College Basketball: Top 5 returning players to watch in 2016

Feb 11, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) controls the ball against California Golden Bears forward Ivan Rabb (1) during the second half at Haas Pavilion. The California Golden Bears defeated the Oregon Ducks 83-63. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 25, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) is defended by Virginia Cavaliers guard Malcolm Brogdonn during the first half in a semifinal game in the Midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Monte Morris, G – Iowa State (Senior)

The lone senior on this list, Monte Morris has impressed and improved each year that he’s played for the Iowa State Cyclones. However, the 2016-17 season offers the guard to play a role that he’s never been able to in college: that of the go-to guy. While playing with the likes of Georges Niang, that’s never been Morris’ role on this team. Niang’s gone now, though, and Morris will be the focal point of everything the Cyclones do.

Considering the all-around capabilities of the Flint, MI native, college basketball fans should be excited. As a junior playing 38 minutes per night, Morris was phenomenal at stuffing the box score. The season concluded with him putting up 13.8 points, 6.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. While his three-point percentage dipped slightly, he still shot a solid 35.8 percent from deep while converting on a more impressive 48.7 percent of all attempts.

Morris brings everything to the table as a guard in the Big 12 to dominate as both a scorer and overall playmaker. He has the size and skill to both create (and make) his own shot while also setting up and finding his teammates for scores. His numbers in the 2016-17 are going to be eye-catching, but not more so than actually watching him put up those stats.