Fan Rankings Home » NCAAB » Top 10 Men’s College Basketball Players 2026-2027 Rankings

The landscape of college basketball is vastly different now than it was just a decade ago. Transfers dominate the sport, and NIL has provided a new layer to the sport. With that being said, one thing has remained true through the test of time. Contunity equates to success in college basketball, and you can see that in this list of players.

8 of the 10 guys in the top 10 are returning to the program they were at last year. Wooden Award candidates like Jeremy Fears, Thomas Haugh, and Tyler Tanner passed on the NBA draft to return to their respective schools. Tyran Stokes is looking to live up to the hype as one of the best prospects of the decade. All this is exciting, and with college basketball around the corner, it’s time to look at the 10 best players in college basketball in 2026-27.

Here is a look at the Top 10 Best Men’s College Basketball Players 2026-27 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Rob Wright

School: BYU Cougars

Position: Guard

Junior guard Rob Wright enters his Junior year as one of college basketball’s top scorers. Wright is a shot maker who can really fill it up, and I think he can end the year leading not only the Big 12 in points, but he could realistically lead the country in points.

Wright averaged a touch over 18 PPG last year, and that was with a high level blue-chip talent in AJ Dybansta taking a large chunk of shots, and while BYU again has another elite talent in incoming freshman Bruce Branch, I’m sure this offense will be led by Wright.

Flory Bidunga

School: Louisville Cardinals

Position: Center

I’m sure there is a large portion of fans that would have Flory Bidunga in their top 10, but for me I feel good leaving Bidunga as an honorable mention. Bidunga’s transfer to Louisville from Kansas gives the Cardinals a type of force in the paint they haven’t had in a while.

The things Bidunga can do defensively and the unique level of athleticism will make him as impactful as any big in the ACC. My reasoning for Bidunga not being higher is that, unlike many other guys on this list, he does not give you reliable go-to scoring. His points will most likely come on lobs, O-boards, and an occasional assist from a camping Bidunga.

While still an elite player in CBB this season, the offensive limitation leaves him out of the top 10.

Top 10 College Basketball Player Rankings 26-27

10. John Blackwell

School: Duke Blue Devils

Position: Guard

Starting off this top 10 is Duke scoring guard John Blackwell. Blackwell was excellent last year for Wisconsin and the best player on a Badgers team that exceeded expectations.

Blackwell is a knockdown shooter and someone who can get his own buckets. Blackwell has good size, and although he was one of the pricier transfers, I think he is a pretty good fit for Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils.

My only real concern with Blackwell and this Duke team is how he will handle having the ball less. He won’t get the shots he took last year in terms of volume, and for some guys that can affect their rhythm. We’ve seen it happen in years past, a good recent example being AJ Storr while at Kansas. So in a few months Blackwell could be anywhere from the best player on a top 5 team, or fall out of these rankings altogether.

9. Thijs De Ridder

School: UVA Cavaliers

t feels like UVA is going through a bit of a resurgence as a program, and they enter this year with a real shot to win the ACC. Spearheading this renaissance is 23-year-old sophomore Thijs De Ridder.

De Ridder has had an unconventional journey to college basketball, playing overseas for a bit before entering the 2025 draft. This experience helps put him in the conversation for one of the most impactful players in the sport. Ridder is highly skilled and can fill it up on all three levels. He is well-built and a fun player to watch overall, and he is someone more fans should pay attention to this year.

I could see him ending the year hovering around 20 PPG and being no stranger to double-doubles.

8. Motiejus Krivas

Team: Arizona Wildcats

Position: Center

There is a real heritage of elite international big men in Arizona’s history, and Motiejus Krivas is just another in the school’s lineage. Krivas broke out last year for Arizona and was one of the best defensive bigs in the sport.

He will again be the Wildcats’ defensive anchor in 2026-27, but now with the departure of so much scoring from Arizona’s final 4 team last season, Krivas will be asked to carry more of an offensive load. Krivas will average a double-double, if not close to it.

7. Silas Demary Jr

School: UConn Huskies

Position: GUARD

I think Silas Demary is in line for a leap in his senior season. UConn’s guards will be the strength of this team with Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins, who both could lead the team in scoring over Demary. But with Demary, his consistency and overall well-roundedness are why I have him at 7.

I have no doubts that Demary will impact games on both ends every time he steps out there, and this is something Dan Hurley and UConn have to value highly. This is a new-look UConn team, and there are definitely questions needing to be answered, but Silas Demary is not one of them.

6. David Mirkovic

Team: Illinois Fighting Illini

Position: Forward

Illinois is loaded coming into this year, and they have a great assortment of bigs and forwards to look out for. The best of the bunch is Sophomore big David Mirkovic.

Mirkovic was really productive as a freshman last year for the Fighting Illini. The passing and shot-making are reasons why Mirkovic is projected to be a potential lottery pick in the 2027 draft. There is elite three-level scoring from Mirkovic and a special feel for the game.

He should be a guy averaging close to 20 and 10, and I was really close to moving him over Stokes. Illinois is the preseason number 3 and is my pick to win the Big 10.

5. Tyran Stokes

School: Kansas Jayhawks

Position: GuARD/Forward

Tyran Stokes is the most talented player on this list. I feel pretty confident saying that, and I could see him being at 1 come year’s end. I don’t like putting freshmen too high on these lists, so I opted to put him at 5.

Stokes has the physical gifts you don’t see every day mixed with high-level skill. The driving ability is close to un-guardable at this level, and he could be one of the most productive players in the country.

My concerns with Stokes don’t come on the court or have anything to do with his skill really. There are not huge alarming things with Stokes off the court, but the 4 schools in 4 years and ramblings about him not always being the easiest guy to coach may muddy up what he ends up giving you on the court.

Stokes has potential to be special on both ends, and with a Kansas team possibly coming into the year with veteran stars, this could be a team you see making a deep run come March.

4. JT Toppin

Team: Texas Tech Red Raiders

Position: Forward

I know this might be high for a guy that probably won’t play till December at best, but prior to his ACL, JT Toppin was one of the best players in college basketball.

He was averaging close to 22 and 11 and was coming off a year where he was named Big 12 player of the year. Toppin is a monster in the paint, and if he is able to put his jump shot together, then who knows how high his ceiling is.

I could consider putting Toppin at 1 on this list if I knew when and how good he would be upon his return, and I think there is a chance he finishes the year at 1 on my list.

3. Tyler Tanner

Team: Vanderbilt Commodores

Position: Guard

Tyler Tanner opted to return to a blossoming Vanderbilt program following a pretty heartbreaking end to his breakout sophomore season. His return solidifies this Commodore program as one of the best not only in the SEC, but in the sport as a whole in 2026-27.

Tanner was one of the top scorers in the SEC last year, and I could see him leading the conference in scoring as a sophomore. The undersized guard is an outstanding finisher and a very natural scorer.

There have been reports that he has gotten stronger this season, which should eliminate some of his problems that came with his lack of size.

2. Thomas Haugh

Team: Florida Gators

Position: Forward

Florida returns their core of bigs from their title-winning team two years ago, and the best of those veteran bigs is Thomas Haugh. Florida is the preseason number 1, and I think Haugh is the guy that could keep them at the top. Watching Haugh, it’s pretty easy to see why he was such a hot draft prospect at the end of last year.

Haugh is a good athlete and someone who makes a lot of impact on the glass and on defense. He’s long, skilled, and explosive and can score from all over the court. Haugh has upped his three-point shooting attempts every year, and although the percentage doesn’t reflect it, he is turning into a very good shooter.

I think Haugh finishes the year averaging 20+, and he is my pick for SEC player of the year and has a real chance to be national player of the year.

1. Jeremy Fears

Team: Michigan State Spartans

Position: Guard

Jeremy Fears was on a historic pace last year when it came to his passing. Fears is a guy who could average 10+ assists this year on a talented Michigan State team.

Fears is a maestro with the ability to control the pace of a game. Watching him, it feels like he is steps ahead of his opponent, and I think he has the potential to lead the Spartans to their first final 4 of the decade. Fears’ ability to get to the paint will open up this Spartans offense, and the fact he doesn’t turn the ball over is another piece of his game that I don’t think people give him enough credit for.

I love his defense and overall toughness, and although Fears does not have the physical skills or flashy play other guys here do, he is my best player in the country because of how well he does the little things. He will have a lot of games with 20 and 10, and as said earlier, will be the catalyst for a great Tom Izzo-led Spartans team.

How would you rank these college basketball players of the NCAA 2026-2027 season? Comment below.

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