The 2027 NBA Draft class is expected to be less impressive than the groups coming before it in 2025 and 2026. That doesn’t mean college basketball is short on talent, though. This year’s freshmen may not include obvious headliners like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Cameron Boozer or A.J. Dybantsa, but NIL money has helped keep plenty of experienced players in the college game.
Top programs are now spending at least $20 million a year on their rosters. As a result, some players who might otherwise have turned pro are coming back to school. As many as 13 potential first-round picks could return this season, drawn in part by the money available.
With the 2026–27 season approaching, here are 20 of the best players in men’s college basketball. Duke freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and UCLA’s Nikola Kusturica are not included because both are 17 and won’t be draft eligible until next year. They may make this list look questionable by season’s end. For now, though, these are the players to watch.
20. Braden Huff, F/C, Gonzaga
Huff has unusually soft touch around the basket for a big man. Before a dislocated kneecap ended his season in early January, he made 77% of his attempts at the rim and 62% of his other two-point shots. If he’s fully recovered, he could be one of the country’s most productive frontcourt scorers.
19. Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky
Moreno looks like a strong candidate to make a big jump as a sophomore, even though he had trouble finishing over longer defenders near the rim. The 6-foot-11 center is a force on the offensive glass, can pass from several spots on the floor and offers real rim protection. His mobility and feel for the game give him the tools to become one of the better big men around.
18. Silas Demary, G, UConn
Demary’s tough on-ball defense and reliable catch-and-shoot game helped form the base of UConn’s Final Four run last season. He has strong hands, a solid frame and a habit of making the extra effort to recover when a play breaks down. The next question is whether he can become more effective scoring inside the arc.
17. Elliot Cadeau, G, Michigan
The Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player has always been a slippery ball-handler with a gift for passing off the dribble. His improved outside shooting took his game up a level. Michigan will look different without Yaxel, Mara, Morez and Dusty May, but Cadeau has the ability to keep the team competitive.
16. Juke Harris, F, Tennessee
At 6-foot-7, Harris brings plenty of ability to the wing. He can hit shots from deep and attack the basket with strength. His off-ball scoring and quick, connective passing are valuable, and his defensive potential makes him one of the more well-rounded wings in the country.
15. Najai Hines, F, UConn
Hines arrived at Seton Hall as a recruit ranked outside the top 100. A year later, he was one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market. He’s expected to step into the middle of UConn’s offense and take over for Tarris Reed.
His first-season averages of 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds don’t jump off the page, but his defensive numbers per minute did. Hines has a powerful frame and long arms, and he uses both well around the basket. He’s an excellent offensive rebounder, while his 16.3% block rate points to major potential as a rim protector. He should give UConn a strong interior presence on offense and could have an even bigger impact on defense.
14. Aden Holloway, G, Alabama
Holloway was arrested on a marijuana charge shortly before the 2026 NCAA tournament, a difficult blow for Alabama as it tried to make a run through the bracket. The Tide still reached the Sweet 16. After serving a two-game suspension to begin this season, Holloway has been reinstated.
He could be one of the country’s most dangerous offensive players, with quickness off the dribble, deep range on pull-up threes and the ability to push the pace without giving the ball away carelessly. He made 43.8% of his threes last season while taking 11.5 per 100 possessions, helping him post a strong 64.3% true shooting percentage. Defense remains a weakness, but Holloway ranks among the top returning players in several advanced offensive and overall impact measures. That’s enough to make him a top-20 pick here.
13. Nigel James, G, Marquette
James just made the end of the high school recruiting rankings, coming in at No. 96, but he quickly became an important freshman for a struggling Marquette team. With a better roster around him this season, he has a real chance to make a substantial leap.
His 6-foot frame is an obvious limitation, but James compensates with power and control when attacking the basket. He’s a gifted creator in tight spaces and recorded a 37% assist rate as a freshman, showing he can deliver passes accurately and on time. His three-point shot needs work, though it doesn’t look beyond repair. A modest improvement from deep, along with more trips to the free-throw line, could make him one of the nation’s best players.
12. Thomas Haugh, F, Florida
Haugh was seen as a likely lottery pick after his junior season, but he chose to return to Florida in a deal reportedly worth $8 million in NIL compensation. He’ll be one of the most recognizable players in the sport, though his best role may be as a highly capable supporting player.
The 6-foot-9, 210-pound wing is strong and versatile, but he isn’t an elite shot creator or defender, and he made 32.6% of his threes on 8.7 attempts per 100 possessions. Instead, he contributes across the board and could be the connective piece on one of the country’s deepest rosters. His NBA reputation may have gotten a little ahead of his game, so another year in college could be useful if he sharpens his offense or makes a defensive jump.
11. Alex Condon, C, Florida
Condon’s size, mobility and improving touch are central to Florida’s unusually big frontcourt. He moves well in the open floor, which leads to some impressive finishes and helps him recover to ball handlers in the half court. He has also shown touch away from the basket and early signs of a developing three-point shot.
He’s a capable passer who can help Florida run half-court sets from the high post. Big men with this kind of movement and ball skill are hard to find, and Condon is among the most complete centers in the country.
10. Pryce Sandfort, F, Nebraska
Sandfort transferred from Iowa to Nebraska and helped the Cornhuskers earn the first NCAA tournament win in program history. They came close to reaching the Elite Eight, too. At 6-foot-7, he fits Fred Hoiberg’s spread-out offense well, making 41.6% of his threes on a huge volume of 15.9 attempts per 100 possessions.
There’s more to his offense than spot-up shooting: Sandfort made 61.5% of his twos and 85.5% of his free throws. He isn’t a particularly strong rebounder or defender, but he takes care of the ball, adding some value that can be easy to overlook. His advanced numbers rate him among the best returning players in the country. Keeping him for another season gives Nebraska a chance to contend in the Big Ten and make another deep tournament run.
9. Ivan Kharchenkov, F, Arizona
Kharchenkov is built like a power forward but plays on the wing, and his strength makes him an immediate defensive problem for opponents. As a freshman at Arizona, he was already one of the better perimeter defenders in college basketball. He pressured ball handlers well beyond the arc, disrupted drives and often broke up plays before they got going.
His outside shot is still a question, but he can contribute in other ways while it develops. Kharchenkov attacks the rim physically, makes quick passing decisions and can take advantage of closeouts even when defenders aren’t especially worried about his shooting. Arizona may not have much depth this season, which makes his role in the team’s strong top-end talent all the more important.
8. David Mirkovic, F, Illinois
Mirkovic is a standout in Illinois’ group of players from the Balkans. After playing professionally in the Adriatic League, he made an immediate impact as a freshman on a Final Four team. At 6-foot-9 and 255 pounds, he looks like a bruising rebounder, but there’s considerably more to his game than that.
He can handle the ball in pick-and-rolls, hit pull-up threes and find Illinois’ other big men with clever passes. Mirkovic is dealing with a foot injury heading into the season. If he gets healthy, he could make a major leap in his second college season, even if he’ll turn 21 in January. At his best, he gives Illinois a case as a preseason No. 1 team.
7. Rueben Chinyelu, C, Florida
Chinyelu isn’t much of a scorer, but he may be the best defender and rebounder in college basketball. He’s a major reason Florida looks like a preseason powerhouse. The 6-foot-11, 245-pound center led high-major players with a 30.7% defensive rebound rate last season. He also offers sound rim protection and has the foot speed to stay in front of guards when switched onto them.
Chinyelu’s strength, length and 7-foot-8 wingspan are obvious advantages, but so is his knack for being in the right place. Other centers may have more name recognition. Few do more to help their teams win.
6. Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt
Tanner may have made one of the biggest year-to-year jumps in college basketball last season, emerging as one of the country’s best guards as a sophomore at Vanderbilt. His size invites skepticism: he’s under 5-foot-11 barefoot and weighs less than 170 pounds. Still, he plays with a surprising amount of force.
He had 18 dunks, twice as many as Darryn Peterson managed last season, and averaged 2.4 steals per game, putting him among the nation’s leaders. Tanner gets to the rim with his speed and advanced handle, then finishes with either touch or power. His three-point shooting remains a work in progress. If he can improve there, NBA teams may take a closer look.
5. Tyran Stokes, F, Kansas
Stokes could become the standout freshman this season’s class seems to be missing. Still, questions about his motor and emotional control will follow him until he puts them to rest. A few years ago, he looked close to the level of Flagg and Dybantsa, but transfers and disciplinary issues seemed to slow his momentum late in high school.
He plays like a point forward, using a strong 245-pound frame to force his way to the rim and create chances for teammates. His outside shot is an early concern, but his defensive ceiling could be what defines his season. At his best, Stokes can be a force at both ends. Kansas should have an instant star, even if the roster still feels a little less talented than it ought to be.
4. Flory Bidunga, C, Louisville
Bidunga is among the most explosive shot blockers in college basketball, and Louisville paid heavily to bring him over from Kansas. The rising junior is 6-foot-9, not especially tall for a center, but he makes up for it with a wingspan close to 7-foot-4, exceptional leaping ability and excellent timing. His block rate has been close to 10% across his first two college seasons.
His offense is more straightforward: lobs, put-backs and quick finishes around the rim. He dunked 82 times in 35 games last season, and Louisville’s guards could give him plenty of chances for alley-oops in the ACC. Bidunga might already be in the NBA under a different financial landscape. Louisville will be glad to have him for another year.
3. Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke
Ngongba has a strong case as college basketball’s most complete big man. The rising junior can protect the paint, rebound, pass and stretch the floor as his outside shot continues to develop. At 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds, with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he also moves well enough to handle different defensive coverages.
He’s a good leaper and gets off the floor quickly, which helps him contest shots and collect rebounds. His hands are another asset, allowing him to disrupt opponents before their offense gets started. On the other end, he’s an excellent passer from the high post, has soft touch on finishes and put-backs, and looks capable of improving as a three-point shooter.
Durability is the main concern, particularly given his history of foot injuries. That may be part of why he’s returning to Duke for a third season. The Blue Devils look like the team to beat.
2. Jeremy Fears Jr., G, Michigan State
Fears watched his younger brother leave for the NBA as a top-10 pick, then delivered one of the best passing seasons in recent college basketball. His 53% assist rate was 10 percentage points higher than the next-best high-major player, and his 3.9-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio was excellent for a guard with such a large role.
He isn’t especially big or explosive, but Fears controls the game whenever he’s on the floor. He’s become a more effective scorer by drawing fouls and using a dangerous midrange pull-up. Early preseason signs suggest he may be more springy this year, which could help him create points for himself. A great point guard matters in March, and Fears is about as good as they come.
1. Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
Krivas is a towering 7-foot-2 and 260 pounds, with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. He may be the best defensive anchor in college basketball. His rim protection gives Arizona the foundation for an elite defense: he can guard the paint in drop coverage and still recover when smaller players get around him.
His 7.5% block rate last season was strong, though it doesn’t fully show his impact. Krivas contests vertically and deters plenty of shots that never make it into the box score. He’s also an outstanding rebounder, generating extra chances on offense and securing the defensive glass well enough to let more skilled teammates play beside him.
There’s still room for his offensive game to grow, but he’s already a solid post scorer. He has also made 77% of his free throws over his college career, which offers some reason to believe his shooting could improve. Krivas can lift a team’s floor by making opponents less efficient, winning the possession battle and giving his coach options with the surrounding lineup. If I were building a college team around one player this season, I’d start with him.
