ESPN ranks the top 100 college basketball players

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1. Ben Simmons - LSU :

Though he's yet to play a minute of basketball against Division I competition, Ben Simmons is our choice as the best player in the land. (No pressure, young man.) The preseason SEC Player of the Year is billed as the "quintessential point forward" and has even been proclaimed "tank-worthy" in NBA terms. If you wish to see the 6-foot-10 Simmons playing the college game, you are strongly advised to catch him this season.

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5. Tyler Ulis - Kentucky:

Apparently that Kentucky roster was pretty loaded in 2014-15, because a sophomore point guard who's yet to make his first career start checks in at No. 5. Of all the returning players listed here, Ulis stands alone in terms of career winning percentage (38-1, .974).

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11. Skal Labissiere - Kentucky:

After some doubt, Labissiere is eligible to play, meaning the Wildcats will have the services of the top-ranked freshman big man in the nation. He could be the No. 1 overall pick in next summer's NBA draft.

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19. Jamal Murray - Kentucky:

The 6-foot-5 Murray reclassified to join the 2015 recruiting class in June, and the Canadian gives UK a high-volume perimeter scoring threat with a pure shooting stroke.

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22. Malik Newman - Mississippi State:

Bulldogs coach Ben Howland made an immediate impact in Starkville, Mississippi, by signing the 6-foot-3 Newman, a one-and-done-level freshman who's expected to put points on the board from day one as a 2-guard.

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30. Damian Jones - Vanderbilt:

Jones is an excellent interior scorer, and coach Kevin Stallings has surrounded him with deadly perimeter shooters. The Commodores junior has already declared his intention to enter the 2016 NBA draft.

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50. Danuel House - Texas A&M:

House had a three-game stretch last February in which he scored 73 points on just 40 shots from the field. If the 6-foot-7 wing stays healthy, the Aggies have a shot at their first NCAA tournament bid since 2011.

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51. Stefan Moody - Ole Miss:

Wherever Moody goes, stats are sure to follow because the 5-foot-10 combo guard takes a high number of shots, draws many fouls and records plenty of steals. His 90 percent accuracy at the line last season makes him the best returning free throw shooter in major-conference basketball.

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62. Isaiah Briscoe - Kentucky:

Listed as a point guard, Briscoe is a 6-foot-3 freshman joining a team that already has a pretty good one of those (see above, No. 5). Nevertheless John Calipari will find minutes for a talent like Briscoe, projected as a 2016 first-round pick.

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69. Alex Poythress - Kentucky:

After missing 29 games last season due to knee injury, Poythress still takes an occasional "planned day off" to ride a stationary bike. If he's healthy, he gives coach John Calipari a 6-foot-8 wing who has shown he can score inside the arc.

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76. Marcus Lee - Kentucky:

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Lee has played less than 600 total minutes across two full seasons at UK, yet he's talented enough to make this list. According to John Calipari the 6-foot-9 junior is "still defining who he is."

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77. Antonio Blackeney - LSU:

A highly rated 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Blakeney has already made headlines for reportedly talking to the NCAA about what transpired during a Louisville recruiting visit in 2014. For his part, Tigers coach Johnny Jones says whatever occurred when his freshman visited Louisville is now "between him and God."

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81. Devin Robinson - Florida:

As a freshman, Robinson was given long looks as a wing-slash-stretch-4 despite hitting just 26 percent of his 3s. His effectiveness as a scorer inside the arc, however, suggests that at 6-foot-8, he may be simply a power forward.

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100. Dorian Finney-Smith - Florida:

In the midst of the Gators' worst season in years, the 6-foot-8 Finney-Smith was a bright spot in 2014-15, nailing 3s and serving as UF's de facto featured scorer.

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