2023 March Madness 10 best players by region: West
10. Drew Pember, F, UNC Asheville
Pember doesn鈥檛 get a whole lot of attention playing for UNC Asheville, and his numbers may be inflated a bit by playing in the Big South, but he has shined throughout the year. In his senior season, the 6-foot-10 Big South Player of the Year has averaged 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds, which are both top-30 marks in the nation. He has scored 29 points or more in each of his last three games, and had a record-setting 48-point performance in late January. The former Tennessee Vols big man can not only score inside, but he shoots the ball incredibly well at 37% from 3-point range, and 83% from the free-throw line. For the Bulldogs to do something special, Pember will have to be on his game in a likely matchup with UCLA鈥檚 Jaime Jaquez Jr. during the opening round. If he plays well, UNC Asheville could be in that game until the very end, and just maybe become the next No. 15 seed to pull off a shocking upset.
Drew Pember scored a D1 season-high 48 points for UNC Asheville last night.
Opened the game with 5 straight threes (8-10 in the game) & then made plays as a cutter in the second-half.
6鈥�10鈥� senior who spent his first 2 years at Tennessee.
Daily Dish:
— Adam Finkelstein (@AdamFinkelstein)