The 2026-27 college basketball season has officially begun! Now, we get to see the players we’ve been talking about for months in the offseason — but not everyone, as there are dozens of players unable to step on the floor for various reasons, including eligibility and health.
For this piece, we’ll be tracking the notable college basketball players currently sidelined with an injury, along with the impact of their absence and how long they’re projected to be out for.
JT Toppin, 6-foot-9 senior forward, Texas Tech
2025-26: 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds per game
Injury: Torn ACL
Projected timeline: Sometime in Big 12 play
The former Big 12 Player of the Year and All-American is the most important player currently out. Recovering from a torn ACL is serious and while coach Grant McCasland hopes he can come back around December, it’s likely to be around January or February. Texas Tech should still be a tournament team without Toppin, and if he’s close to 100 percent come March Madness, the Red Raiders would turn into a Final Four contender immediately.
Eric Reibe, 7-foot-1 sophomore center, USC
2025-26 (UConn): 5.9 points, 3.3 rebounds per game
Injury: Foot
Projected timeline: Week-to-week
Reibe has missed all of the preseason due to a foot injury. While there’s a chance he can return before league play, USC also could hold him out to prevent any setback. While he’s out, the Trojans turn to the 7-foot-1 freshmen brother duo of Adonis and Darius Ratliff to fill in the void at center.
David Mirkovic, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, Illinois
2025-26: 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds per game
Injury: Foot, Appendectomy
Projected timeline: Week-to-week
After an elite freshman campaign, Mirkovic was viewed as a National Player of the Year candidate for the Illini. But a reported setback to his foot injury in the offseason combined with a recent appendectomy has delayed his return. Illinois still has plenty of frontcourt depth but will need both 7-foot-1 center brothers, Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, to be impactful in larger minutes during the nonconference portion of their schedule.
De’Shayne Montgomery, 6-foot-4 senior guard, Louisville
2025-26 (Dayton): 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds per game
Injury: Foot
Projected timeline: 4-6 weeks
Montgomery was set to be a key part of Louisville’s backcourt as a capable double-digit scorer. With him out in the nonconference, look for returning 6-foot-5 junior guard Adrian Wooley to have even more minutes, while both 6-foot-3 senior guards Jackson Shelstad and Seth Trimble will play 30-35 minutes a game as the starting backcourt duo.
Carter Welling, 6-foot-11 senior center, Clemson
2024-25: 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds per game
Injury: Torn ACL
Projected timeline: Sometime in ACC play
Similar to Toppin, Welling also suffered an ACL injury serious enough to jeopardize this upcoming year. He could return in the new year and the hope would be that he gives them some depth. For this season, Samford transfer and 6-foot-10 senior forward Dylan Faulkner is set to be the focal point in the frontcourt for the Tigers.
Killian Toure, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, Iowa State
2025-26: 8.6 points, 2.3 assists per game
Injury: Shoulder
Projected timeline: Sometime in Big 12 play
Toure was a sophomore breakout candidate for the Cyclones before an offseason shoulder injury. With 6-foot-1 fifth year guard Tamin Lipsey back and eligible, that should keep Iowa State viable going forward. But if the other guards continue to struggle like they did against Memphis to open the season, they’ll need Toure to come back and give them a lift in the Big 12.
Mikey Lewis, 6-foot-3 junior guard, Texas
2025-26 (Saint Mary’s): 13.9 points per game
Injury: Foot
Projected timeline: Sometime in SEC play
Lewis’ role coming to Texas from Saint Mary’s was to give the Longhorns perimeter shooting in the backcourt. But the offseason foot injury hurts his chances of cracking the rotation. Once he’s healed, we’ll see if Lewis will have an impact, but minutes might not be available if 6-foot-5 freshman guard Bo Ogden and Austin Goosby solidify their roles during nonconference play.
Aiden Tobiason, 6-foot-5 junior guard, Syracuse
2025-26 (Temple): 15.3 points per game
Injury: Hamstring
Projected timeline: Day-to-day
A hamstring injury has prevented Tobiason from playing in any of the preseason games or the season opener on Monday. On paper, he looks to be the team’s top offensive option after putting up more than 15 points per game at Temple. On a roster filled with mostly mid-major transfers, the Orange needs Tobiason to return and become that go-to option.
Kam Williams, 6-foot-8 junior forward, Kentucky
2025-26: 6.0 points per game
Injury: Foot
Projected timeline: Day-to-day
Williams put up 6.0 points per game in his first year at Kentucky but dealt with multiple injuries. He’s been recovering from offseason foot surgery that has bled over to the regular season. His shooting and defensive versatility would be a big boost for the Wildcats, who are currently limited to an eight-man rotation without him.
Jalen Haynes, 6-foot-8 senior forward, Dayton
2024-25 (George Mason): 14.1 points, 6.9 rebounds per game
Injury: Knee
Projected timeline: Out indefinitely
Haynes missed all of last year at Cincinnati due to a knee injury, and a second surgery has kept him out of action this offseason with the Flyers. He was an all-league performer two years ago at George Mason, so he’s a proven Atlantic 10 player. But with Haynes still not practicing, the Flyers should expect to be without him going forward, with the hope that he can contribute at some point in league play.
Gabe Dynes, 7-foot-3 senior center, Louisville
2025-26 (USC): 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds
Injury: Shoulder
Projected timeline: 4 months
Dynes was set to be the team’s third center, providing 5-10 minutes a night as a rim protector. But there’s a good chance we won’t see him at all with such a long timeline to recover from surgery. The good news for the Cardinals is that five-star and 7-foot-1 freshman center Obinna Ekezie looks ready to give them real minutes and production inside.
Owen Freeman, 6-foot-10 senior forward, Auburn
2025-26 (Creighton): 5.0 points, 4.0 rebounds per game
Injury: Foot
Projected timeline: Out indefinitely
Freeman missed most of last year at Creighton with foot issues, which have yet to be fully fixed after the offseason. While Auburn does have a pair of 7-foot centers in Narcisse Ngoy and Bukky Oboye, Freeman had the highest offensive ceiling to avoid putting all of the scoring pressure on the frontcourt.
Jacob Furphy, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, Boston College
2025-26 (UConn): 0.4 points per game
Injury: MCL sprain
Projected timeline: 1-4 weeks
Furphy is a former top-50 prospect who followed coach Luke Murray over from UConn as a breakout transfer. It’s a completely new roster filled with transfers, so roles haven’t been fully set for the rest of the season. But after missing most of the preseason with this lower-leg injury, Furphy is already running uphill to secure his spot in the rotation.
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