College basketball looks strong for 2026-27. Proven stars, major transfers, and elite freshmen are all taking part. The men's race is unusually open, while the women's side has more established national names.
Key Takeaways
- Thomas Haugh enters 2026–27 as one of the clearest men's national player-of-the-year candidates after receiving the largest share of votes in CBS Sports' coaches survey.⁷
- Jeremy Fears Jr. returns as one of college basketball’s leading playmakers after a record-setting season for Michigan State.⁵
- Sarah Strong begins the season with one of the strongest résumés in women’s college basketball after collecting several major national honors in 2026.⁸
- Elite freshmen such as Tyran Stokes and Caleb Holt could quickly challenge the more experienced stars on the men’s list.²
Top Men’s College Basketball Players
Many of last season's top players have moved on, leaving some of the best college basketball teams of all time looking for new leaders. New contenders have emerged, and no one seems to be a runaway preseason favorite.¹ This season could be as much about development and opportunity as reputation.
This is an editorial watchlist rather than an official NCAA ranking. We considered 2025–26 performance, individual honors, likely role, roster context, and preseason expectations, with extra weight given to players who could influence games in several ways. The men's race is particularly open after significant turnover among last season's leading players.¹
| Player | Team | No. | Position | Year | 2025–26 / Preseason Snapshot | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Haugh | Florida | 10 | Forward | Senior | 17.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG; All-American | Versatility |
| Jeremy Fears Jr. | Michigan State | 1 | Guard | Redshirt junior | 15.2 PPG, 9.4 APG; national assist leader | Playmaking |
| Tyler Tanner | Vanderbilt | 3 | Point guard | Junior | 19.5 PPG, 5.1 APG, 2.4 SPG | Two-way guard play |
| David Mirkovic | Illinois | 0 | Forward | Sophomore | 13.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG; Big Ten All-Freshman | Rebounding |
| Tyran Stokes | Kansas | 4 | Guard | Freshman | Elite 2026 recruit | Versatility |
| John Blackwell | Duke | 13 | Guard | Senior | 18.3 PPG at Wisconsin | Shot creation |
| JT Toppin | Texas Tech | 15 | Forward | Senior | 21.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG; AP First Team All-American | Interior scoring |
| Flory Bidunga | Louisville | 40 | Forward | Junior | 13.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.6 BPG at Kansas | Rim protection |
| Juke Harris | Tennessee | 2 | Guard | Junior | 21.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG at Wake Forest | Scoring |
| Caleb Holt | Arizona | 3 | Guard | Freshman | No. 2 in 247Sports Composite | Athleticism |
Thomas Haugh – Florida
Florida Gators
10
Forward
Senior
Versatility, shooting, defense, decision-making
Thomas Haugh has gone from a supporting player to Florida's focal point. His role increased greatly last season.⁴ That rise has put him firmly in the national conversation.⁷
Jeremy Fears Jr. - Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans
1
Guard
Redshirt junior
Passing, pace control, playmaking, leadership
Michigan State trusts Fears to control entire possessions. His playmaking reached record-setting levels for the Spartans last season.⁵ He'll likely remain a central part of the national conversation.
Tyler Tanner – Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores
3
Point guard
Junior
Scoring, playmaking, perimeter defense, steals
Tanner is one of Vanderbilt's most influential players. He does more than produce points.¹ He could end up in the sport's top tier if he makes another jump.
David Mirkovic – Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini
0
Forward
Sophomore
Rebounding, passing, interior scoring, versatility
Mirkovic looks comfortable with responsibilities usually left to older players. Even without every possession built around him, he contributed immediately. In his second season, we're looking for greater assertiveness as he continues to develop within one of the most competitive basketball leagues in the US.
Tyran Stokes – Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks
4
Guard
Freshman
Strength, positional size, downhill creation, versatility
Stokes arrived with huge expectations. ESPN ranked him No. 1 in the 2026 recruiting rankings.² Will the reputation turn into production?
Some of the best college players enter the national conversation before playing their first NCAA game. Tyran Stokes and Caleb Holt arrive among the highest-rated prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, giving both an opportunity to make an immediate impact.² Recruiting rankings show their potential, but college production will determine how quickly they can challenge the established stars on this list.
John Blackwell – Duke
Duke Blue Devils
13
Guard
Senior
Shot creation, physicality, rebounding, experience
Blackwell has proven high-major experience. With a roster still relying heavily on younger talent, this is a good transfer. Expect to see his value in close games.
JT Toppin - Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders
15
Forward
Senior
Rebounding, interior scoring, physicality, second-chance offense
Toppin already has a great résumé. He's looking to re-establish momentum rather than make an introduction.¹ If he returns to his previous level, he should strengthen Texas Tech's ambitions.
Flory Bidunga – Louisville
Louisville Cardinals
40
Forward
Junior
Rim protection, finishing, rebounding, athleticism
Bidunga has experience making the difference in games without dominating possession. He's a good fit for a team that needs a dependable interior presence. A bigger role would help his national profile.
Juke Harris – Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers
2
Guard
Junior
Size, shot creation, rebounding, perimeter scoring
Harris reaches Tennessee following a major breakout at Wake Forest. The move means he's in a competitive environment with even greater scrutiny.¹ Now he's looking to translate that success to Tennessee.
Caleb Holt – Arizona
Arizona Wildcats
3
Guard
Freshman
Athleticism, transition scoring, physical defense, two-way upside
Holt has gained national attention. He ranked among the elite prospects in the 2026 class.² Can he turn that promise into consistent college impact and eventually earn a place among the players shaping NBA team stats at the next level?
Top Women’s College Basketball Players
The women's field includes far more established stars. That makes it harder to separate the leading contenders. The difference may come down to how top players match up.
| Player | Team | No. | Position | Year | 2025–26 / Preseason Snapshot | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Strong | UConn | 21 | Forward | Junior | 18.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG; national player of the year | All-around impact |
| Hannah Hidalgo | Notre Dame | 3 | Guard | Senior | 25.3 PPG, 5.2 APG, 5.6 SPG | Two-way guard play |
| Mikayla Blakes | Vanderbilt | 1 | Guard | Junior | 27.0 PPG; First Team All-American | Scoring |
| Madison Booker | Texas | 35 | Forward | Senior | 18.9 PPG; three-time First Team All-American | Playmaking |
| Joyce Edwards | South Carolina | 8 | Forward | Junior | 19.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG | Interior scoring |
| Audi Crooks | Oklahoma State | 55 | Center | Senior | 25.8 PPG at Iowa State | Post scoring |
| JuJu Watkins | USC | 12 | Guard | Senior | Redshirted 2025–26; 23.9 PPG in 2024–25 | Shot creation |
| Jaloni Cambridge | Ohio State | 22 | Guard | Junior | 23.2 PPG; AP Second Team All-American | Speed |
| Clara Strack | Kentucky | 13 | Center | Senior | 16.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.53 BPG | Rim protection |
Sarah Strong – UConn
UConn Huskies
21
Forward
Junior
Efficiency, defense, rebounding, passing, scoring versatility
Strong is one of the most decorated players in women's college basketball. She won several of the biggest national player-of-the-year awards in 2026.⁸ Can she repeat that success?
Hannah Hidalgo - Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
3
Guard
Senior
Scoring, steals, playmaking, perimeter pressure
Hidalgo can change games without everything going through her. Notre Dame recognizes her defense as well as her scoring.⁶ It's this kind of two-way influence that keeps her firmly among the best.
Mikayla Blakes – Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores
1
Guard
Junior
Three-level scoring, shot creation, shooting, steals
Blakes has already shown she can carry offensive responsibility. Her sophomore breakthrough has shaped her expectations for the season.⁹ With heightened attention, she'll need to take the next step and sustain that output.
Madison Booker – Texas
Texas Longhorns
35
Forward
Senior
Midrange scoring, playmaking, strength, versatility
Booker can take over different possessions naturally. Texas can use her as a creator without making every trip the same. When games tighten late, her experience should come in, with the WNBA standings potentially representing the next stage of her career.
Joyce Edwards - South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks
8
Forward
Junior
Interior scoring, efficiency, mobility, two-way play
Edwards is doing well in a program where no one carries the team alone. That depth can sometimes make her individual impact easier to overlook. Her national case could grow with more responsibility.
Audi Crooks - Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowgirls
55
Center
Senior
Post scoring, touch, strength, efficiency
Crooks changes programs, but she still creates problems for defenses. Oklahoma State inherits a player used to heavy attention. How quickly her new teammates learn to play through her will be important.
JuJu Watkins – USC
USC Trojans
12
Guard
Senior
Shot creation, rim pressure, scoring, defensive playmaking
Watkins is one of the more uncertain inclusions. USC operated without her last season. Her return should reshape the team.
A preseason ranking is only a starting point. Player development, changing roles, team performance, and availability can quickly reshape the national picture once games begin. That is why this list combines proven college production with projected 2026–27 impact rather than treating preseason expectations as final results.
Jaloni Cambridge - Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes
22
Guard
Junior
Speed, penetration, scoring, two-way guard play
Cambridge made a sophomore leap that put her into the national conversation. Ohio State can build with more confidence. Next, she has to consistently produce while defenses treat her as a priority.
Clara Strack – Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats
13
Center
Senior
Rim protection, rebounding, interior scoring, developing range
Strack makes life harder for opponents around the lane. She also prevents defenses from treating Kentucky's frontcourt as one-dimensional. She could be one of the toughest matchups, following the college path of many of the most famous basketball players in NBA history.
References
- Cobb, David, Gary Parrish, and Isaac Trotter. “Who Will Be the Best Player in College Basketball for the 2026-27 Season?” CBS Sports, 7 Aug. 2026, https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/best-player-college-basketball-jeremy-fears-tyler-tanner-thomas-haugh/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- ESPN. “2026 SC Next 100.” ESPN Basketball Recruiting, 2026, https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/rankings/scnext300boys/_/class/2026. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- ESPN. “2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100.” ESPNW Basketball Recruiting, 2026, https://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/rankings/_/class/2026. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- Florida Gators. “Thomas Haugh.” Florida Gators Men’s Basketball, https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/thomas-haugh/18497. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- Michigan State University Athletics. “Jeremy Fears Jr.” Michigan State Men’s Basketball, https://msuspartans.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jeremy-fears-jr/17807. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- Notre Dame Athletics. “Hannah Hidalgo.” Notre Dame Women’s Basketball, https://fightingirish.com/sports/wbball/roster/player/hannah-hidalgo. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- Parrish, Gary. “Candid Coaches: Who Will Be the Best College Basketball Player in 2026-27?” CBS Sports, 19 Aug. 2026, https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/candid-coaches-survey-best-player-2026-27-thomas-haugh-florida-jeremy-fears-michigan-state/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- University of Connecticut Athletics. “Sarah Strong.” UConn Women’s Basketball, https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sarah-strong/15827. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
- Vanderbilt University Athletics. “Mikayla Blakes.” Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball, https://vucommodores.com/sports/wbball/roster/player/mikayla-blakes. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
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