When it comes to Big East basketball names, plenty of players are eager to make a name for themselves in the Big East during the 2024-25 season. Certainly, returning first-team All-Big East performer Kadary Richmond will be in the spotlight after transferring from Seton Hall to St. John’s. Alex Karaban, the only returning starter for national champion UConn, is looking to lead the Huskies to another championship.
The Big East also features players named Ball, Blocker and Screen. Broadcasters and writers can have fun with that as the conference is primed for another season to remember.
Fans are starting to get fired up now that the Big East schedule has been released. Things could get pretty intense sometimes, so why not take a lighter approach as we name the 2024-25 Big East men’s basketball All-Name team?
Big East Basketball Names To Remember for 2024-25
Prince Aligbe, Seton Hall
Prince Aligbe, a Boston College transfer, started 45 games over the last two seasons with the Eagles. However, after playing at least 20 minutes in 14 of his first 19 games as a sophomore, his playing time dwindled over his last 16 matches. Aligbe played just 19 minutes and failed to score in two NIT games.
The six-foot-six junior forward from Minnesota might be considered a basketball royalty if he can help the Pirates make a run at the Big East title. He is one of the transfers that Seton Hall will be counting on this season.
Solomon Ball, UConn
Sophomore guard Solomon Ball had a ball at times as a freshman for the Huskies. He had seven points in a win over Texas at the Saatva Empire Classic, while his only double-digit scoring games came against Mississippi Valley State, North Carolina and Xavier.
With guard Tristen Newton, Cam Spencer and Stephon Castle all off to the NBA, more minutes are available in the backcourt as the Huskies look to repeat as Big East champions. That could allow Ball to have a larger role this season. He is one of the names in the Big East to keep an eye on.
Layden Blocker, DePaul
Layden Blocker is a sophomore guard who spent his freshman season playing at the University of Arkansas. He recorded three blocked shots in a win over Furman. He finished with seven blocked shots in 27 games with the Razorbacks. It is uncertain how often he got the benefit of the doubt from the officials on block/charge calls.
Pop Isaacs, Creighton
No, Pop Isaacs is not the oldest player on the 2024-25 Creighton team. The sweet-shooting guard averaged 15.8 points and started in all 34 games as a sophomore at Texas Tech. Isaacs went off for a career-high 32 points in a win over No. 20 BYU. Isaacs is one of the Big East names you can expect to hear quite often this season.
Good answer from Greg McDermott on transfers Pop Isaacs & Jamiya Neal. Both shot under 30% from 3pt range last year. That doesn’t tell the whole story.
“If you dig deep enough, there were some shots they were really efficient at if they took the right shots.”@WOWT6News #GoJays pic.twitter.com/IFeFsC1xM9
— Clayton Collier (@ClaytonJCollier) September 26, 2024
Khaman Maker and Ruben Prey, St. John’s
If freshmen Khaman Maker and Ruben Prey make an impact for a St. John’s team that appears to be ready to make some noise in the Big East this season, headline writers from coast to coast could have a field day.
The 247sports.com recruiting database had Maker listed as the No. 132 ranked player in the Class of 2024. Prey comes to St. John’s from Portugal. He made quite an impression in the FIBA U20 European Championship Group Phase in 2022.
Wooga Poplar, Villanova
Wooga Poplar could be quite popular among Villanova fans as he returns home to play in his hometown of Philadelphia after playing at Miami for the previous three seasons. Poplar was a starter on a Miami squad that reached the Final Four in the 2023 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
The six-foot-five Poplar averaged 15.7 points in three games against ranked teams during the 2023-24 season. In the upcoming campaign, he could be one of the impact transfers in the Big East.
Villanova’s Wooga Poplar is listed as one of the top three point shooters in the country ‼️
According to Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz ) pic.twitter.com/FIjo8IGHxs
— Villanova Enthusiast 🫨 (@NovaKnowsBall) September 16, 2024
Chris Riddle, DePaul
Riddle me this: how many Chicago natives are on the 2024-25 DePaul roster? The answer is two as freshman Chris Riddle joins senior forward and Southern Illinois transfer Troy D’Amico as homegrown products set to suit up for the Blue Demons.
The 247sports.com database listed the six-foot-five Riddle as the No. 7 rated player in Illinois in this year’s freshman class.
“It is always a great day when a Chicago native decides to stay home,” DePaul men’s basketball coach Tony Stubblefield said in an official release. “Chris has everything we look for in the strength and athleticism he brings to his game. He has a wide skillset and has continued to develop as a player in growing his game over the last year. We are excited to see him as a Blue Demon.”
Andre Screen, Butler
Andre Screen scored in double figures four times for the Butler Bulldogs during the 2023-24 season after spending three years at Bucknell. He averaged 5.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game. However, he led the Bulldogs by shooting 58% from the field.
