Top-10 Players in College Basketball this season

Charlie Zschau Updated: Mar 30 2026 15:07

Ranking the Top-10 players in the D1 College Basketball tournament in 2026 that could propel their school to the latter stages of the tournament.

College basketball is a team game, but in March, the best players can rise to occasion and lead their team to the late rounds of the tournament, almost entirely on their own.

Kemba Walker led the No. 7 UConn Huskies to the National Championship in 2011, and these ten players could be able to that this season for their respective schools.

Read about the best individual runs in Men's D1 Tournament history.

Honorable Mentions

Braden Smith (Purdue)

Braden Smith has been around the block, and is just two assists shy of breaking Bobby Hurley's All-Time NCAA assists record (1,076).

Smith came into the season with his teams high expectations riding on his shoulders, and although they haven't been as good as the preseason polls expected them to be, they are still a 2-seed in the tournament.

Smith is averaging 14.0 points, and 9.1 assists, the second best clip in the nation.

Keaton Wagler (Illinois)

Wagler was an underrated recruit that has transformed into an All-American and possible lottery pick in 2026.

Wagler has averaged 17.9 points and 4.4 assists per game this season but his game has become less efficient down the stretch.

A 46 point game against Purdue is emboldened on Wagler's resume, showcasing his ability to carry his team into the later rounds of the tournament.

10 - Jaden Bradley (Arizona)

The Big 12 was the most competitive conference in college basketball this season, and the conferences player of the year, Jaden Bradley must be on this list.

Bradley has been the leader for Arizona this season enroute to a 1-seed in the tournament, although he may not have the highest usage on his team.

Bradley is averaging the third most points on his team, behind two freshman Koa Peat and Brayden Burries, but is an amazing late-game scorer when his team needs it the most. He's also one of the best defensive players in the conference.

The senior is averaging 13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season.

9 - Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's)

Zuby Ejiofor is a do-it-all wing who has impressively improved since joining the Red Storm.

A team led by Rick Pitino, St. John's have been excellent down the stretch entering the tournament, winning 19 of their last 20 games, and winning the Big East tournament.

Ejiofor is averaging 16.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game this season. He's a tenacious defender and a physical presence on the offensive end of the floor, making the Red Storm a real contender to reach the ladder stages of the tournament.

8 - Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State)

Joshua Jefferson is the best player on a really deep 2-seed. According to ESPN, The Cyclones are 20.5 points better per 100 possessions when him on the floor.

Jefferson is a 6' 9" forward averaging 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, and is the engine of this Iowa State team.

The senior is the type of player that late round caliber team needs to have on their roster.

7 - Darryn Peterson (Kansas)

Darryn Peterson is the favorite to be selected first overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, and when he plays its clear to see why so many NBA teams want him.

Peterson has missed 11 games, and left early in others due to injuries and cramping, but those are the only reasons a team may not take him first overall.

When he plays, Peterson is clearly one of the best players in the Big 12, and in the country as a whole. He's averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 38.4% from downtown, and made scoring against elite defenders look easy night after night.

6 - Labaron Philon Jr. (Alabama)

Labaron Philon Jr. is the only sophomore to make the list after more than doubling his freshman points per game number (10.6).

Philon is a 6' 4" guard who averaged 21.7 points and 4.7 assists for Alabama this season in the SEC. He also became one of the best shooters in the country, draining 40.2% of his shots from behind the arc.

If Philon gets hot in the tournament, Alabama could be problem for whoever they face.

5 - Christian Anderson (Texas Tech)

Christian Anderson was often overlooked due to his teammate JT Toppin, after Toppin's season ending ACL injury, Anderson is beginning to get the respect he deserves.

It's not that Anderson wasn't good before Toppin's injury, he scored 34 points in the first game of the season while adding 11 assists.

Anderson is averaging 18.9 points per game, and is 7.6 assists per game is the third best mark in the nation. Anderson is a double double machine at 6' 3" 178 lbs.

4 - Yaxel Lendebourg (Michigan)

Senior Yaxel Lendeborg is the highest rated non-freshman on this list.

A 6' 9" forward with an impressive defensive acumen, and a knack for grabbing rebounds, Lendeborg is the best player on one of the best teams in the nation, the Michigan Wolverines.

In addition to the excellent intangibles, Lendeborg is great offensive weapon who can put up a lot of points when it's required. The senior is averaging 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game this season while significantly improving his three-point percentage.

3 - AJ Dybantsa (BYU)

AJ Dybantsa is another freshman with a possibility of going first overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.

At 6' 9", Dybantsa averaged 25.3 points per game in the Big 12 - which led Division 1 - while adding 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Dybansta scored 28+ points eight times in the second half of the season, and scored 43 points against in-state rival Utah.

2 - Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)

Darius Acuff Jr. has put the Razorbacks on his back down the stretch of the season, averaging 28.2 points on 50.7% three point shooting in addition to 7.2 assists per game since the start of the February.

Acuff may be the guard in the country, offering shooting, and facilitating at an NBA level.

The 6' 3" Freshman from Detroit, MI can fill the stat sheet in a hurry, and never takes a play off on either end of the floor.

1 - Cameron Boozer (Duke)

Cameron Boozer, the son of NBA star Carlos Boozer, and the John Wooden award favorite is one of the most dominant college basketballs players in the sport.

Averaging 22.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game this season, Boozer is putting up highly efficient numbers while leading his Duke team to the No. 1 overall seed entering the tournament.

Boozer has been dominant on every level that he has played, and is likely to be selected in the top-3 of the 2026 NBA Draft this spring.