5. Josh Hubbard - Mississippi State
2024-2025 stats: 18.9 pts, 2.1 reb, 3.1 ast
Hubbard has been one of the most elite scorers in the SEC in his two seasons in Starkville and I would expect no different next year. The two-time All-SEC selection has just six games in his career where he did not score double figures and he will almost certainly be on the Wooden Award watch list come November.
4. Graham Ike - Gonzaga
2024-2025 stats: 17.3 pts, 7.3 reb, 1.4 ast
With the returning combo of Ike and Huff, the Zags will have one of the best frontcourts in college basketball. Ike has been seemingly unstoppable down low the past three seasons, one of those being at Wyoming where he nearly averaged a double-double. Ike will enter the season as the clear favorite for WCC Player of the Year in the Zags last year in the conference.
3. Trey Kaufman-Renn - Purdue
2024-2025 stats: 20.1 pts, 6.5 reb, 2.2 ast
The next great multi-year Purdue big man is here with Trey Kaufman-Renn. As a junior he stepped into the starting role and picked up right where Zach Edey left off. Kaufman-Renn was dominant all of last season, scoring 20 or more points in 19 games while leading the Boilermakers in points, rebounds, and blocks. He earned First-Team All-Big Ten and will be a candidate for all the accolades next year.
2. JT Toppin - Texas Tech
2024-2025 stats: 18.2 pts, 9.4 reb, 1.2 ast
Texas Tech certainly had to spend some serious NIL money to bring Toppin back, but it should be worth it. The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, who began his career at New Mexico, dominated the Big 12 last season with his athleticism around the paint. He was a double-double machine with 19 on the year, including a monster performance against Arizona State with 41 points and 15 rebounds on just 22 shot attempts. Grant McCasland has done a great job in taking over the Texas Tech program and next year is shaping up to be another good one with the return of Toppin.
1. Braden Smith - Purdue
2024-2025 stats: 15.8 pts, 4.5 reb, 8.7 ast
To the delight of Boilermaker fans, Braden Smith didn’t even test the NBA Draft waters and announced early that he would be returning for his senior season. The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Award winner was the straw that stirred the drink for Matt Painter’s team in their Elite 8 run. Smith finished second in the nation in assists last season and will likely move into the top 10 in all-time scoring at Purdue next year. With both Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn back, it’s easy to see why many view the Boilermakers as favorites to win it all in 2026.