After another chaotic college hoops offseason defined by player movement, eligibility cases and the Protect College Sports Act, it’s finally time to play some basketball.
The 2026-27 campaign officially kicks off on Nov. 1 with a historic matchup between Villanova and Notre Dame in Rome. To get you ready for all the action ahead, Hoops HQ has put together a comprehensive ranking of the top 100 players in the sport this season. Our staff assembled this list with help from our friends at The Portal Report, analytics expert Colin Hanley and other reliable ranking sites covering the game. In addition to individual metrics, a player’s projected impact on winning factored heavily into our decisions.
It’s important to note that this list excludes all fifth-year players, as eligibility questions continue to swirl. Players such as Tamin Lipsey, Donovan Dent, Darrion Williams, Mark Mitchell and more certainly would have made the cut.
We’ll be rolling out the rankings in five installments, continuing today with players 61 through 80. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Jason Crowe Jr.
Missouri Tigers
6'4" / 190
Guard
80. Jason Crowe Jr., 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Missouri
2025-26: N/A
Crowe is one of the highest-ranked prospects out of high school to join Missouri, and one of the top point guards in the 2026 class. He’s a dynamic scoring playmaker who can put up numbers and it wouldn’t be a shock if he leads the Tigers in scoring this year.
Killyan Toure
Iowa State Cyclones
6'3" / 205
Guard
79. Killyan Toure, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, Iowa State
2025-26: 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 46 FG%
Despite being a freshman, Toure started 37 games for the Cyclones last season. He had a few major outings, including 25 points and 11 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament round of 64 win over Tennessee State. An offseason shoulder injury has Toure likely missing the first part of the season, but the team will greatly benefit from his return at some point.
Tyler Perkins
Villanova Wildcats
6'4" / 212
Guard
78. Tyler Perkins, 6-foot-4 senior guard, Villanova
2025-26: 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 36.9 3FG%
After a rough first year at Villanova, Perkins thrived with the new coaching staff, more than doubling his production to lead the team in scoring. The Big East Most Improved Player of the Year had 18 games of at least 15 points, including 23 against St. John’s. Even with a completely new supporting cast, look for Perkins to still remain a focal point of the offense.
John Mobley Jr.
Ohio State Buckeyes
6'1" / 190
Guard
77. John Mobley Jr., 6-foot-1 junior guard, Ohio State
2025-26: 15.7 points, 2.8 assists, 41.1 3FG%
Mobley started 53 games for the Buckeyes in his first two years, with a big increase in efficiency as a sophomore. With four-year starting guard Bruce Thornton finally gone, the offense is clearly Mobley’s now and based on his past production, he has a chance to be one of the top individual scorers in the Big Ten.
Ian Jackson
St. John's Red Storm
6'5" / 195
Guard
76. Ian Jackson, 6-foot-5 junior guard, St. John’s
2025-26: 9.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 40.9 FG%
After a strong freshman year at North Carolina, Jackson’s production and minutes dipped in his first year at St. John’s. But the former five-star prospect still had his moments, including 19 points and 5 steals against Villanova. Jackson has a chance to thrive in year two for Coach Rick Pitino, as his talent is clearly there to be an all-league performer.
CJ Cox
Purdue Boilermakers
6'3" / 205
Guard
75. C.J. Cox, 6-foot-3 junior guard, Purdue
2025-26: 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 37.3 3FG%
Surrounded by seniors, Cox started all 39 games for the Boilermakers, scoring 14-plus points on seven different occasions. The 27-point outing at Northwestern is an example of Cox’s ability to be a go-to scorer for the Boilermakers. He’ll be tasked with that after the team lost its top four scorers from last season.
KJ Lewis
USC Trojans
6'4" / 210
Guard
74. KJ Lewis, 6-foot-4 senior guard, USC
2025-26: 14.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 40.8 FG% (Georgetown)
Lewis led the Hoyas in scoring last season, earning All-Big East honors overall. He’s a capable defender as well, getting 2.1 steals per game (including five thefts along with 24 points on the road at UConn). Lewis adds depth in the Trojans’ backcourt, giving them a legit double-digit scoring option who can also defend the opposing team’s best perimeter threat.
Caleb Foster
Duke Blue Devils
6'5" / 200
Guard
73. Caleb Foster, 6-foot-5 senior guard, Duke
2025-26: 8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 39.8 3FG%
In his first year as a full-time starter for Duke, Foster posted career-high numbers and efficiency, including shooting around 40 percent from deep. He showed he can score when given the opportunity, including a 20-point outing against Louisville. Foster remains in the rotation for Duke as an experienced veteran, whether as a starter or a sixth man.
Blue Cain
Georgia Bulldogs
6'5" / 195
Guard
72. Blue Cain, 6-foot-5 senior guard, Georgia
2025-26: 13.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 46.8 FG%
Cain started all 66 games for the Bulldogs the last two years, posting career-high numbers across the board. That includes four games of at least 20 points, with two coming back-to-back on the road against Oklahoma and Kentucky. With leading scorer Jeremiah Wilkinson off to Arkansas, look for Cain to have an even bigger role in his fourth year with the program.
Stefan Vaaks
Illinois Fighting Illini
6'7" / 215
Guard
71. Stefan Vaaks, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard, Illinois
2025-26: 15.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 35 3FG% (Providence)
The Big East All-Freshman guard was the top shooter in the conference, making three a game to lead the league in all three three-point shooting categories. He’s set to run point for the Illini as the replacement for Kylan Boswell. With the quality frontcourt Illinois has returning, look for Vaaks to again be one of the top three-point shooters nationally.
Jake Hall
New Mexico Lobos
6'4" / 200
Guard
70. Jake Hall, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, New Mexico
2025-26: 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 43.8 3FG%
Hall was the Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West last season, leading the Lobos in scoring while being one of the top three-point shooters in the nation. Coming into the 2026-27 campaign, he’s a clear frontcourt for Mountain West Player of the Year due to the realignment, giving New Mexico a legit chance to win the conference to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Najai Hines
UConn Huskies
6'11" / 278
Center
69. Najai Hines, 6-foot-10 sophomore center, UConn
2025-26: 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 60.2 FG% (Seton Hall)
Despite playing just 18 minutes per game as a freshman, Hines was highly effective at Seton Hall, turning the Pirates into one of the top defensive units in the nation. He averaged 2.2 blocks per game, including seven in one game versus Monmouth, and while Hines isn’t as good a natural scorer as Tarris Reed, he’ll give UConn’s interior defense a major boost.
Massamba Diop
Gonzaga Bulldogs
7'1" / 230
Center
68. Massamba Diop, 7-foot-1 sophomore center, Gonzaga
2025-26: 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 56.9 FG% (Arizona State)
Diop started all 33 games for the Sun Devils, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. The athletic big man had a trio of games scoring 20-plus, including 22 points against BYU. He’s slated to start at center for the Bulldogs, joining returning 6-foot-9 senior forward Braden Huff to form one of the top frontcourts in the country.
Somto Cyril
Miami Hurricanes
6'11" / 260
Center
67. Somto Cyril, 6-foot-11 junior center, Miami
2025-26: 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 75.9 FG% (Georgia)
Cyril was one of the top interior defenders in the country last season, earning All-SEC honors. That included 2.2 blocks per game, with eight coming in one game against Arkansas. Look for Cyril to have a similar role at Miami, improving the Hurricanes’ interior defense and giving the guards an athletic rim-rolling center to work with on offense.
Johann Grunloh
Virginia Cavaliers
7'0" / 238
Center
66. Johann Grunloh, 7-foot sophomore center, Virginia
2025-26: 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 53.3 FG%
While another first-year big man got most of the attention at Virginia last season, Grunloh also proved to be effective, starting all 36 games. He produced nine double-digit scoring outings, including 16 points and 7 rebounds against Louisville on the road. Look for his role to be even larger this season for the Cavaliers.
Cayden Boozer
Duke Blue Devils
6'4" / 195
Guard
65. Cayden Boozer, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, Duke
2025-26: 7.7 points, 3.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 50 FG%
The former five-star prospect started 11 games as a freshman, having a much stronger final 10 games when junior guard Caleb Foster went down with a foot injury. Boozer was on the All-ACC Tournament Team and went for 15 points in the Elite Eight loss to UConn. He’s a sophomore breakout candidate to watch and a potential starter for the Blue Devils.
Jackson Shelstad
Louisville Cardinals
6'1" / 185
Guard
64. Jackson Shelstad, 6-foot-1 senior guard, Louisville
2025-26 (12 games): 15.6 points, 4.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 39.1 FG% (Oregon)
In the two years that Shelstad was fully healthy, he was named to all-conference teams. He is a career 35-percent three-point shooter and has nearly 20 career outings of 20-plus points. Now Shelstad is set to be the lead guard for the Cardinals, running a very offense-friendly system under Coach Pat Kelsey.
Zoom Diallo
Kentucky Wildcats
6'6" / 195
Guard
63. Zoom Diallo, 6-foot-6 junior guard, Kentucky
2025-26: 15.7 points, 4.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 48.9 FG% (Washington)
Diallo started 51 games in the last two years for Washington, ranking top-10 in the Big Ten in assists. Kentucky is set to give Diallo the keys to the offense as its lead guard, entrusting him as a proven high-major performer and efficient overall scorer.
Billy Richmond III
Arkansas Razorbacks
6'7" / 205
Guard
62. Billy Richmond III, 6-foot-7 junior guard, Arkansas
2025-26: 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 56.3 FG%
Richmond is a former top-30 prospect out of high school who had a strong sophomore campaign, including earning All-SEC defensive honors. With wing Karter Knox now off to Louisville, look for Richmond’s playing time to increase even more, with an expected production increase to follow.
Miles Byrd
Providence Friars
6'6" / 190
Guard
61. Miles Byrd, 6-foot-6 senior guard, Providence
2025-26: 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.2 blocks, 40.5 FG% (San Diego State)
Byrd was a double-digit scorer his last two years with the Aztecs but his calling card is on defense. He not only is a two-time all-conference defender, but the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. A natural two-way player, look for Byrd to have a key role with the Friars, who fielded arguably the worst defensive unit in the Big East last season.
Meet your guide
