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NBA: Top 10 Active Players From Mid-Majors

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 30, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fight for a loose ball during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Golden State won in overtime 103-96. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) fight for a loose ball during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Golden State won in overtime 103-96. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) during the fourth quarter in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 118-106. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) during the fourth quarter in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 118-106. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

9. C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers

School: Lehigh Mountain Hawks (Patriot League)
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 24 (9/19/1991)
2015-16 Slash Line: .448/.417/.827
2015-16 Season Averages: 34.8 MPG, 20.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.5 3PM
Accolades: Most Improved Player (2016)

One could make a compelling case that the Portland Trail Blazers wouldn’t have made the 2016 NBA Playoffs without C.J. McCollum. That same case could be made for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks with the 2010 and 2012 NCAA Tournaments.

McCollum needs to continue proving himself in the NBA, but if 2015-16 is a sign of things to come, he’s going to be a star.

McCollum broke out in 2015-16 with explosive and efficient scoring outings. He set career-highs with an average of 20.8 points per game and 197 3-point field goals made on 41.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Having been somewhat dormant before the 2015 NBA Playoffs and the 2015-16 regular season, McCollum’s rise to fame earned him the Most Improved Player award.

McCollum will now be tasked with proving that he isn’t just a flash in the pan. The Portland Trail Blazers signed him to a four-year extension worth nearly $107 million, which is evidence enough of the pressure he’s facing.

Who knew that a kid from Lehigh could become a Top 10 pick, a post-season award winner, and a $107 million man in the NBA?

Next: Supremely Underrated