Three Mid-Major Players to Watch

Mid-major players on tournament teams in the NCAA Rankings

Juju Watkins, Paige Beukers, Hannah Hidalgo, Madison Booker, Lauren Betts, and Milaysia Fuliwiley headline the NCAA Women’s Tournament and have dominated the college basketball headlines all season. We know the special talent that each of these dynamic players possess and we know that their respective teams are heavy favorites to hoist the National Championship. The players listed below possess similar talents in their own right. Each player is in the top 10 of a statistical category and could help lift their teams to big wins in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Let’s dive into the list.

Harmoni Turner, Harvard

22.5 PPG, 9th in the country

Harmoni Turner is the heartbeat of the Harvard women’s basketball program. Turner, who was recently named an AP All-American Honorable Mention, the first Harvard player since the great Allison Feaster in 1998, averages a career-high 22.5 PPG on 44% shooting from the field and 36% from deep. In the 28 games that the Crimson have played this season, Turner has had 19 games this season with 20 or more points. The Ivy League Player of the Year, erupted for 44 points in the Ivy League semifinal game against rival Princeton to lead Harvard to the Ivy League Championship game.

Earlier in the season, Turner helped Harvard pick up a big road win at Indiana, scoring 24 points in the upset victory. For Harvard to pull off another upset in the Round of 64 against another B1G opponent in Michigan State, Turner will need another dynamic performance and another 20-point game. In three of Harvard’s four losses this season, Turner was held under 20 points. The lone loss where she scored over 20 points came at the hands of Columbia, in a game where the Crimson turned the ball over 18 times, with Turner having six turnovers in the contest. Look for Harvard to go as far as Turner can take them.

Ally Becki, Ball State

6.3 APG, 7th in the country

Ally Becki is a dynamic threat on the basketball court with her ability to do everything on both ends of the floor. Becki is one of eight players in NCAA women’s basketball history with 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, and 650 assists. For the Cardinals, she is the all-time leader in assists (719), was named the MAC Player of the Year this season, and is a member of the All-MAC Defensive Team. In her last five games, Becki is averaging 10.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 7.8 APG, a true triple-double threat at any moment. Alongside Becki, and a low post threat for the Cardinals is fellow senior Alex Richard who’s leading the team in points per game (16.5) and rebounds per game (7.1). When Becki is best, her running mate Richard is right there with her. If Ball State wants to pull off the upset against Coach Yo and the Ole Miss Rebels, Becki will need to take care of the ball, show her ability to score with Richard and be a threat on the defensive end, making it tough for Ole Miss to get into their offensive sets.

Diamond Johnson, Norfolk State

3.6 SPG, 5th in the country

Similar to Harmoni Turner, Diamond Johnson is the heartbeat of Norfolk State. The reigning MEAC Player of the Year can impact the game on both ends of the floor. At just 5’5, Johnson is the Spartans’ leading scorer (19 PPG), second on the team in rebounds (6.1 RPG), first in assists (4.1 APG), and first in steals (3.6 SPG). Credit goes to Head Coach Larry Vickers and the staff because they’ve built an HBCU powerhouse in Norfolk. The Spartans style of play is a sight to see for mid-major fans. Their defensive mentality and presence are felt by teams on a nightly basis. Ranked fifth in the nation averaging 13.2 steals per game and 13th in the nation in forcing opponents to turn the ball over (21.7 turnovers per game), Norfolk State has the opportunity to make the game ugly for a team like Maryland.

With two guards similar in size, the matchup of Norfolk State’s Johnson and Maryland's Sarah Te-Biasu will be key in determining who comes out of this matchup on top. For the Spartans, Johnson and fellow All-MEAC Defensive Team member Kierra Wheeler will look to guide Norfolk State to an upset victory. Their ability to incorporate a full-court press, forcing teams to make long, ill-advised passes will be key. On the offensive end, Johnson will have to get going and put her ability to hit tough shots on national display for the world to see. This is the highest Norfolk State has been seeded going into a NCAA Tournament game and if they hope for their season to continue, Johnson will be a big part of that.

Honorable Mention: Alyssa Durazo-Frescas, Grand Canyon, 4.0 3PM, 1st in the country, Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State, 63.9 FG%, 6th in the country