Opening week of the 2026-27 men’s college basketball season did not disappoint. The past seven days have been packed with memorable games (we see you, Valparaiso!), crazy highlights and superstar showings.
Below are 10 of the best individual performances from the week, including an all-around gem from Alabama’s Amari Allen, a scoring outburst from BYU’s Robert Wright III and more.
Memphis senior guard Jayden Reid vs. No. 18 Iowa State
26 points, 2 steals, 6-11 FG, 2-2 3PT, 12-14 FT
In his first game with the Tigers, Northwestern transfer Jayden Reid erupted for 26 points (two shy of his career-high) to lead his squad to a thrilling 80-76 upset win over Iowa State at Sanford Pentagon. It was Memphis’ first win over a ranked opponent on opening day since Nov. 25, 1995, when the program toppled No. 24 Purdue. Reid scored 17 in the second half alone, including the Tigers’ final 11 points. With Memphis clinging to a 75-73 lead and under a minute remaining, he buried a dagger three-pointer from the left wing. Reid followed up his big-time debut with 32 points and 7 assists against VCU on Saturday.
BYU junior guard Robert Wright III vs. Ohio State
35 points, 5 assists, 10-16 FG, 4-5 3PT
Expectations are sky high for BYU’s floor general this season. Wright was one of two players unanimously voted to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team, along with Texas Tech’s JT Toppin. He kicked off his junior campaign with a highly efficient 35-point performance on opening night against the Buckeyes, leading the Cougars to an impressive 94-83 victory. It marked the third time in his career that he’s eclipsed the 30-point mark, but it certainly won’t be the last.
USC freshman forward Adonis Ratliff vs. Milwaukee
25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 7-10 FG, 5-7 3PT
It was an epic collegiate debut for Ratliff, a five-star recruit and the son of former NBA All-Star Theo Ratliff. He stuffed the stat sheet in an emphatic 95-63 win over Milwaukee at the Galen Center. Ratliff’s 25 points were the most by a USC freshman in their first game since O.J. Mayo put up 32 points against Mercer on Nov. 10, 2007, and his five made three-pointers (on just seven attempts) were tied for the second-most by a Trojan under Eric Musselman. The 6-foot-11 big man also added four stocks.
UCF senior guard Dior Johnson vs. Florida Gulf Coast
41 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 13-15 FG, 4-4 3PT
In his first game back with UCF, Tarleton State transfer Dior Johnson went off for 41 points, setting the program record for most points in a season opener. His performance also ranked as the fourth-highest single-game scoring total by a UCF player since the school joined Division I in 1984. Johnson dropped the final 10 points for the Knights, carrying them to a 96-95 overtime win over Florida Gulf Coast at Addition Financial Arena.
Pitt senior forward Baye Ndongo vs. Buffalo
23 points, 21 rebounds, 2 steals, 5-10 FG, 13-17 FT
Pitt coach Jeff Capel completely rebuilt his roster via the portal this spring, and Ndongo, a former standout at Georgia Tech, was one of the program’s marquee signings. Thus far, the high-motor forward has lived up to the hype. In just his second outing with the Panthers — an 80-61 victory over Buffalo — Ndongo recorded the first 20/20 game by a Pitt player since Justin Champagnie had 24 points and 21 rebounds on Dec. 12, 2020, against Gardner-Webb. Ndongo’s 21 boards were a career high, and nine of them came on the offensive end.
Alabama sophomore guard Amari Allen vs. Arkansas State
16 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, 3-8 3PT
On Friday night against the Red Wolves, Allen showcased why he’s projected as a first-round pick in next year’s NBA Draft. The do-it-all wing became just the fourth player in UA history to record a triple-double and the first to do so at Coleman Coliseum since Roy Rogers in 1996. “When you think about all the NBA players who have come out of this program, for Amari to just be the fourth player in program history to record a triple-double puts him in very elite company,” Nate Oats said afterward. “He did it only attempting eight shots so that makes it even more special.”
UCLA freshman forward Nikola Kusturica vs. North Florida
29 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 10-12 FG, 4-6 3PT
At 17 years old, Kusturica already looks like a college basketball star. The Serbian native and projected No. 1 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft dropped 26 of his 29 points in the first half, connecting on all nine of his shot attempts. He ignited a staggering 35-0 UCLA run by knocking down three straight three-pointers. The Bruins went on to get the 114-63 victory, registering their highest single-game point total during Mick Cronin’s tenure.
Valparaiso sophomore guard Rakim Chaney vs. Purdue
35 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 14-22 FG, 4-8 3PT
In Valparaiso’s stunning 83-80 double overtime win at Purdue — the program’s first true road win over a Big Ten opponent ever and first win over a power-conference team since 2016 — it was Chaney who shined the brightest. The sharpshooting guard helped the Beacons overcome a 15-point deficit by dropping a career-high 35, the most by a Valpo player since Alec Peters had 35 on Dec. 22, 2016, against Santa Clara. With the Beacons trailing 70-67 in the final seconds of the first OT, Chaney hit an incredibly tough corner three to keep the game going.
Boston College senior guard Money Williams vs. UMass
35 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 10-22 FG, 13-13 FT
Williams, a mid-major transfer from Montana, introduced himself to a much bigger audience with a stellar performance in the Commonwealth Classic at TD Garden on Friday. Logging 39 and a half minutes, the veteran guard guided the Eagles to a 71-55 victory over UMass. He led the team in points, rebounds and assists, and was a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line. “I’m not surprised (by his performance),” Luke Murray said. “These are the sort of things that he does a lot of days in practice. But I’m obviously incredibly encouraged to see it here.”
Villanova freshman center Luigi Suigo vs. Holy Cross
16 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals, 8-9 FG
After a disappointing debut in Sunday’s Eternal City Tip-Off, which was held in his home country of Italy, Suigo bounced back with a monster game in a 95-66 win over Holy Cross. The 7-foot-3 big man and projected first-round pick controlled the interior on both ends, coming up just two rebounds shy of the Villanova freshman record. “I’ve been telling everybody for a few weeks now that we’ve just got to be patient with Luigi,” Kevin Willard said. “The more he gets comfortable with the speed of the game and the more everyone gets comfortable with what he can do, he’s going to continue to play better.”
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