Dribble Handoff: Who will be the basketball player of the year in the 2021-22 season?

In the 2020-21 season, Iowa star Luka Garza stood out so sharply among his peers as the best basketball player in college basketball that we ruled him out as an opportunity to dribble the tradition predictions about who would win Naismith College Player of the Year. In essence, we ended up making our predictions of who would be the second-best player in the college hoops season because Garza followed up by winning pretty much all of this year’s player awards.

On the way into the 2021-22 season, things look a little more open in the race for the Naismith Trophy. Gonzaga star Drew Timme is the only returning first-team CBS Sports All-American, but there are four total returnees from our three All-American teams, and it is unclear how the arrival of no. 1 overall view Chet Holmgren will influence Timme’s use at Gonzaga.

Other returning Americans include Illinois center Kofi Cockburn, Michigan center Hunter Dickinson and Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas. But sometimes the Naismith winner comes somewhere from an unexpected place, such as the 2020 winner Obi Toppin, who exploded after winning the A-10 Beginner of the Year in 2018-19 to win several national awards as a sophomore the following season. There is also a recent precedent for first-year students who won the Naismith Award with Zion Williamson in 2019, Anthony Davis in 2012 and Kevin Durant in 2007.

So who is queuing up to collect hardware as the nation’s best player in the coming season? Our authors come up with their predictions here in this week’s edition of the dribble.

Drew Timme, Gonzaga

This year’s obvious national player favorite (as noted above) is Drew Timme, as he is considering being the only CBS Sports First Team All-American to return to college and the leading recurring goal scorer and rebounder for the team ranked No. 1 in the CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 and 1st.

So I go with him.

The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.2 minutes per game. Match last season for a Gonzaga team that played for the national title and finished 31-1. As you probably know, he was not great in the national title fight against Baylor, which is one of the reasons why Gonzaga was not great in the national title fight against Baylor. Hours took fewer shots (7) than he normally takes, scored fewer points (12) than he normally scores, took fewer returns (5) than he normally takes, and was a defensive responsibility in space. Again, not great. But I will not let the last impression overshadow an otherwise incredible second season - and I will be surprised if Timme is not even better this season while playing for a team that is considered the favorite to win the NCAA tournament in 2022. - Gary Parrish

Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga

Cobb, thank you for reminding me of the Dribble Handoff piece from the summer of 2020. When Garza was not an option, I took Cade Cunningham — who finished as First Team All-American, was the national freshman of the year, and essentially lived up to the hype on its way to becoming the number 1 choice. Since Parrish has taken Hours and I think he’s going to be close to Garza level in terms of love for NPOY beforehand, I will refrain from doubling. In fact, Timme could still be nudged by Holmgren. And you know what?

That’s what I want to say hpens. I’m taking the expected top news in the country - and one in the mix to become number 1 - for another season in a row. Holmgren’s role will see him play much more on the perimeter than Timme. Gonzaga has a good nonconference plan, but there is not a road game on the dock until the WCC game begins. Extremely good chance that Gonzaga is a No. 1 seed. Holmgren will be unique in college hangers. It’s easy to imagine his state line ranging from 17.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 3.5 assists. If so, he’s going to have a great shot at beating Timme out to be college basketball’s best player. - Matt Norlander

Paolo Banchero, Duke

I’m already on wax with Duke as my title choice in 2021-22. It’s based on what I think could be a history book ending for one of the best college coaches ever in Coach K, as he runs it back one last year before retiring. But more, it’s a bet on the talent by his side for this final round.

Duke as a team has several talents in the first round that can get them there, and a certified superstar in Banchero who will be the best in the pack. A 6-foot-9 combo forward, he is going to overwhelm opponents and should put up cut and effective numbers for a team with title aspirations. Take a look back at the past two decades, and that role on Duke has often equated recognition as the best of college basketball. If Banchero’s as well as advertised, why would this season be any different? - Kyle Boone

Stardom on Trayce Jackson-Davis for two seasons in Indiana has been overlooked due to Hoosier’s fights, but make no mistake that Jackson-Davis is actually a star. Now he is ready to take his first-team All-Big Ten game to the next level under first-year coach Mike Woodson. The 6-foot-9 center is ready to expand his game as a junior under a coach who knows it takes a good shot from the outside to be a big man in today’s NBA. Provided Jackson-Davis adds one to his repertoire, he will be boundlessly unstoppable.

Jackson-Davis is more athletic than other Big Ten star big men Kofi Cockburn and Hunter Dickinson, more versatile defensively and just as good, if not better, at rebounding than both of them. These three will be in contention for this year’s big ten and national player, and if Jackson-Davis continues his path of improvement, as he should under Woodson, he could emerge as the best player from that trio and the best in the nation. - David Cobb