Northwestern sophomore Jake West was named one of college basketball’s top breakout candidates after averaging 5.3 points and 2.8 assists as a freshman and starting the final 17 games of the season.
Northwestern sophomore guard Jake West is entering the 2026-27 season with much higher expectations than he had when he first arrived in Evanston.
West was recently named one of the top 40 breakout candidates in college basketball by Ryan Hammer, coming in at No. 30 on Hammer’s list of players poised to make a major jump this season. The recognition comes after West showed significant growth throughout his freshman campaign and emerged as one of the most important returning pieces on Northwestern’s revamped roster.
West played in all 33 games as a first-year, starting the final 17 while averaging 5.3 points, 2.8 assists and 1.0 turnover in 22.0 minutes per game. He also shot 36.4% from 3-point range, connecting on 28 of 77 attempts. His 2.8 assists per game ranked fourth among Big Ten first-years and were the most by a Northwestern first-year since Bryant McIntosh averaged 4.7 assists in 2014-15.
Those overall numbers only tell part of the story.
West's role changed considerably as the season progressed. After beginning Big Ten play primarily as a reserve, he earned his first career start against Illinois on Jan. 14 and quickly became a fixture in Northwestern's starting lineup. From that point forward, he showed the ability to control the offense, create for teammates and knock down shots from the perimeter.
During the stretch in which he became a starter, West averaged 7.4 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 36.8% from 3-point range. He started the final 17 games of the season and played at least 20 minutes in each of them.
One of the biggest moments of West's freshman season came against Penn State on Jan. 29. He scored seven points and dished out a program-record 13 assists for a Northwestern first-year. His 13 assists tied for the third-most in a single game in program history and represented the most by a Big Ten first-year in a conference game since 2017.
Mar 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Jake West (3) brings the ball up court against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesWest also showed that he could become more than just a facilitator.
That performance against Indiana was particularly significant because it came on one of the biggest stages of West's young career. He tied the program record for most points by a Northwestern first-year in a Big Ten Tournament game, matching TJ Parker's 2003 performance. He also finished the Big Ten Tournament with 28 points and 10 assists, setting Northwestern's program record for assists by a first-year in the tournament.
Northwestern's 2026-27 roster underwent significant turnover during the offseason, with the Wildcats bringing in a large group of transfers and newcomers. West is one of only a handful of returning players and is listed as a sophomore on Northwestern's current roster.
That puts even more responsibility on the Philadelphia native.
West is expected to take over as Northwestern's primary point guard and help orchestrate an offense filled with new faces. The Wildcats added seven transfers during the offseason, while West, Angelo Ciaravino and Phoenix Gill are among the returning players.
For West, that means his sophomore season could be less about proving that he belongs and more about proving how high his ceiling can be.
The biggest area for growth will likely be scoring consistency. West flashed the ability to become a dangerous perimeter shooter as a freshman, but his 5.3-point scoring average shows there is plenty of room for his offensive production to increase. He already demonstrated that he can score in double figures, create offense for others and take control of games when given an expanded role.
His court vision could be just as important.
West recorded multiple games with at least seven assists during his freshman season, becoming the first Northwestern first-year to do so since McIntosh in 2014-15. His ability to create opportunities for teammates could become especially valuable on a roster that has so many new pieces learning to play together.
There is also a leadership opportunity waiting for him.
At just 6-foot-3 and entering his second season, West will not be the most experienced player on Northwestern's roster. But his experience from last season, particularly the final two months, gives him a foundation that many of the Wildcats' newcomers do not have.
He already knows Collins' system. He already knows what Big Ten basketball feels like. And he has already played meaningful minutes in pressure situations.
Now, the Wildcats will need him to take another step.
If West can maintain the shooting efficiency he showed as a freshman while becoming a more consistent scoring threat, his sophomore season could look dramatically different from his first. The opportunity is there for him to increase his scoring, take on more responsibility as a facilitator and establish himself as the centerpiece of Northwestern's new-look roster.
Hammer's recognition reflects that potential.
West is no longer an unknown first-year guard trying to earn his way into Northwestern's rotation. He enters 2026-27 as a returning starter, a proven Big Ten playmaker and one of the few familiar faces on a roster undergoing major change.
The Wildcats will have plenty of new players to introduce this season. West may be the player they already know who takes the biggest leap.
