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 41 through 60. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Braden Frager
Nebraska Cornhuskers
6'7" / 221
Forward
60. Braden Frager, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, Nebraska
2025-26: 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 48.7 FG%, 35.2 3FG%
Frager was crowned Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman. He will join Fred Hoiberg’s starting lineup this season and is expected to make a sophomore leap. “He is a very, very gifted offensive player — as talented as anybody we’ve got, especially for a guy his age,” Hoiberg told Hoops HQ in September. “Now it’s about becoming that consistent two-way guy you’re always going to be able to rely on on the defensive end. He’s done a good job with that. He’s accepted the challenge.”
Joshua Dent
Saint Mary's Gaels
6'3" / 190
Guard
59. Joshua Dent, 6-foot-3 junior guard, Saint Mary’s
2025-26: 13.2 points, 5.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 46.7 FG%, 40.4 3FG%
Dent took over as the Gaels’ starting point guard last season and thrived, earning First Team All-WCC honors. He opted to stay with the program despite Randy Bennett’s departure for Arizona State, which is the main reason why Saint Mary’s is projected to win the league. The sharpshooting guard will have to carry a heavier burden offensively with leading scorers Paulius Murauskas and Mikey Lewis gone.
Trent Perry
UCLA Bruins
6'4" / 195
Guard
58. Trent Perry, 6-foot-4 junior guard, UCLA
2025-26: 12.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 39.2 3FG%
After a highly productive sophomore campaign, Perry is UCLA’s key returnee in the backcourt. He will run the show alongside two promising newcomers in Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty and international star Nikola Kusturica. With more on-ball opportunities, a strong supporting cast and experience in Mick Cronin’s system, expect Perry to be among the best guards in the Big Ten.
Paul McNeil Jr.
NC State Wolfpack
6'6" / 190
Guard
57. Paul McNeil Jr., 6-foot-6 junior guard, NC State
2025-26: 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 42.7 3FG%
One of the nation’s best shooters, McNeil knocked down 105 three-pointers for the Wolfpack in 2025-26, tied for the most in a single season in program history. His 42.7 three-point percentage led the ACC. In a win over Texas Southern on Dec. 17, the junior wing erupted for a career-high 47 points on 12-of-18 shooting. He will have the ultimate green light on an NC State team with just one other returnee (redshirt freshman Zymicah Wilkins).
Cameron Williams
Duke Blue Devils
7'0" / 215
Forward
56. Cameron Williams, 7-foot freshman forward, Duke
2025-26: N/A
The highly touted Williams wrapped up his high school career ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2026, per the 247Sports Composite. He joins a crowded frontcourt in Durham but should have plenty of opportunities to showcase the two-way skill set that made him a priority for Jon Scheyer on the recruiting trail. “Cam possesses a unique set of tools you just don’t find very often,” Scheyer said. “At 7-feet with the ability to guard one through five, elite shooting range, ball-handling ability, and connective playmaking. Cam impacts the game in so many ways, but what excites us most is how coachable and intelligent he is.”
Sananda Fru
Marquette Golden Eagles
6'11" / 250
Forward
55. Sananda Fru, 6-foot-11 senior forward, Marquette
2025-26: 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 75.3 FG% (Louisville)
Shaka Smart has barely utilized the transfer portal during his tenure at Marquette, but he dove in this spring to get Fru, an experienced big man originally from Germany. At 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, Fru is an imposing presence in the paint who will help out tremendously on the glass (Marquette ranked 247th in rebounding last season). He also moves well for his size and should be on the receiving end of a lot of lobs from sophomore guard Nigel James Jr.
Amani Hansberry
Virginia Tech Hokies
6'8" / 240
Forward
54. Amani Hansberry, 6-foot-8 senior forward, Virginia Tech
2025-26: 14.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, 49.2 FG%, 35.4 3FG%
Hansberry flew under the radar in 2025-26, mainly because Virginia Tech stumbled to an 11th-place finish in the ACC and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. Still, the big man stuffed the stat sheet in his first year under Mike Young, averaging career highs across the board. The Hokies should be better this season, which should put more of a spotlight on their emerging star.
Matas Vokietaitis
Texas Longhorns
7'0" / 255
Center
53. Matas Vokietaitis, 7-foot junior center, Texas
2025-26: 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 61.9 FG%
Many fans were introduced to Vokietaitis during the first round of the NCAA Tournament, when he put up 23 points and 16 rebounds in an upset win over AJ Dybantsa and BYU. The Lithuanian big man was a dominant force inside for the Longhorns all season long. While the additions of TCU transfer David Punch and five-star freshman Marcus Spears Jr. may lighten his load a bit, Vokietaitis will still be the primary enforcer for a Texas team with national title aspirations.
Xavier Edmonds
TCU Horned Frogs
6'8" / 252
Forward
52. Xavier Edmonds, 6-foot-8 senior forward, TCU
2025-26: 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 57.0 FG%, 43.6 3FG%
Two years ago, Edmonds was hooping at Salt Lake Community College. Now he’s the unquestioned centerpiece of TCU and one of the best big men in all of Division I. He ended last season on a high note, registering 11 double-doubles during Big 12 play (first in the conference) and scoring in double figures in 14 of his last 17 games. With David Punch gone, Edmonds will take on more responsibility for the Horned Frogs this year.
Ivan Kharchenkov
Arizona Wildcats
6'7" / 230
Forward
51. Ivan Kharchenkov, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, Arizona
2025-26: 10.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 49.2 FG%
A native of Germany, Kharchenkov was in FC Bayern Munich’s system for eight years before joining the Wildcats, so he was more than ready to contribute from day one. In fact, he became just the fifth freshman ever to record a double-double in his Arizona debut (12 points, 10 rebounds against Florida). Kharchenkov went on to start all 39 games for a historically dominant AU team. With a year of college hoops under his belt, he is poised for a big sophomore season.
Andrej Stojakovic
Illinois Fighting Illini
6'7" / 205
Guard
50. Andrej Stojakovic, 6-foot-7 senior guard, Illinois
2025-26: 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 50 FG%
Stojakovic, the son of former NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic, bounced from Stanford (2023-24) to Cal (2024-25) to Illinois, where he became a major piece of a Final Four squad. Andrej’s positional size, versatility and fearlessness attacking the basket made him an excellent fit in Brad Underwood’s system. To ascend a level and boost his NBA Draft stock, the rising senior will have to shoot it better from behind the arc this season (24.4 percent in 2025-26). If he becomes a more complete offensive weapon, the Illini could very well find themselves back on college basketball’s biggest stage.
Dedan Thomas Jr.
Houston Cougars
6'1" / 180
Guard
49. Dedan Thomas Jr., 6-foot-1 senior guard, Houston
2025-26 (16 games): 15.3 points, 6.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 45.9 FG% (LSU)
After transferring from UNLV to LSU in 2025, Thomas saw his junior campaign cut short by a foot injury. A hard-nosed, unselfish floor general who plays with tremendous poise, Thomas makes perfect sense on a Houston team that lost Kingston Flemings and Milos Uzan this offseason. “Our point guard position has been the strength of our program. We have never not had a great point guard. Now, we slide to Dedan Thomas Jr., and we will just keep going,” Kelvin Sampson said. “DJ is a point guard’s point guard. He can manage the game, and he understands the game at a freakishly high level.”
Davis Fogle
Gonzaga Bulldogs
6'7" / 200
Guard
48. Davis Fogle, 6-foot-7 sophomore guard, Gonzaga
2025-26: 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 51.8 FG%, 35 3FG%
Scroll through any list of sophomore breakout candidates (including this one from Hoops HQ) and you’re bound to see Fogle’s name. He was a major spark off the bench for the Bulldogs last season, earning WCC All-Freshman honors. His playing time increased following the injury to Braden Huff in January, and Fogle took full advantage. Given his high motor and two-way versatility, the jumbo wing should put up impressive numbers in a heightened role.
Shelton Henderson
Miami Hurricanes
6'6" / 239
Forward
47. Shelton Henderson, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward, Miami
2025-26: 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 56.7 FG%
The last time we saw Henderson, he registered 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in a round-of-32 clash with Purdue. The former five-star prospect started all 35 games as a freshman, helping the Hurricanes go 26-9 and place third in the ACC. His size, physicality and athleticism make him extremely difficult to stop when attacking the basket. Henderson needs to take a step up as a shooter, but that should be easier given the abundance of offensive weapons on Miami’s 2026-27 roster.
Coen Carr
Michigan State Spartans
6'6" / 230
Forward
46. Coen Carr, 6-foot-6 senior forward, Michigan State
2025-26: 12.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 51.8 FG%
A high-flying, rim-rocking forward, Carr is the best show in college basketball. The explosive big man is good for at least one momentum-changing, jaw-dropping highlight per week. But he isn’t just a dunker. Carr has improved his all-around game every year under Tom Izzo, while developing exceptional chemistry with junior point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. He was the Spartans’ leading scorer in the NCAA Tournament (17 points per game) and could be in the 2026-27 campaign.
Amari Allen
Alabama Crimson Tide
6'8" / 212
Forward
45. Amari Allen, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward, Alabama
2025-26: 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 44.6 FG%, 34.1 3FG%
The Tide are counting on Allen to make the jump from elite role player to star this season. As a freshman, the versatile forward had multiple games of 20-plus points and ranked sixth in the SEC in rebounds. He was one of just three underclassmen who earned preseason All-SEC honors (Kentucky’s Malachi Moreno and Arkansas’ Jordan Smith Jr. were the other two). Look for Allen and senior guard Aden Holloway to assume control of Alabama’s high-powered offense.
Isaiah Johnson
Texas Longhorns
6'2" / 182
Guard
44. Isaiah Johnson, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard, Texas
2025-26: 16.9 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 48.6 FG%, 37.8 3FG% (Colorado)
Johnson arrived at Colorado as the No. 294-ranked prospect in the Class of 2025, per the 247Sports Composite. Less than a year later, when he decided to enter the portal, he was one of the most sought-after players in the country. The smooth guard broke the Buffaloes’ freshman scoring record (540 total points), reaching double figures in 29 of 32 games. Now he’s assuming the reins of a Texas team with the firepower to contend for an SEC title.
Acaden Lewis
Miami Hurricanes
6'2" / 182
Guard
43. Acaden Lewis, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard, Miami
2025-26: 12.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 45.6 FG% (Villanova)
Upon signing Lewis in mid-April, Jai Lucas described his new floor general perfectly: “Acaden is a true point guard who makes everyone around him better.” In one season at Villanova, Lewis set the program freshman records for assists (176) and steals (63), and became the first Wildcat to average at least 5.3 assists per game since 1998-99. At Miami, he has two elite pick-and-roll partners in center Somto Cyril and forward Malik Reneau (pending eligibility).
Tahaad Pettiford
Auburn Tigers
6'1" / 180
Guard
42. Tahaad Pettiford, 6-foot-1 junior guard, Auburn
2025-26: 15.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 39.3 FG%
After helping Auburn reach the Final Four as a freshman, Pettiford had a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. As the program’s centerpiece, he averaged more points but was highly inefficient. The Tigers finished 22-16 (7-11 in the SEC), missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. Pettiford is primed for a major bounceback year, and has the talent, experience and opportunity to be among the top offensive weapons in the country.
Nigel James Jr.
Marquette Golden Eagles
6'0" / 195
Guard
41. Nigel James Jr., 6-foot sophomore guard, Marquette
2025-26: 16.4 points, 4.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 47 FG%, 34.7 3FG%
A former four-star prospect, James exceeded expectations in his first season at Marquette, earning All-Big East Third Team honors. The talented floor general was one of just two freshmen in the nation to average at least 19 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds in league games (Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. was the other). The Golden Eagles have a better supporting cast this year, including the aforementioned Sananda Fru (No. 55 on this list), so expect James to level up and contend for Big East Player of the Year honors.
Meet your guide
