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Big East: Why Jalen Brunson Will Be Big East Player Of The Year

By Michael Whitlow

Mar 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All American athlete Jalen Brunson (12) poses for pictures during portrait day at the Westin Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All American athlete Jalen Brunson (12) poses for pictures during portrait day at the Westin Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Last season, the Big East had co-winners of the Big East Player of the Year Award for the first time since the 2008-09 season, when former Pitt forward DeJuan Blair and Hasheem Thabeet split the award.

Providence’s Kris Dunn and Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono shared last season’s award, with Dunn averaging 15.6 points per contest, while Arcidiacono hit more than 44 percent of his three-point attempts for the 33-3 Wildcats.

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This season should be fun in the once-dominant conference, as Dunn and Arcidiacono are back for their senior seasons at their respective schools. The difference in last year and this season is one name that could win the Big East Player of the Year Award outright this season: Jalen Brunson.

Despite losing Darrun Hilliard and JayVaughn Pinkston to graduation for the upcoming season, Brunson is the blue-chip prospect that could keep Villanova on track to win the Big East title in back-to-back seasons, along with making a deep NCAA Tournament run; something Villanova hasn’t done since 2009.

First things first: How good is Jalen Brunson?

Answer: Really good.

Brunson not only set single-game records during Stevenson High School’s run to the 4A state title in the Illinois High School Association Playoffs in his senior season, he holds the most assists in a single game (13) for USA Basketball’s U18 team that he set during Team USA’s gold medal run in the 2014 FIBA U18 World Championships.

This year, Brunson won the MVP of the FIBA U19 World Championships, along with winning Illinois Mr. Basketball Award.

Like many top prospects, there’s not much that Jalen Brunson hasn’t done in his high school career. But, in terms of what he can bring to the college game, he’s a smooth guard with a calm demeanor, and possesses the ability to not only get his own offensively, but can set up his teammates for open looks constantly.

The D’Angelo Russell comparisons will be aplenty this season, and for good reason. He’s the kind of player that Villanova hasn’t had since Scottie Reynolds led the Wildcats to the Final Four back in 2009. Not only is Brunson bigger and better than Reynolds, he’ll be able to step right into the rotation for Jay Wright and contribute.

Plus, Brunson already has the attention of his peers. Last year, USA Today Sports featured a superlative piece with some of the best players in the 2015 class, and the winner of the “Best Passer” award? None other than Jalen Brunson.

I liked these closing remarks from SB Nation college basketball expert Ricky O’Donnell after Brunson’s superb showing at the U19 Championships:

"The last two seasons, Villanova has had great college teams that just seemed one supreme talent short of living up to their lofty seeding. Brunson can be that guy, especially in a year where the national landscape doesn’t look as stiff as it did last season.If college basketball is considered to be wide open this season, it pays to have a player like Brunson on your side. Before you pick Villanova to lose early again in March, just remember what you saw at the U19 tournament. As he’s proven anywhere he’s ever played, Jalen Brunson can change the complexion of a team."

All of that is true. The college basketball scene is wide open this year. There’s no from-another-planet roster like the 38-1 Kentucky team from last season. You’re not going to see completely run through the competition for (almost) an entire season.

The same can be said for the player of the year race in the Big East this season. From Dunn, to D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, to Roosevelt Jones, to even Arcidiacono; there’s no telling who will take home the hardware this season.

The field may not be as open as the 2013 season ended up being in the spring months, but as the summer winds down, who’s to say Villanova doesn’t burst onto the top-tier team scene again, led by an elite prospect like Jalen Brunson?

Next: Who Is The Best Player In The Big East Conference?

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