2021-22 Big 12 Basketball Top 25 Returning Players: Adam Flagler
Adam Flagler is a part of our Heartland College Sports Big 12 men’s Top 25 returning players countdown as we get closer to the 2021-22 college basketball season opener.
No. 13: Adam Flagler, G, Baylor
Where he left off: Nationally, Flagler was a bit ‘lost’ when it came to attention, overshadowed by Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell, MaCio Teague and Mark Vital. But the Bears knew what their first guard off the bench was worth, and so did the conference’s coaches, who voted Flagler a Big 12 Honorable Mention last season.
Flagler averaged 9.1 points and 2.3 rebounds, while dishing out nearly two assists per game. His value off the bench was his shooting accuracy. He was Baylor’s best 3-point shooter (43.4 percent) and an 87 percent foul shooter. None of this was a big surprise to Baylor. Flagler was the 2019 Big South Freshman of the Year award at Presbyterian after he averaged 15.9 points per game.
Where he’s headed: Flagler sat out a year at Baylor, and came off the bench last season, for this moment — the chance to start. Flagler’s shooting accuracy and his improved defense last season means he’ll likely start alongside transfer guard James Akinjo. Flagler should again be among the best 3-point shooters in the game, and that’s where his value will be to start the season. Watch for a lot of drive-and-kick plays to Flagler outside, followed by work to establish himself as a drive-to-the-basket option this season, something he didn’t need to do much last year. If his defense takes a step up (to the level of, say Butler or Teague), there’s no reason Flagler can’t be a Top 10 player in the Big 12 by season’s end.
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Top 25 criteria: ONLY players that played in the Big 12 last season were considered. Rankings are based on where players left off at the end of last season, as we are not able to make assumptions about the improvements players have made this offseason.
Big 12 Basketball Preview
Roster Analysis: Baylor | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas | Texas Tech | West Virginia
Impact Players: Freshmen | Transfers | Breakthrough Players
Top 25 Returning Players: No. 25 Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua| No. 24 Christian Braun | No. 23 Rondel Walker | No. 22 Umoja Gibson | No. 21 Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe | No. 20 Nijel Pack | No. 19: Marcus Santos-Silva | No. 18 Mike McGuirl
Coaching: Hiring Grades | Coaches by Category
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
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