant in the Atlantic Coast Conference basketball picture. Syracuse is projected as one of the teams to compete for the ACC championship. He is 6-foot-9 and projects as Syracuse's best player immediately.

As a sophomore, Moore averaged 13.6 points per game and guided his team to the finals of the National Invitation Tournament. He scored in double figures in 30 of the team's 37 games, and the 5-foot-9 guard will be one of the players to watch on the Texas basketball scene.

You usually don't think about Nebraska when it comes to top college basketball, but this junior guard was the Cornhuskers' first selection to the Big Ten first team since 1999. He is adept at the free-throw line with 179 shot last year. That's the most made by a Nebraska player since Jake Moore in 1979-80.

Ohio State's first-round playoff upset prevented most of the nation from seeing this player in action. He didn't start until February, but Thompson still averaged 7.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. The Buckeyes will be among the teams to watch in the Big Ten.

As a sophomore, the second-team all Big-12 selection skyrocketed in terms of scoring, as he went from 7.8 to 16.5 points per game. His 90 3-pointers were the sixth most in school history. Oklahoma is one of the teams to watch in the Big 12, and the team needs Hield's perimeter success.

Dawson was out for 10 games last season due to a broken hand, and the Spartans struggled a bit without him. When he returned, Michigan State cruised to an Elite Eight bid. Dawson chose to hold off the NBA for one last year and returned to college, and this time he will be the go-to guy.

Thanks in part to Connecticut's successful NCAA tournament run, Boatright's stock shot up to the point where he was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year in the American Athletic Conference. Considering he led in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals, to say he is important is an understatement.

The senior forward averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season, most of it in obscurity. Because San Diego State doesn't play in a power conference and most of its games are not nationally televised, many people don't know Polee's skills. They may see more of them this year.

Graham was voted the Preseason Player of the Year in the Atlantic 10, and his skills will be key as VCU attempts to win the conference title. The school vaulted into national circles with its improbable run to the 2011 Final Four, and Graham's shot-making skills will be key.

The 6-foot-8 junior forward suffered a broken foot during the NCAA tournament, and down went the Cyclones. His 16.7 points per game were key as Iowa State won the Big 12 tournament and established itself as a strong presence on the hoop scene.

Pangos became the 36th player in school history to go past 1,000 career points, and his 14.4 points per game tied for the team lead in scoring. Gonzaga is now a yearly participant in the NCAA tournament after a few early years of playing spoiler, so Pangos' presence will be huge.

With 118 assists and just 48 turnovers, Arcidiacono will be a huge presence for Villanova as it attempts to win the BIG EAST and compete in Philadelphia basketball circles. With 742 points in just two seasons as a Wildcat, Arcidiacono is a main reason why Villanova is among the conference favorites.

Wichita State had a solid 2013-14 season that saw the team go unbeaten before a tournament loss to Kentucky. With some NBA draft losses, the team will turn to VanVleet to get the job done as the Shockers try to hold on in the Missouri Valley Conference.

One of the top freshmen in the nation chose to make Texas his home for at least the next year. Turner hopes to follow the career trajectory of Kevin Durant, one of the last Longhorn players to hit it big, but for now Turner hopes to make Texas a player in the Big 12 picture.

A lot of people may not have been born or were too young to remember the years when Virginia was last relevant on the college scene in the early 1980s. Brogdon is a big reason why Virginia is a favorite to compete for the ACC title and another long tournament run.

Not only is Harrell Louisville's finest player, he is one of the top players in the entire nation. Louisville transfers from the American Athletic Conference to the ACC and joins a loaded conference of talent. Harrell will be tested immediately.

Last year Florida made a run to the Final Four for the first time since the glory days of Joakim Noah and Al Horford in 2006-07. The Gators will be among the teams to watch in the Southeastern Conference once again. Walker will not appear in the first couple games due to team disciplinary reasons, but once involved Walker will not leave.

There are many who believe the Tar Heels are not only the ACC favorites but also a favorite to make the Final Four. He is on several preseason All-American lists, and for good reason. His 86.5 percent free-throw shooting is tops at North Carolina.

This is the reason why Kansas can afford to lose Andrew Wiggins and still be among the favorites in the Big 12 and in the nation. Alexander is one of the top freshmen in the entire country, and the Jayhawks will go as far as Alexander can carry them.

Like Alexander is important to Kansas, Okafor is the reason why this year's Duke team may be better than the one that had Jabari Parker on it a year ago. Okafor is the consensus top freshman out of high school, and with multiple national broadcasts of the Blue Devils everyone will see Okafor's game immediately.

Together with Frank Kaminsky, Dekker will be a solid presence on a Badgers squad that reached the Final Four and is a legitimate threat to run away with the Big Ten title. Wisconsin is traditionally one of the top teams in the nation thanks to its suffocating defense and impressive offense.

At Arizona's first practice, Johnson won the slam-dunk contest and showed off why many people believe Arizona will be the consensus Pac-12 champion. Johnson will be one of the big freshmen to watch on the national stage as Arizona gets plenty of love from national cable broadcasts.

Together with Andrew and Aaron Harrison, the emergence of Towns as an exciting freshman has Kentucky poised to lead the SEC and quite possibly the entire nation. It's rare these days when a team makes back-to-back national championship games like Butler did, but Kentucky should make another appearance in April.