It feels like the stars aligned in men’s college basketball this season to produce a historic level of talent. Start with the NIL cash flowing through the sport that has kept good players in college longer now that athletes don’t need to pursue professional options to get paid for their work. Add in the transfer portal, which has allowed programs to hand-pick the exact types of players they covet without having to develop them straight out of high school. Finally, factor in a historically great freshman class, which is producing a draft class so strong that it’s caused a moral crisis over tanking throughout the NBA.
The 2025-26 season has been fantastic from the very start, and the conclusion is going to be the best part yet. March Madness is finally here. Check out my instant bracket predictions here.
This is the ninth year I’ve ranked the 50 best players in the men’s NCAA tournament. Read my previous lists from 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025 here. Sadly, there were a number of shoo-ins for this list taken out by injuries. Texas Tech’s JT Toppin and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson would have finished in the top-10. BYU’s Richie Saunders was a lock before his torn ACL, and Gonzaga’s Braden Huff probably would have made it, too.
Here are the top-50 players in the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament:
50. Izaiyah Nelson, C, South Florida
Nelson followed head coach Bryan Hodgson from Arkansas State to South Florida, and somehow took a huge leap in production in a tougher conference. The senior big man is a dominant rebounder on both ends of the floor, and an active defender who provides rim protection and regularly jumps into the passing lanes for the Bulls. He dunks everything around the rim, and draws a ton of fouls. South Florida will be a popular upset pick against Louisville in part because they have the best front court player in the game.
49. Terrence Hill Jr., G, VCU
Hill only made two starts this season for VCU, but still led the team in points, assists, and three-pointers made. His 20 points and six assists kept the Rams alive in the A-10 tournament quarterfinals against Duquesne. VCU clearly needed to earn the auto-bid or they were getting left out of the NCAA tournament, and Hill’s performance in the quarters and semis in particular helped get the job done.
48. Mason Falslev, G, Utah State
The 2026 Mountain West Player Player of the Year made good things happen for the Aggies on both ends of the floor this season. The 6’4 guard knocked down 41 percent of his threes on 110 attempts entering the tournament, while also finishing top-75 in the country in steal rate at 3.7 percent. He has a big opportunity to keep making a name for himself in Utah State’s first-round matchup with Villanova in the 8-9 game.
47. Paul McNeil Jr., G, NC State
McNeil is one of the sweetest shooters in the country. The NC State sophomore has knocked down 102 three-points entering the tournament at a 43 percent clip. His relocation threes have been deadly all season, and his sub five percent turnover rate shows he rarely makes mistakes.
46. Paulius Murauskas, G, St. Mary’s
The Lithuanian spent his freshman season at Arizona before bolting for St. Mary’s in search of a bigger role. He’s found it this season, exploding into an 18.8 point per game scorer on solid efficiency 59.5 percent true shooting to lead the Gaels to their fifth straight tournament berth. Murauskas gets to the foul line at will, rebounds well for his position, and knows how to play off of co-star Mikey Lewis. Saint Mary’s is one of the most consistent programs in the country for their ability to find high-level contributors like Murauskas year after year.
45. Boopie Miller, G, SMU
Kevin “Boopie” Miller has been a productive starter at three different schools, and he’s playing his best ball as a fifth-year senior for SMU. The 6-foot guard was an instant impact freshman for Central Michigan before transferring to Wake Forest and then eventually spending his last two years of college with the Mustangs. Miller is shooting the cover off the ball this year at 41 percent from deep, but his mid-range shooting might be even more impressive. The senior is hitting 47 percent of his mid-range shots with 89 percent of those looks coming without an assist. His tight handle and straight line speed is so tough to defend against when he’s always willing to pop a pull-up jumper. Miller’s halfcourt game-winner against Virginia Tech was one of the best moments of the season.
44. John Blackwell, G, Wisconsin
Blackwell is one-half of the best backcourt in March Madness next to transfer Nick Boyd. Being part of a dynamic duo is nothing new for the junior guard: his breakout sophomore season came next to Badgers superstar wing Jon Tonje last year, and he’s picked up where he left off. Blackwell is more of a scorer than a playmaker, but he can still play on or off the ball by stroking spot-up threes or hitting pull-up jumpers from mid-range when he’s attacking off the bounce. He’s able to be a high-volume ball handler while avoiding turnovers and still scoring with above-average efficiency. Having two creators as good as Blackwell and Boyd surrounded by shooting everywhere else gives Wisconsin a top-10 offense and a chance to pull a surprising upset in in the big dance.
43. Alex Karaban, F, UConn
Karaban has two national championship rings on his right hand, and he returned to school for his senior year looking for a chance at one more. After starring alongside Andre Jackson and Adama Sonogo on the Huskies’ 2023 title team and then Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan for the 2024 champs, Karaban knows how to play his role and fits the system like a glove. The 6’8 forward is a ripping 40 percent of his threes this year running off screens in Hurley’s whirling offense. He doesn’t turn the ball over, and has improved challenging shots defensively at the rim with his length. It’s hard to imagine Karaban and Hurley without each other, but they have one more chance to go out on top.
42. Mark Mitchell, F, Missouri
Mitchell was named a McDonald’s All-American out of high school, and spent his first two years at Duke. The 6’9 forward transferred to Mizzou when Cooper Flagg came to campus, and he’s grown into a more diverse offensive player with the Tigers. Mitchell still defends and grab rebounds, but now he gets more opportunities to drive, pass, and find his own openings to the rim. He’s especially good at getting to the foul line, and only got better at it during conference play. Leaving Duke for Missouri was the best move he ever made.
41. Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara
Graves redshirted his freshman year at Santa Clara before exploding this season as an advanced stats darling who packs the box score every game and won WCC Sixth Man of the Year for his work off the bench. The 6’9 forward has incredible hands, a non-stop motor, and a knack for ripping the ball away from opponents all over the floor. Graves isn’t the bounciest athlete, but he has terrific instincts. He reads the ball extremely well as a rebounder on both ends, which generated so many extra possessions for the Broncos this year. He’s a phenomenal off-ball defender who can provide secondary rim-protection as a shot blocker or dart in and steal an entry pass. He’s one of the only players in the country with a block rate and steal rate over five percent. Graves also knocked down 41 percent of his threes this year on 88 total attempts. Just about the only thing that drags down his production is fouling a lot. He could be a first-round NBA draft pick this year, and if not, he should be one of the hottest names on the transfer portal market.
40. Ugonna Onyenso, C, Virginia
Onyenso spent his first two years of college ball under John Calipari at Kentucky, then transferred to Kansas State before landing at Virginia for his senior year. He’s been a similar player most of his career, but now he’s starting to get shoot threes while getting even better in the areas where he’s always excelled. Onyenso is absolutely huge at 7-foot with a strong frame and a 7’5 wingspan. He’s an elite rim protector who leads the country with a 16.8 percent block rate, and he’s good on the glass, too. He never made a three before this season, and now he’s knocked down 10 of them with Virginia. Just ask Cameron Boozer about Onyenso’s rim protection after the Duke freshman star struggled against him in the ACC tournament. UVA teammates Chance Mallory, Johann Grünloh, and Thijs De Ridder were all considered for this spot, but Onyenso’s wildly good shot-blocking won out.
39. Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Brown has been weighed down by a pesky back injury for most of the year, but Louisville looks like a different team when he’s on the court. The freshman point guard has a rare mix of pull-up shooting, facilitating, and driving, and he plays with a creative flair that makes it so hard to tell what he’s planning to do next. Brown shoots a lot of threes, but when he gets hot he can take over a game, like when he hit 10 threes against NC State earlier this year. His passing is arguably most enticing part of the package, delivering feeds from all angles when the defense least expects it. If Louisville can get him back during their March Madness run, this can still be one of the country’s most explosive offenses.
38. Duke Miles, G, Vanderbilt
Duke Miles has finally found a home in his sixth-year of college basketball. The 6’2 guard started his career at Troy, transferred to High Point and became one of the country’s best low-major players, then transferred up to Oklahoma before landing at Vanderbilt this season. Miles has been a perfect complement next to Tyler Tanner as a bigger, stronger ball handler who can create off the dribble, take on tough defensive assignments, and knock down open shots. Miles is one of the better defensive guards in America with a huge 5.2 percent steal rate, and he’s great at muscling his way into the defense off the bounce and getting a shot up at the rim. Vandy is no fun to play against in large part because of Miles.
37. Robbie Avila, C, Saint Louis
Avila became something close to a household name during his sophomore season at Indiana State, when he led his team to the championship game of the NIT after they were the NCAA tournament’s biggest snub. Avila followed his head coach Josh Schertz to Saint Louis, and they’ve put together another signature campaign in their second year together with the Billikens. Avila is the key the country’s best three-point shooting team, unlocking their five-out lineups as a stretch center with soft touch from deep and terrific passing ability to hit teammates cutting to the basket. Saint Louis is more than a one-man show with seven guys averaging at least nine points per game, but Avila is the player who makes the system work.
36. Pryce Sandfort, F, Nebraska
Nebraska has never advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, but this might be their best chance yet. Junior wing Pryce Sandfort has been the Cornhuskers’ best player after transferring in from Iowa, where he’s blossomed into a First-Team All-Big Ten performer by being a three-point sniper who doesn’t turn the ball over and makes the most of his opportunities inside the arc. Sandfort is shooting 40 percent from three while leading the Big Ten in three-point makes. He’s 63.5 percent true shooting is an elite mark for such a high-volume scorer. Head coach Fred Hoiberg needs him to go off in the big dance to make history for the program.
35. Otega Oweh, G, Kentucky
Kentucky has been one of college basketball’s most disappointing teams after spending $22 million on their roster, but Oweh has been their rock on both ends of the floor to help secure an at-large berth. The senior guard is in his second season in Lexington after transferring in from Oklahoma, and he’s expanded his 3-and-D game this year by adding more creation off the dribble. Oweh is averaging career-bests in points, assists, and steals, and it feels like he has a big dunk or two every game. There aren’t many better two-way wings in the country.
34. Jaden Bradley, G, Arizona
Bradley was a McDonald’s All-American who began his career at Alabama alongside Brandon Miller, then bolted to Arizona, where he’s now in his third season as a steady lead guard. The senior has had his best season yet this year, posting career-highs in scoring, assists, and free throw attempts while improving from a 32 percent three-point shooter last year to a 38 percent outside shooter this year. Arizona wins with defense, but it’s Bradley at the controls late in games looking to create an efficient offensive look for his team. His buzzer-beater to stun Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament semifinals was a perfect March Madness moment. Arizona needs him at his best to reach the Final Four.
33. Donovan Dent, G, UCLA
Dent might be the fastest player in the country with the ball in his hands. After spending his first three seasons at New Mexico and winning Mountain West Player of the Year last season, Dent made the leap to UCLA and has the Bruins in the tournament once again. He leverages his blazing speed to get open looks for his teammates, and he’s posting a phenomenal 41 percent assist rate with a low turnover rate given his usage. His scoring hasn’t been quite as efficient against Big Ten defenses, but UCLA wouldn’t have made it this far without his careful yet speedy ball handling at lead guard.
32. Milan Momcilovic, F, Iowa State
Momcilovic has been a three-year starter at Iowa State, and his junior season has certified his place as one of the best shooters in college basketball in some time. Momcilovic takes 14.3 three-pointers per 100 possessions, a huge number, and knocked down at a 50 percent clip. That’s absurd for anyone, let alone a 6’8 wing who doesn’t turn the ball over and can also get a bucket in a pinch from mid-range. This is the team head coach TJ Otzelberger has been waiting for, and the Cyclones need to make this tournament run count.
31. Nick Boyd, G, Wisconsin
Boyd was part of Florida Atlantic’s Final Four team under Dusty May as a sophomore, left for San Diego State, and ended up at Wisconsin for his super-senior year. He’s been the Badgers’ John Tonje replacement this season, morphing into 20-point-per-game scorer on above-average efficiency while also being a critical playmaker for his teammates with a 27 percent assist rate. It’s wild to think he turns 25 years old next month.
30. Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas
Retaining Bidunga over the offseason was Bill Self’s best move in trying to put a suitable roster around star freshman Darryn Peterson. The sophomore big man has pogo-stick hops and long arms, which he uses to catch lobs, block shots, and make an impact on the glass. Bidunga knows who he is as a player, and he plays his game to a tee. He doesn’t take threes, scores efficiently around the basket (65.2 percent true shooting), blocks shots at a top-25 rate nationally, and made real strides as a free throw shooter to go from 53.3 percent as a freshman to 66.7 percent this year. Peterson gets all the attention, but Kansas wouldn’t have made it this far without Bidunga’s bouncy interior play.
29. Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
Veesaar broke out last season at Arizona as an injury replacement for Motiejus Krivas, and he was impressive enough to become one of the top centers in the transfer portal. North Carolina did well to land him, and he’s lived up to the hype by providing efficient inside-out scoring, solid defensive rebounding, and some rim protection. Veesaar has jumped from nine to 16 points per game this year on wonderful 66.6 percent true shooting. He’s one of the country’s best floor-spacing bigs, doubling the number of three-pointers he made compared to last year while hitting them at a 41 percent clip. His work defending the paint has helped keep North Carolina’s defense afloat without Caleb Wilson, too.
28. Ja’Kobi Gillespie, G, Tennessee
Gillespie’s college journey is becoming an increasing common one in this era. He started at mid-major Belmont, and was impressive enough that Maryland picked him up ahead of his junior year. He starred for the Terrapins on a Sweet 16 team as part of the famed ‘Crab 5’ only to see his coach leave for Villanova, so he entered the transfer portal again and picked Tennessee. Gillespie has had his highest-volume scoring season yet as a senior in Knoxville, averaging 18 points per game with a huge 30 percent assist rate (top-80 in DI) to go with impressive on-ball defense. His three-point shot fell off this year, but Gillespie has been so solid throughout his college career that I wouldn’t bet against him one day working his way to an NBA contract.
27. Graham Ike, C, Gonzaga
Ike was a high-scoring center at Wyoming as a redshirt freshman, and then transferred to Gonzaga and continued stockpiling points for one of the country’s most consistent programs. At 6’9, 250 pounds, Ike has soft hands, nice touch, and the ability to use his strength to carve out scoring lanes for himself inside the paint. His senior season has been his best one yet, averaging a career-best 19.7 points on efficient 63.5 percent true shooting. He’s particularly adept in the short mid-range area, where he’s cashed 52.4 percent of his non-rim two-pointers this season, a phenomenal number. Ike isn’t the the most intimidating defender, but he’s an awesome defensive rebounder who can end a possession when the ball hits the rim. It’s too bad Braden Huff’s injury wiped away the best version of Gonzaga this season, but Ike’s scoring punch still gives the Zags a chance to keep to punch another ticket to the second weekend after a rare round of 32 exit last year.
26. Rueben Chinyelu, C, Florida
Chinyelu is one of the longest and strongest players in America with a ridiculous 7’8 wingspan and rugged 265-pound frame. It’s no surprise that it helps make him the country’s best rebounder. Chinyelu ranks top-5 in both offensive and defensive rebound rate among all DI players. Florida’s new guards have thrown up a lot of bricks this season, but the Gators survive largely because of all the extra possessions Chinyelu generates on the glass. He’s not much of a shooter or passer, but the junior big man finishes well inside and has improved enough as a free throw shooter (69 percent, up from 58 percent) to keep him on the floor late. Florida’s front court rivals Michigan’s for the best in the country, and Chinyelu’s rebounding is one of the sharpest strengths of any player in the country.
25. Morez Johnson, F, Michigan
Johnson left Illinois after his freshman year to transfer into Michigan, and he quickly exploded as a key piece of the country’s best front court. Playing next to Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg, Johnson provided toughness, physicality, and dominating paint play on both ends. The sophomore is a couple inches short for a big man, but he makes up for it with a super strong chest, long arms, soft hands, and a non-stop motor. Johnson can defend all over the court, and he cleans the glass on both ends. He’s a strong interior finisher, and he’s even started taking some threes to prepare him for the next level. Illinois has been missing his defensive presence inside this season, while Michigan has ascended as Johnson has taken on a bigger role.
24. Emanuel Sharp, G, Houston
Sharp’s journey as a five-year, culture-defining player on some of the best Houston teams ever started with a redshirt in his true freshman season. Since then, he’s been an indispensable three-point sniper and tough perimeter defender who acts as an extension of head coach Kelvin Sampson on the court. He’s started 99 of 105 games over the last three years, and he’s consistently found ways to improve on his three-and-D skill set. As a senior, Sharp has improved as a playmaker and cut down his turnovers while increasing his scoring volume to career-best levels. Houston has gotten younger this season, but Sharp is their rock. The Cougars won’t feel the same without him next year.
23. Alex Condon, C, Florida
Condon’s sophomore year emergence as one of the better centers in the country helped unlock Florida’s national championship run. He’s become a craftier scorer inside this season, improving his two-point percentage from 53.7 percent to 62.5 percent, which has helped the Gators continue to be a contender even without former star guard Walter Clayton Jr. The best part of the 6’11 Aussie’s game is his passing, and he’s continued to help pace the offense with high-post dimes to cutters this season. His ability to play all over the floor even in a down shooting season fits nicely with Chinyelu’s monster paint protection and Haugh’s athletic wing play to form a complementary Florida frontcourt that would be one of the country’s strongest in any season.
22. Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn
Reed might not be Donovan Clingan or even Adama Sanogo, but he’s given UConn a much-needed physical presence inside that gives the Huskies a chance to compete with anyone. Reed is a rugged center who overpowers opponents on the glass on both ends with his 7’4 wingspan and powerful 265-pound frame. His improvements as a defender, fewer fouls, more steals, very good rim protection, has helped UConn make a big jump on that end from last season. Other Huskies might get more attention, but Reed’s two-way force is the team’s biggest key.
21. Bruce Thornton, G, Ohio State
Thornton is college basketball throwback who stayed four years at Ohio State, and finally earned the first March Madness trip of his career as a senior. The ground-bound 6’2 guard is one of the most efficient scorers in the country, posting remarkable 67 percent true shooting by ripping the nets from all three levels. Thornton doesn’t just get buckets, he’s also a sharp passer who is able to avoid turnovers while finding open teammates. His +3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio is an elite mark for such a high volume ball handler. Thornton has been committed to Ohio State since his junior year of high school, and he never let go of that pledge despite a rapidly changing landscape in the sport that now includes the transfer portal and NIL dollars. He deserves an NCAA tournament send-off as much as any player in the country.
20. Aday Mara, C, Michigan
Mara looked like a great prospect when he came out to UCLA out of Spain two years ago, but he couldn’t earn Mick Cronin’s trust enough to actually earn a consistent role. The big man finally transferred to Michigan for his junior year and instantly morphed into one of the most impactful players in the country. Mara is impossibly huge at 7’3 with a reported 7’7 wingspan. His length helps him protect the rim as one of the country’s best shot-blockers, and he also uses it to grab offensive rebounds that gain extra possessions for Michigan on the other end. He also has a special skill as an outlet passer who will zing full-court dimes to sprinting teammates before the opposing defense can get set. Giants like Zach Edey and Donovan Clingan have had excellent deep runs in the NCAA tournament in recent years, and Mara could be next for a loaded Michigan team.
19. Patrick Ngongba, C, Duke
Cameron Boozer gets all the attention at Duke, but his front court mate Ngongba helps his freshman teammate be the best version of himself. The sophomore big man is a high feel player on both ends of the floor, expertly protecting the paint while also serving as a half-court facilitator in the Blue Devils’ offense. Ngongba is a tremendous passer who inverts the floor by hitting guards cutting to the basket, or feeding the ball to Boozer in the high-low game. Whatever deficiencies Boozer has in his game are minimized because of Ngongba. His impact often goes far beyond the box score, and gives Duke realistic dreams of winning it all. Here’s hoping he’s healthy after missing the ACC tournament with a sore foot.
18. Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
Anderson looked like he would be primed for a breakout sophomore season after dominating the 2025 FIBA U-19 World Cup over the summer while playing for Germany (where his father was born). Anderson is a big part of college basketball’s incredible point guard class as a knockdown shooter with impressive passing vision who has blended scoring and playmaking to an efficient degree all season. Anderson ripped 43 percent of his threes this year with 56 percent of them coming off unassisted pull-ups. His 36 percent assist rate has been around the top-25 in DI all year, and his hyper-efficient 64 percent true shooting shows he’s a great scorer, not just a great shooter. Texas Tech should have had two players in the top-20 on this list, but JT Toppin (who would have been top-5) tore his ACL and probably ended the Red Raiders’ Final Four dreams on contact.
17. Thomas Haugh, F, Florida
Florida doesn’t have a clear leading man like they did last season with Walter Clayton Jr., but it feels like Haugh is the player that makes the whole system work. The 6’9 forward can space the floor for the team’s two dominant big men, finish plays as a cutter off passes from center Alex Condon, and help the team get out for easy buckets in transition. It’s so hard to find big, athletic forwards with shooting and defensive talent, and it’s no surprise that Florida turned into one of the best teams in the country as soon as Haugh developed into that type of player.
16. Jeremy Fears Jr., G, Michigan State
Fears needs to be recognized for having one of the greatest playmaking seasons in the recent history of college basketball. He’s tops in the country with a ridiculous 52.2 percent assist rate while also having a +4.2 assist-to-turnover ratio that ranks No. 7 in the country, per BartTorvik. Fears may be a reluctant outside shooter with a shaky three-point stroke, but he’s figured out other ways to score. He gets to the line a ton with a 60 percent free throw rate, and he makes nearly 90 percent of his freebies from the foul line. Fears has had a wild ride during his three years of college after getting shot in his hometown as a freshman and watching his younger brother turn into an NBA lottery pick when he was a sophomore. Suddenly, he’s one of the best players in the country in his own right, and his guile gives Tom Izzo another opportunity to dream about a long March Madness run.
15. Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
Wagler’s rise from the No. 150-ranked prospect in his recruiting class to a probable top-10 pick in the loaded 2026 NBA Draft is one of the most shocking development stories in the recent history of the sport. The freshman immediately earned a starting spot on the wing, but it wasn’t until head coach Brad Underwood put the ball in his hands as a lead guard that he really started to blossom. Wagler has great size for a point guard at 6’6 to go along with a strong feel for the game and knockdown shooting from deep. He’s a particularly adept pull-up shooter, and loves to size up bigs for a stepback when he gets a switch. He’s proven he can score in a pinch from two-point range this season, and he’ll likely be at the controls in big moments for an Illini team that dreams of making a Final Four run. Wagler isn’t the best athlete, but it doesn’t matter with an intersection of positional size, feel, and skill like this.
14. Dailyn Swain, F, Texas
Swain was a defensive wing stopper on Xavier the previous two seasons, but upon following head coach Sean Miller to Texas for his junior year, he blossomed into an offensive force and one of the best two-way players in the sport. Swain made big strides as a driver who could create his own offense off the bounce, and suddenly started draining pull-up jumpers inside the paint. He also made a nice leap as a three-point shooter, going from 11 made threes in his first two years to knocking down 29 this season at a 35 percent clip. Swain still impacts the game on defense in a big way by getting deflections, contesting shots, and contributing on the glass, only now he has more offensive game to go with. A round of 64 matchup with BYU’s AJ Dybantsa would be a treat if Texas can beat NC State in the First Four.
13. Braden Smith, G, Purdue
Smith felt like the front-runner to win national player of the year when he announced he would return to Purdue for his senior season. We named him the best point guard and one of the best shooters in college basketball entering the year. Smith has had another very good season, but it still feels a little underwhelming given all the emergent star talent around the country and Purdue’s struggles at the end of conference play. Smith is actually scoring more efficiently than he did last season even if his scoring volume has dropped a tick. His playmaking remains excellent, but he’s had some turnover issues this year. The senior guard returned to top form in the Big Ten tournament by leading Purdue to a title game win over Michigan. Point guards run March, and Purdue still has a great one.
12. Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
Krivas’ sophomore season ended early with a foot injury, but he’s roared back to form this year as a junior by turning into one of the country’s best defensive big men. Krivas is so damn big at 7’2, 260 pounds, and it’s hard to capture his defense just in his shot-blocking numbers because of all the shots offensive players turn down when they see him standing in the paint. For a stud defender, he’s also a productive offensive player who pounds the offensive glass at a top-50 rate nationally and sinks 80 percent of his free throws while drawing fouls often. There are bigger names on Arizona, but no one can touch Krivas’ impact.
11. Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Peterson was the hardest player to rank on this list. There’s absolutely a chance he could be the best player in the NCAA tournament this year if he somehow gets over his strange injury problems and returns to the all-world form he showed in high school, when he was regularly dominating classmate A.J. Dybantsa while looking like an elite guard on both ends of the floor. Sadly, we haven’t seen the best version of Peterson yet at Kansas as he’s been slowed down by cramping and soft tissue injuries in his lower body. While Peterson’s explosiveness has been largely sapped, his shot-making has exceeded all expectations as he runs around screens splashing shots like a young Richard Hamilton or Ray Allen. He’s looked healthier at the end of the year, and it could be setting him up for a big NCAA tournament run. Either that, or Peterson will continue to take himself out at the end of close games, and Kansas fans will all lose their minds. It should be thrilling either way.
10. Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt
Tyler Tanner should be too small to be an elite player, but his lack of size belies a rare two-way physicality that has turned the guard into a legitimate star in his sophomore season. Listed at 6-foot, 175 pounds, Tanner is the head of the snake for an upstart Vanderbilt team on both ends. He’s incredibly fast and shifty with the ball in his hands, and he’s not afraid to drive all the way to the basket and finish through contact over length. He’s an excellent decision-maker who rarely turns it over while still possessing good playmaking ability. His defense is the most surprising part of the package with a huge 4.2 percent steal rate leading to so many fastbreak opportunities offensively. He’ll even dunk on your head with 15 slams this season, a huge number for an college guard, let alone one his size. Tanner improved a lot as an outside shooter, and it unlocked the rest of his game. Now he’s ready to take Vanderbilt where they’ve haven’t been since 2007, the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.
9. Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
It’s hard for a freshman point guard to earn the trust of Kelvin Sampson, but Flemings did it with his fantastic driving and playmaking while also showing the requisite defensive acumen the coach demands. Flemings was thought to be the least-touted of Houston’s three McDonald’s All-Americans entering the season. Now he feels like their best and most important player in March and a likely top-5 NBA draft pick. Flemings is so tough to contain one-on-one with a super quick first step, the ability to change directions on a dime, and an advanced pull-up midrange scoring game. His live-dribble playmaking might be the best part of his package with rim assists and kick-outs to shooters after he generates a paint touch all over the tape. Flemings is more solid defensively than many of the other top guards in this class, and that means he can’t get targeted late in games. Houston needs his shot-creation in the biggest moments if they’re going to get one step further than last season and actually win the national title.
8. Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Stirtz started his college career at Northwest Missouri State and was immediately one of the country’s best DII players. When his head coach Ben McCollum took the Drake job ahead of his junior season, Stirtz followed and immediately became one of the country’s best mid-major players. McCollum was hired to lead the Iowa Hawkeyes ahead of this season, and once again Stirtz followed and blossomed into one of the Big Ten’s best players. The 6’4 guard is a skilled pick-and-roll operator who can splash shots from all over the floor. He’s a tremendous rim finisher (72 percent), a deadly mid-range scorer, and a really good three-point shooter who can drill shots off the dribble or off the catch. Iowa plays at a snail’s pace and doesn’t have a ton of legitimate DI talent around their star guard, but it works because Stirtz is so good at creating offense out of thin air. After winning an NCAA tournament game at Drake last season, McCollum and Stirtz are ready to make the most of their last run together.
7. Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
Philon could have been a first-round NBA draft pick last year, but he returned for his sophomore NIL bag and grew in important ways as a player. The most notable improvement comes as an outside shooter, where Philon went from 39 threes at a 31.5 percent clip to 70 made threes at a 40 percent hit rate. Having a more reliable jumper made Philon a terror to defend, because he was already one of the quickest ball handlers in the country. The 6’3 guard is a walking paint touch with a tight handle and deadly change-of-direction ability. He’s the straw that stirs the drink in Alabama’s drive-and-kick offense, and he’s gotten better as a passer this year while also cutting down his turnovers. The Crimson Tide are weak inside, but they still have a chance to compete with anyone in March as long as Philon is on their side.
6. Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
John Calipari has coached a long list of stud freshman guards, and it’s possible Acuff has had the best one-and-done season of any of them. The stocky 6’3 guard has been an offensive supernova from the second he stepped on campus, showing off a rare blend of shot-making, playmaking, and turnover avoidance for a first-year ball handler. Acuff is so tough to contain off the bounce because he can play through contact on the ground and hit tough shots at a variety of angles. No one thought he’d shoot 44 percent from three, but here we are, and he’s done it with so many big shots on his resume. The issue for Arkansas this season is defense, and Acuff contributes to their woes on that end, too. He’s always trying to switch onto the worst offensive player on the floor, and he doesn’t contribute on the glass at all. Still, Acuff has put up astounding scoring and playmaking numbers on impressive efficiency since he entered college, and it feels like he has the flair for the dramatic to pen a signature moment come tournament time.
5. Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s
Ejiofor couldn’t get off the bench as a freshman at Kansas, so he transferred to St. John’s, and the rest is history. Ejiofor was a solid contributor in a reserve role as a sophomore, but he blossomed into First-Team All-Big East big man as a junior and took another leap forward into one of the best players in the country as a senior. The 6’9, 240 pound center locks down the paint defensively and earned 2026 Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors for his work. His offense feels even more important to the Johnnies: Ejiofor consistently powers his way to the free throw line, finds open teammates as a passer when the defense collapses on him, and crushes the offensive glass. He’s one of the best two-way bigs in the country, and it has the Red Storm dreaming of making their first trip to the second weekend since the turn of the Millennium, and their first Final Four trip since the mid-80s. Rick Pitino will get most of the attention, but the Johnnies couldn’t do it without Ejiofor.
Dybantsa feels like the platonic ideal of what a takeover scorer on the wing should look like. He’s massive — 6’9 with a strong frame and at least a 7-foot wingspan. He’s explosive both with his first step as a driver and around the rim as a finisher. He’s highly nimble, showing great body control, flexibility, and bend when attacking the basket. He’s already a pretty solid outside shooter with more room to improve, and he’s been better than advertised as a passer and decision-maker. BYU’s system sets up Dybantsa perfectly to take advantages of his gifts on a well-spaced floor. Put a smaller player on Dybantsa and he’ll bully them on his way to the rim; put a bigger, slower defender on him and he’ll win with speed and crafty hesitations. His defense leaves a lot to be desired for someone this talented, but no one doubts his ability to handle a big offensive load efficiently. BYU isn’t the same team without Richie Saunders for this tournament run, but Dybantsa still threatens to explode for points at any opportunity, and that gives BYU a puncher’s chance.
3. Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
Basketball players separate themselves with size, with skill, and with feel, and Jefferson excels in all three areas. The senior forward is an absolute hoss at 6’9, 240 pounds, and he uses his strong frame to help protect the pant defensively and clean the glass on both ends. For such a hulking forward, he has excellent passing vision, zinging dimes on the move to open teammates as the defense converges in an attempt to stop his rim attacks. He’s also an improved three-point shooter who has already knocked down more triples than he did the last two seasons combined. Jefferson’s ability to function as a point-forward and score with volume while also doing all the dirty work teams need to win is such a rare skill set, and it’s why he’s one of the most valuable players in the country.
2. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Lendeborg could have been a first-round NBA draft pick a year ago, but instead he chose to stay in college and transfer from UAB to Michigan. It was the best decision he ever made. The senior forward has been the driving force behind the most dominant team in America all year while also showcasing all kinds for growth in his game for evaluators at the next level. Lendeborg checks just about every box teams look for. He’s huge at 6’9, 230 pounds with a 7’4 wingspan. He’s rebounds well, and he’s been an ace in a variety of different defensive roles throughout his college career. Lendeborg can space the floor as a three-point shooter, and he can attack the offensive glass to help produce second-chance points for his team. He runs the floor hard in transition on both ends to create fastbreak dunks and chasedown blocks in equal measure. He’s also always been an unselfish passer who can make some plays on the move, and a reliable free throw shooter who can ice a game late. Michigan is far from a one-man show with three top-25 talents in this tournament, but Lendeborg is the piece that unlocks everyone else, making him the most indispensable player on the country’s most loaded team.
1. Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
Boozer has been a metronome of greatness while pacing Duke to national championship frontrunner status all year. It shouldn’t be all that surprising if you paid attention to his high school career: Boozer led his team to a championship in just about every meaningful competition before entering Duke, and he immediately proved to be both the most productive and most impactful player in college basketball from day one despite being one of the country’s youngest freshmen. Boozer creates a good shot for his team almost every time the ball hits his hands. He’s an overpowering scorer who can take you off the bounce just as effectively as he can post you up. He crushes the glass on both ends to help create so many extra possessions for his team. He’s also both a very good passer and a reliable decision-maker who understands how to use his gifts to create advantages for himself and his teammates. Did we mention he’s a damn good outside shooter at 6’9, 250 pounds, too? Boozer might not have the most explosive leaping ability or the fanciest counters in the middle of the floor, but his ability to act as a fulcrum of a hyper-efficient offense while maximizing possession numbers is unrivaled. He’s been the best player in the sport all season.
