We have already highlighted the dynamic guards dominating college basketball early in the 2025–26 season, but the forward position has been just as impactful. Across the country, bigger, versatile scorers are carrying offenses, creating matchup problems, and putting up elite numbers night after night.
Here is a ranking of the top scoring forwards in college basketball so far this season.
10. Darin Smith Jr., Central Connecticut Blue Devils
The 6’7 sophomore from Springfield, Massachusetts is averaging 20.0 points per game while also pulling down more than five rebounds per contest. Central Connecticut has won six of its first ten games, thanks in large part to Smith’s consistency.
In a recent 17-point win over Binghamton, Smith posted 23 points and 10 rebounds. Earlier this season, he exploded for 38 points in an overtime victory, showing his ability to completely take over a game.
9. Jack Karasinski, Bellarmine Knights
Karasinski ranks 21st nationally in scoring at 20.9 points per game. The 6’7 forward from Grand Rapids, Michigan has been Bellarmine’s offensive engine and should keep the Knights competitive once Atlantic Sun play begins.
He has scored at least 21 points in three straight games and has taken a major leap from last season, when he averaged 15.4 points per game.
8. Chandler Cuthrell, Elon Phoenix
Cuthrell is third in all of college basketball in scoring at 22.7 points per game. The senior from Baltimore has scored 20 or more points in nine of Elon’s ten games, including five straight outings.
After averaging just 7.4 points per game last season, Cuthrell’s breakout has been one of the most surprising developments in the country. Conference play will be the real test, but the early results are impossible to ignore.
7. Nick Martinelli, Northwestern Wildcats
Martinelli is averaging 21.9 points per game through 11 contests and continues to be Northwestern’s go-to scorer. The senior from Glenview, Illinois averaged 20.5 points last season and has picked up right where he left off.
In a recent win over Valparaiso, Martinelli scored 29 points in just 30 minutes. He has now recorded three straight games with 20 or more points.
6. Caleb Wilson, North Carolina Tar Heels
The 6’10 freshman from Atlanta has been outstanding in his first collegiate season. Wilson is scoring just under 20 points per game while grabbing more than 10 rebounds per night.
He is shooting 54.6 percent from the field and 73.1 percent at the free-throw line. Wilson has scored 20 points in three straight games and figures to be a major focal point once ACC play begins.
5. Malik Reneau, Miami Hurricanes
Reneau is enjoying a terrific senior season for his hometown program. The 6’9 forward is averaging 20.5 points per game while shooting nearly 58 percent from the field.
He has scored 22 points in back-to-back games, and Miami has jumped out to a strong 10-2 start. Reneau’s efficiency and physicality have been central to the Hurricanes’ early success.
4. Keyshawn Hall, Auburn Tigers
Hall has been a steady force in his first season with Auburn. He is nearly automatic at the free-throw line, shooting an impressive 94.7 percent in road games.
In a recent win over Chattanooga, Hall posted 22 points and 11 rebounds. This marks his third straight season averaging double figures, after scoring 18.8 points per game last year. Auburn enters its matchup with Purdue sitting at 8-3.
3. AJ Dybantsa, BYU Cougars
One of the most electric freshmen in the country, Dybantsa is averaging 21.1 points per game through his first 11 college games. The Brockton, Massachusetts native is widely projected as a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
He is shooting 57.1 percent from the field, playing 29 minutes per game, and averaging 10 rebounds. Dybantsa has scored at least 22 points in four straight games, including 23 in a recent win over Pacific.
2. Cameron Boozer, Duke Blue Devils
Boozer currently leads college basketball in scoring at 23.3 points per game. The 6’9 freshman from Miami has been dominant from day one for Duke.
He recently posted 26 points and 13 rebounds against Lipscomb and has delivered in the biggest moments, including a 35-point performance against Arkansas and a 29-point outing versus Florida. Boozer has quickly established himself as one of the premier players in the country.
1. JT Toppin, Texas Tech Red Raiders
For our money, pound for pound, JT Toppin is the best player in college basketball. The 6’9 junior from Dallas is averaging 21.9 points per game and is the player you want with the ball late in a close game.
He scored 30 points while playing all 40 minutes in a loss to Arkansas, then followed it with 23 points in an 11-point win over Northern Colorado. After averaging 18.2 points per game last season, Toppin has elevated every aspect of his game in year three.
High Powered Forwards
Elite guard play often dominates the conversation, but this season’s top forwards are proving just as valuable. From dominant freshmen to seasoned veterans, these scorers are taking over games, leading offenses, and setting the tone for what promises to be an interesting stretch run as conference play gets underway.