Top mid-major scorers

[Da Coach]

Here is a list of the top mid-major scorers so far- https://twitter.com/MidMajorcentral/status/1728081293752078784
And the top scorers overall in D1- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/stats/player

Tucker DeVries is the top MVC scorer and ranks 23rd in the country.

But note that Jim Les has a player who is tied as the #7 scorer in the country, Elijah Pepper, who is averaging 23.0 ppg so far.
He was the #4 scorer in the country last season (2022-23)- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/stats/player/_/season/2023
He is an interesting story with a Bradley connection...
Bradley coaches felt they needed to land a point guard in the class of 2019, mainly as an initial backup to Darrell Brown who was heading into his senior season at Bradley. So one of the guards they recruited and offered was Elijah Pepper out of Selah High School in Selah, Washington- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/s...19-beyond-recruiting-targets/page5#post464525

He ultimately preferred to stay on the west coast, and committed to Jim Les at UC Davis-
Elijah Pepper committed to UC Davis 9/9/2018- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/s...beyond-recruiting-targets?p=465215#post465215

Bradley ended up using that scholarship a week later to land another high school point guard, Antonio Thomas-
Antonio Thomas committed to Bradley 9/17/2018- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/s...t-antonio-thomas-commits-to-bradley#post28192
Antonio didn't work out at Bradley, while Elijah Pepper has become one of the top scorers in the country.
Elijah Pepper career stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4432077/elijah-pepper

That's how recruiting can go sometimes. Note that Elijah Pepper has started every game his entire career at UC Davis. So, I suspect he chose UCD for the opportunity to be a starter right away.

 

[Da Coach]

Here is a list of the top mid-major scorers so far- https://twitter.com/MidMajorcentral/status/1728081293752078784
And the top scorers overall in D1- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/stats/player

Tucker DeVries is the top MVC scorer and ranks 23rd in the country....

D1 scoring leaders- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/stats/player

Correction: Xavier Johnson of SIU is the leading scorer in the MVC, and is tied as the 7th highest scorer with 23.0 ppg.

MVC scoring leaders- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/stats/player/_/group/18

Tucker DeVries is 2nd in the MVC with an average of 21.0 ppg.

Robbie Avila is currently averaging 20.3 ppg, but does not appear on the leaders list.
To qualify for the leader list, the MVC requires that a player must appear in 65% of their team's games. He will meet that qualification if he appears in their next game.

 

[PhiAlphaBoy]

That's how recruiting can go sometimes. Note that Elijah Pepper has started every game his entire career at UC Davis. So, I suspect he chose UCD for the opportunity to be a starter right away.

I would imagine weather, scenery (girls), and stellar academic reputation played a role too. Not to mention the potential to be mentored by a former NBA point guard.

 

[yoda]

Here is a list of the top mid-major scorers so far-

https://twitter.com/x/status/1728081293752078784

And the top scorers overall in D1- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/stats/player

Tucker DeVries is the top MVC scorer and ranks 23rd in the country.

But note that Jim Les has a player who is tied as the #7 scorer in the country, Elijah Pepper, who is averaging 23.0 ppg so far.
He was the #4 scorer in the country last season (2022-23)- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/stats/player/_/season/2023
He is an interesting story with a Bradley connection...
Bradley coaches felt they needed to land a point guard in the class of 2019, mainly as an initial backup to Darrell Brown who was heading into his senior season at Bradley. So one of the guards they recruited and offered was Elijah Pepper out of Selah High School in Selah, Washington- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/s...19-beyond-recruiting-targets/page5#post464525

He ultimately preferred to stay on the west coast, and committed to Jim Les at UC Davis-
Elijah Pepper committed to UC Davis 9/9/2018- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/s...beyond-recruiting-targets?p=465215#post465215

Bradley ended up using that scholarship a week later to land another high school point guard, Antonio Thomas-
Antonio Thomas committed to Bradley 9/17/2018- https://www.bradleyfans.com/forum/s...t-antonio-thomas-commits-to-bradley#post28192
Antonio didn't work out at Bradley, while Elijah Pepper has become one of the top scorers in the country.
Elijah Pepper career stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4432077/elijah-pepper

That's how recruiting can go sometimes. Note that Elijah Pepper has started every game his entire career at UC Davis. So, I suspect he chose UCD for the opportunity to be a starter right away.

One time Bradley recruit Elijah Pepper finished his superb college career at UC-Davis playing for Jim Les, scoring
an career total of 2,284 points (which would place Pepper 3rd among Bradley top career scorers and 300 points ahead of 4th place)-
... leading the Big West his senior year in scoring (20.7ppg), 3-point pct and FT pct (92%)
and was Big West Player of the Year in 2024.

He now plays for the Australian Men's National Team and they just had a 3-game friendly series with New Zealand.
The Aussies won 2 of the 3 games but they were played as exhibitions and everyone on the rosters got into the games.
Pepper had 3 really fine games.
Game 1- 16 pts in just 17 minutes, went 5-10 from 3-pt
Game 2- 12 pts in 19 min, 5 reb, 2-5 from 3-pt
Game 3- 28 points in 25 min, 7 reb, 9/16 shooting, 3-8 from 3-pt, 2 asst

The article also notes that Pepper plays in the Australian Top Pro spring league and is averaging an astounding 39.1 ppg,
hitting 65% of his shots overall, handing out 7.3 assists, grabbing 6.7 reb & 2.1 steals.
with his team atop the standings at 9-1.
LINK