Illinois
Andrej Stojakovic, Junior, Wing
Illinois Head Coach Brad Underwood was able to put a scary team together this offseason. Underwood was able to snag the 6-foot-7 wing in Andrej Stojakovic through the transfer portal, this will be Stojakovic's third school in as many years. Andrej showed significant improvement in year two at California where he averaged 17.9 points per game after spending his freshman year at in-state rival Stanford, where he averaged 7.8 points per game in just 10 starts. It is clear that Stojakovic is a pure scorer, with that being said there were some signs of inconsistency last year at California. The question will be, how will Andrej adjust to this new change in a significantly better conference? As he matures, gains more experience and settles in with his new team it will be massive for the Illini if he can bring what we saw in his better days at California to Illinois. Coach Underwood has had success with transfers before Andrej and if all goes well, Stojakovic being the team's leading scorer this season can be in play.
Indiana
Reed Bailey, Senior, Forward
The 6-foot-10 forward elected to take his talents to Bloomington for his senior year after three years at Davidson. With the Hoosiers remodeled team from head to toe, there are plenty of guys to be considered as x-factors for the upcoming season. Reed Bailey in particular sticks out as the biggest x-factor of them all. Just last year, Bailey registered 18.8 points per game on 47.7% from the field with an impressive 41.5% from downtown. Bailey will now have a chance to show how good he really this year is in a power conference as opposed to competing in a less notable Atlantic 10. Similar to Andrej Stojakovic, it will all come down to if his game from last season will translate into the Big Ten against some of the best competition in college hoops. If he is able to produce another majestic season it can bring Indiana a long way.
Iowa
Alvaro Folgueiras, Junior, Forward
After two seasons at Robert Morris, Alvaro Folgueiras has committed to play his junior season at Iowa. Starting to notice a trend? In most cases nowadays, incoming transfers have showed why they are the difference maker on their team. Folgueiras, a native of Spain, showed out at Robert Morris where in 34 starts a year ago he was 30th in the nation hauling in 9.1 rebounds per match and 45th in the nation with a 54.8 field goal percentage all while scoring 14.1 points per game. Iowa has been a reputable spot for big men in recent years including the 2020-21 AP National Player of the Year in Luka Garza, the 2022 fourth overall pick in Keegan Murray, along with his brother Kris Murray who was also a first round selection. Folgueiras, who stands at 6-foot-10 should have Hawkeye fans expecting the same production if he can, just like the previous two guys, translate his game to Big Ten play.
Maryland
Darius Adams, Freshman, Guard
Darius Adams will be the first potential x-factor on this list that is not an incoming transfer, instead the true freshman was ranked 30th in the nation in the class of 2025 by ESPN. Adams stands at 6-foot-5 and a slim 175 pounds making him a shifty and elusive threat. He excels in scoring whether it is shooting the rock or high flying to the rim and with many of their scorers from last season now gone, the freshman prodigy will have his opportunity to show Maryland what he is capable of. Everything will rely on his ability to make the jump at the next level and prove that he can be a proficient scorer for the Terrapins.
Michigan
Trey McKenney, Freshman, Guard
McKenney is another incoming freshman who was ranked as the 20th overall player in the class of 2025 according to ESPN. The Wolverines will be looking different from a year ago where they went as far as the Sweet Sixteen, a team that had Danny Wolf, Tre Donaldson and Vladislav Golden who since have all left the university. This means that the Wolverines will need some guys to step up this season and McKenney is a prime candidate to do so. Trey is a versatile high volume scorer who plays with a high motor of aggressiveness. Aside from his striking talent, the destined hometown hero will bring incredible energy and liveliness to the squad.
Michigan State
Jeremy Fears Jr., Redshirt Sophomore, Guard
Jeremy Fears Jr. is entering his third season as a Spartan. With Jase Richardson off to the NBA, Jeremy, who started in all 36 games for the Spartans last year is poised for a breakout season. Brother of Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears, Jeremy put together 7.2 points per game while dishing out 5.4 assists per game. The major concern with Jeremy's game is the fact that he shot just 39.7% a season ago. With his playmaking ability, solid defense and vibrancy, if Fears Jr. can simply improve on his efficiency he will be a dangerous playmaking threat for the rest of the conference. As he is entering his third year of college hoops, the formula for a big leap from a season ago is here.
Minnesota
Isaac Asuma, Sophomore, Guard
Asuma made the most of his minutes last year in 32 games with the Golden Gophers. In his freshman year he logged 5.6 points per match on 43.7% shooting. With almost an entirely new team in Head Coach Niko Medved's first season, Asuma stayed loyal to the school that gave him a chance during their coaching shift. Asuma is expected to have a larger role in his sophomore campaign, gaining more trust, taking more shots and seeking to be the team's leader meaning a breakout season is well in play for the homegrown talent. With a leap forward this year, Isaac can help bring this team from the ground up as they eye their first tournament bid since 2019.
Nebraska
Kendall Blue, Senior, Guard
The Cornhuskers were just shy of punching their ticket into the tournament last season led by star guard Brice Williams. Since then, Williams left for the NBA Draft where he went undrafted and later signed with the Detroit Pistons. In response to his leave, Nebraska Head Coach Fred Hoiberg was able to pull aboard the senior transfer Kendall Blue after three head turning seasons at St. Thomas-Minnesota. Blue is another transfer on this list who has shown jurassic improvement between seasons. Blue went from 7.4 points per match on 42.7% shooting in his freshman year with the Tommies to 12.3 points a game on a ridiculous 51% from the field and even adding 4.4 rebounds per game. While it is unclear how much usage Blue will get entering the new season, he is a strong candidate to take over a vacated scoring role and has more than enough potential to be a critical piece for his team.
Northwestern
Jayden Reid, Junior, Guard
Standing at just 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, the true point guard from Westbury, New York has been overlooked since he first stepped on a college court at South Florida. Maybe that has something to do with minimized national exposure while playing in the American Conference (formerly known as the American Athletic Conference) for two seasons, but the newly transferred Reid has some serious craft. In his sophomore season at South Florida he was able to showcase why he is among the best defenders in college basketball with 1.8 steals per game. As a playmaker, Reid, who was also named to the AAC All-Freshman Team in 2024, dished out 3.6 assists per game, and while scoring is not his forte, he added 12.6 points on average. Jayden is the type of player that a coach would love to bring in because of the way he makes his teammates around him better. We can expect Reid to have an immediate impact with Northwestern this time around as he looks to lead the Wildcats through a competitive Big Ten.
Ohio State
Josh Ojianwuna, Senior, Forward
The most intimidating feature that Ojianwuna brings to the court might simply be his 6-foot-10 230 pound frame. After spending three years at Baylor, the Nigeria-born forward committed to play his final season of college hoops with the Buckeyes. This Ohio State team is one that not only lacks big men, but lacks big men with experience. Besides 6-foot-8 senior phenom Brandon Noel, just two players on the Buckeyes roster above 6-foot-6 has recorded a Division I start, with one being Ojianwuna. From what we saw at Baylor, Josh excels in grabbing rebounds and taking advantage of mismatch duels in the interior. With three seasons of at least 23 games of action in each of Big 12 play under his belt, Ojianwuna will enter Columbus with not just experience, but also trust, expectations to play at an efficient level and expectations to pioneer for the young Buckeyes beneath him on the depth chart.
Oregon
Kwame Evans Jr., Junior, Forward
Although the stats might not do him justice, Kwame Evans Jr. took a big step forward in year two for the Ducks. After starting in 29 games his freshman season, Head Coach Dana Altman made the decision to play him off the bench in his sophomore year as he started in just three games instead. Kwame's game matured immensely as he shot the ball less which resulted in improved shooting splits, he looked incredibly more comfortable with less of the panicky moments he had in his freshman year, he spread the floor in ways that disrupted defenses and created a defensive presence that opposing offenses were forced to strategize around. Notwithstanding the fact that the Ducks themselves received a sizable incoming transfer haul, Kwame, or KJ as his teammates like to call him, will have just as big if not an even bigger role this season as he enters his junior year. He has shown discipline to the coaching staff along with giving his coaches and teammates reason to believe in and trust in his development, after all he was a five-star recruit in ESPN's 2023 rankings slotting in at the 14th overall prospect.
Penn State
Kayden Mingo, Freshman, Guard
There are huge expectations for Kayden Mingo, who happens to be the highest rated recruit in Penn State basketball history. Kayden is the one of the newest Division I products from recent high school powerhouse Long Island Lutheran (LuHi), where he won the 2025 New York Gatorade Player of the Year. Kayden is a very gifted basketball player as he shines in powering through and finishing at the rim, tossing out highlight reel assists and bringing that intensity that coaches fiend over. Despite this, the most intriguing part of his game could very well his defense. Mingo, who measures at just 6-foot-2, plays elite perimeter defense causing nightmare matchups for his opponents. As a guard, he has the rare ability to inhale boards and block shots in ways that guards should not be doing. As Penn State is in no way, and never has been considered a historical basketball program in comparison to their fellow conference members, with the formula for success there, Kayden Mingo has a legitimate shot to give people a reason to talk about the Nittany Lions this year.
Purdue
Daniel Jacobsen, Sophomore, Center
Daniel Jacobsen's freshman season was cut short during his second collegiate contest thanks to a fractured tibia. Despite seeing Jacobsen on the floor for just 26 minutes where he shot four of six with seven rebounds and three blocks, there is reason to believe in the 7-foot-4 titan. Since Jacobsen was just entering his freshman year, Head Coach Matt Painter has made it seem like Daniel will fill the hole left behind by Boilermakers legend Zach Edey. While Jacobsen is significantly slimmer than Zach Edey, he still fits right into their scheme and game plan where they will look to feed the beast below. Differently than Edey, Jacobsen also has the ability to spread the floor. Daniel is not known for his three point shooting but if defenders dare to give him an open look from downtown he has the ability to make them pay, making him an offensive threat from all around. Jacobsen will have all the opportunities and pieces such as 2024-25 First Team All-American guard Braden Smith by his side, who can pair up with him to form one of the most frightening duos in the nation. As if Jacobsen and Smith together are not scary enough, Purdue also returns 6-foot-9 forward Trey Kaufman-Renn who averaged 20.1 points a game last year and was an All-American Honorable Mention himself. There are high expectations as the Boilermakers enter the season as the preseason #1 team in the AP Poll, but Purdue has a chance to really push themselves to a dominant level if Jacobsen can produce in ways we know he can.
Rutgers
Dylan Grant, Sophomore, Forward
After entering New Brunswick with a loaded freshmen class that included two 2025 top five picks in Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Dylan Grant did not receive a whole lot of attention. In 21 games of action where he registered 16 starts in just 18.8 minutes per game, Grant quietly put together 5.9 points on 44.5% and 3.4 rebounds a match. Even though these numbers are not exactly eye-popping, with young studs like Harper and Bailey gone, who thrived with the ball in their hands, Grant will get more minutes, shots, looks and chances to be the next star for the Scarlet Knights. Dylan's aggressive tendencies gives him a competitive one-up on his opponents and Rutgers has a chance to stay relevant in the Big Ten if Grant steps into a more productive role this season.
UCLA
Steven Jamerson II, Senior, Forward
Steven announced on Instagram back in April that he would be taking his talents to Los Angeles after three seasons at the neighboring University of San Diego. Much like many of the other teams on this list, UCLA has several candidates to be considered as x-factors for this new season. Even though some of the expected starters could have earned this title, UCLA has lacked reliable depth in recent years, which played a role in ultimately selecting Steven Jamerson II to be the strongest candidate for this list. Steven does his damage strictly in the paint, but has the ability to do so on both sides of the ball. At San Diego he recorded 10 points and 7.8 rebounds per meeting through 31 games in his junior year. He is fearless and combative off the glass which can be a huge addition off the bench this season for the Bruins. He also has acceptable shot-blocking ability as the senior stands at 6-foot-10. Jamerson II can help Mick Cronin and the Bruins back to the NCAA Tournament for what would be the fifth time in the last six years.
USC
Jordan Marsh, Junior, Guard
Yet another incoming transfer has found himself on this list. Jordan Marsh, who is entering his third season of collegiate ball transferred from UNC Asheville to USC for his junior season. Marsh proved to power conference teams why he can compete at the highest level while at UNC Asheville a year ago as he is an elite scorer (18.8 points per game last season) who also plays elite defense at the perimeter (2 steals per game last season). When he's not scoring baskets he dishes the ball out to fellow teammates recording flashy assists. With five-star recruit (per ESPN) Alijah Arenas sidelined for a significant portion of the season, if not the whole season, Marsh has a chance to take advantage of his opportunities and lead this team through a storm of the Big Ten. Marsh will undoubtedly have his chance to shine with the ball in his hands as he looks for a breakout season.
Washington
Bryson Tucker, Sophomore, Wing
Tucker is a rare in-conference transfer as he spent his freshman year with the Indiana Hoosiers. After Indiana hired Darian DeVries to be their next head coach, the Hoosier were left with just two players from their 2024-25 squad. Bryson Tucker selected the University of Washington to be his next school. The Washington Huskies also brought in several new transfer portal additions such as Jacob Ognacevic, who was expected to be a starter in the front court until he suffered a foot injury that will likely sideline him for at least a few months. This leads the door wide open for the 6-foot-7 wing from Maryland to make his presence known in a less than crowded front court. Tucker can take in rebounds while also spreading the floor offensively, which is where he has a chance to show Washington fans what he can do with the rock. We should expect to see Bryson take more shots this season, including shots from behind the arc.
Wisconsin
Nolan Winter, Junior, Center
Nolan Winter may be the biggest x-factor of them all for the 2025-26 season. The blueprint for success has never been clearer for the 7-foot tall threat. Despite standing at 7-feet tall and 235 pounds, Nolan has the versatility to play perimeter defense, and effective perimeter defense. As for his offensive skillset, Nolan scored 9.4 points a game while also being a threat should defenses leave him open from three-point range. The part of his game that could use improvement to truly push him over the edge would be if he can dominantly grab rebounds the way 7-foot tall players should. With all this being said, he played just 21.1 minutes per contest last season. We should expect to see him see another increase in minutes like we saw from his freshman year to his sophomore year (9.4 minutes per game to 21.1 minutes per game). By seeing more action we can see Winter average double-double numbers that will turn heads for NBA Draft scouts.