Mid-major college basketball stars to know for conference tournament season

That's enough about Cooper Flag! These are the little school stars who learn to love during college basketball conference tournament season.

pj haggerty, so, g, memphis (USA)

You won't find another player on this list with a legitimate national aspiration. His most influential transfers in college basketball this season are currently leading the Tigers in scoring (21.4 ppg), assists (3.8 APG) and steel (1.9 SPG).

Bennett Stirtz, Jr., G., Drake (Missouri Valley)

Drake heads out the arch's madness with a sparkling 27-3 record, and Stillz is one of the biggest reasons. In his first season in Division I, the junior guard led the Bulldogs by points (18.9), leading assists (5.9) and steel (2.2) per game. He also got better as the season progressed, averaging 21.4 points on 57.8% shooting from the floor since January 29th.

Marquel Sutton, SR, G, Omaha (Summit League)

Recently crowned summit league player of the year reached where he was the old fashioned way. Sutton never played in schools in another division and steadily improved with each season with the Mavericks.

Sutton ranked second in the Summit League scorer, averaging 21.3 ppg in the league game and third in rebounds with 7.7 RPGs. He scored over 20 points in 10 of Omaha's final 11 conference games, earning a career-high 36 in his victory in South Dakota on February 22nd.

Jaron Pierre Jr., SR, G, Jacksonville State (Conference USA)

After Redshirting in Wichita last season, Pierre moved to Jacksonville, quickly becoming the most explosive offensive threat in Conference USA. He enters the postseason, scoring at 21.8 ppg and ranked fourth in the nation. Pierre scored over 30 points in February. This included a 36-point performance against Middle Tennessee, setting a new school record with 10 3-pointers.

Pierre's strong play this season has attracted attention from just a handful of NBA scouts.

Bez Mbeng, SR, G, Yale (Ivy League)

The college basketball player hasn't been as consistent as the statistical staff as 6'4 Mbeng did this season. His three triple doubles are the most of all players in Division-I. Two of these triple doubles appeared in Yale's final three games in the regular season.

Augustus Marschlionis, SR, G, St. Mary's (West Coast)

Marciulionis became Saint Mary's first player since Steve Grey in 1962-63, and the only Gael to repeat Gre as the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. The senior floor general averages 14.4 points and 6.1 assists per game, but leads St. Mary with 43 steals. He entered the postseason, ranked 11th in the country with 189 assists.

Tyler Tejada, so G, Towson (Coastal Athletic Association)

The silky smooth 6'9 sophomore will aesthetically please the basketball brand as you can see at this level.

Last season's Coastal Athletic Association Rookie of the Year attracted the attention of NBA Scouts and Power Conference coaches this season.

Kimali Peterson, SR, G, East Tennessee (South)

After not seeing Indiana freshmen and courts from 2021-22, Peterson has starred in East Tennessee over the past two seasons. He took the game to another level this year. He averaged 19.5 ppg and scored in double digits in all but one game.

Adam Clarke, so G, Merrimack (Big City Athletic)

Little Clark, who goes through “Bad,” has been a virtual lock this season to score 20 points on every step on the court. He enters the postseason leading the MAAC in scoring (20.1 ppg) and ranks third in assists (5.7 APG).

Ryan Nenbird, SR, G, Gonzaga (West Coast)

Nembhard is the leader of assists with broad margins (10.0 APG) and was named to the First Team All-West Coast Conference earlier this week for his second consecutive season. If the Zags can run an astonishing (??) on the Sweet 16 for the 10th consecutive year later this month, Nembhard is probably the biggest reason.

Jacob Ognacevic, SR, F, Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun)

Ognacevic, the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, leads the league with points at 20.3 ppg. He won 20 in Lipscomb's Central Arkansas quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Barrington Hargles, so G, UC Riverside (Big West)

Big West has plenty of fun talent this season, but “B-Sheisty” might be at the top of the list. Hargles led the meeting with points, dropping 40 in January with an upset by Riverside league leader UC San Diego. He also scored 31 in a November victory over the Colorado team in November, hitting the half-court remnants.

Taton Connorway, SR, G, Troy (Sunbelt)

Conerway leads the Sunbelt with the Steals (3.0) per game, ranking third in assists (5.1 per game), and also averages team's best 13.7 points and 4.3 rebounds (second tied for the team). He was the first Trojan named Sun Belt Player of the Year and Troy's first conference player of the year since 2004 when the program was a member of the Atlantic Sun.

Yaxel Lendeborg, SR, F, UAB (American)

If anyone is going to confuse Memphis in Fort Worth next week to steal bids for the NCAA Tournament, UAB appears to be the most likely candidate, and Rendeborg seems to be the biggest reason. The 6'9 senior forward averages double doubles (17.3 points/10.7 rebounds) with 4.2 assists per game. He is a very safe bet to hear his name this summer's NBA Draft.

Trent McLaughlin, SR, G, Northern Arizona (Big Sky)

It's a big surprise that the seventh seeded Lumberjacks claimed Big Sky's autobid, but their game (or game) is worth tweaking for McLaughlin. The second scorer in the country (22.1 ppg) has made more than seven 3-pointers in four games this season.

Gabe Dynes, So, C, Youngstown State (Horizon League)

How about defensive love here? Robert Morris' Alvaro Forgeilas was the Horizon League's Player of the Year, but the Youngstown State dynasty has the opportunity to make the biggest impact on the league's tournaments. The 7'3 sophomore finished second in the nation with a blocked shot (3.1 bpg) that has steadily improved throughout the second season of college basketball.

Abdi Bashir, So, G, Monmouth (Coastal Athletic Association)

Bashir leads the country with a three-point shooting, heading into the postseason with absolute tears. He knocked down 19 triples in the final three games of the regular season, hitting more than eight on four separate occasions. If Bashir continues to trend recently, the sixth seeded Hawks are a real threat to rock the CAA tournament.

Earl Timberlake, SR, G, Bryant (USA East)

The former highly-received recruit, who had his first stop in Miami and Memphis, settled in the starring role in Bryant. Timberlake does a bit of everything about the Bulldogs, averaging 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.

Brian Moore Jr., SR, G., Norfolk (MEAC)

The Murray State move was a Spartan's right-out average of 18.9 ppg this season. Now he is tasked with bringing Norfolk back to the third NCAA tournament in the last five years.

Terrence Brown, so G, Fairy Dickinson (Northeast)

Brown, the nation's 10th goal scorer, has not scored under 10 points in games this season. Central Connecticut is a runaway favorite to win the NEC tournament, but Brown and the Knights can spell the danger for the Blue Devils if they're squared in the semi-finals.

Bonus Players: Blaise Threatt, SR, G, Weber State (Big Sky)

Because he's really good, because his name is a threat to Blaze.

Bonus Bonus Players: Kobe Williamson, SR, G, Seattle (WAC)

He looks like this, because this is the last year we can talk about him.

The Red Hawks are a long shot to win the WAC tournament, but imagine this guy in “one sparkling moment.”