3 most surprising Big Ten hoops players from 2015-16

Earlier this week, I looked at the three most surprising teams from the 2015-16 Big Ten hoops season.

Here are my three most surprising players from this past season.

Bryn Forbes, Michigan State. He became the top 3-point shooter in America last season, hitting 48 percent (112-of-233) from beyond the arc. On March 2, 2016, Forbes was on fire. He hit a Big Ten-record 11 3-point field goals in leading Michigan State to a 97-66 win vs. Rutgers. The 6-3 Forbes averaged 14.4 points after netting 8.5 last year and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. Not bad for a guy who began his career at Cleveland State.

Ethan Happ, Wisconsin. When the season began, pundits fawned over Big Ten freshmen like Diamond Stone of Maryland, Deyonta Davis of Michigan State, Thomas Bryant of Indiana and Caleb Swanigan of Purdue. But it was Happ who would prove to be the best, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds. The 6-9 redshirt freshman also was honorable mention all-league and a member of the Big Ten All-Defensive Team for a Badger squad that rallied from a 9-9 mark (1-4 Big Ten) to finish 22-13 overall and 12-6 in the conference and advance to the Sweet 16.

Peter Jok, Iowa. When talk centered around the Hawkeyes in the preseason, the focus was on seniors Jarrod Uthoff and Mike Gesell. But the athletic Jok emerged as one of the team?s top talents. The 6-6 junior wasn?t on the preseason all-league team. But Jok earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after averaging 16.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in helping Iowa to a second consecutive NCAA tourney. Jok averaged 7.0 points last year.