In each of the past two men’s college basketball seasons, the sport’s top individual honor — National Player of the Year — has gone to a Duke freshman: Cooper Flagg in 2025 and Cameron Boozer in 2026.
That streak is likely to be broken in 2027… but by whom?
Below are 10 candidates to claim the prestigious Wooden Award this season, including a returning All-American at Florida, a freshman phenom at Kansas, a high-profile transfer at Tennessee and more.
1. Thomas Haugh, 6-foot-9 senior forward, Florida
When Florida got upset in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, fans assumed they had seen the last of Thomas Haugh in an orange and blue uniform. But the All-American wing, who was projected as a first-round pick, opted to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to the Gators along with teammates Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. Based on his track record and UF’s high ceiling, Haugh should enter the 2026-27 campaign as one of the favorites to claim National Player of the Year.
After helping Florida win a national title as a sophomore, Haugh took a major leap last season, averaging 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. His surprising decision to stay in college vaulted the Gators to No. 2 on Hoops HQ’s Never-Too-Early Top 25. The do-it-all forward has made significant improvements every year of his career, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t reach another level this season. The biggest X-factor in his pursuit of the Wooden Award? Efficiency, particularly from behind the arc. Haugh connected on just 32.6 percent of his 5.2 three-point attempts per game in 2025-26.
2. Jeremy Fears Jr., 6-foot-2 junior guard, Michigan State
Like Haugh, Fears earned All-American honors last season, establishing himself as arguably the best floor general in college basketball. The 21-year-old led the country in assists per game (9.4), while also averaging 15.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals. He is poised to run the show again for a Michigan State team ranked No. 4 in Hoops HQ’s Never-Too-Early Top 25.
Fears is expected to repeat as assist champion, especially given the Spartans’ roster continuity. He has improved as a scorer but still shot just 43.1 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three in 2025-26. If those percentages increase markedly and MSU finishes atop the Big Ten, Fears will likely become the first guard since Villanova’s Jalen Brunson in 2018 to win NPOY.
3. John Blackwell, 6-foot-4 senior guard, Duke
Duke has produced three of the last eight Wooden Award winners: Zion Williamson (2019), Cooper Flagg (2025) and Cameron Boozer (2026). The program should have another major contender in the mix this season with Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell entering the picture.
As a junior with the Badgers, Blackwell averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists to earn All-Big Ten honors. He will be the go-to option on a Duke team ranked No. 1 in Hoops HQ’s Never-Too-Early Top 25. There’s no question that he has the talent to be among the nation’s top scorers, but production is likely to be spread out on a Blue Devils’ roster loaded with weapons. Still, Blackwell’s efficiency should increase and Duke should run the table in the ACC, keeping him in the NPOY hunt.
4. Tyler Tanner, 6-foot junior guard, Vanderbilt
Following a breakout sophomore year, Tanner tested the NBA Draft waters before ultimately recommitting to the Commodores. The lighting quick guard is coming off one of the best individual campaigns in Vanderbilt basketball history. He became just the second Commodore ever to score 700 points in a season and also set the program records for total assists (184) and steals (86), earning All-SEC First Team honors.
Tanner is expected to shatter those marks this season as he aims to lead Vanderbilt back to the NCAA Tournament. With considerable turnover (Tanner is one of only two returnees), the Commodores aren’t projected to finish in the top five in the SEC. If they embark on another magical run and contend for the conference title, it’ll be because of Tanner, and he’ll have as strong a case as anyone for the Wooden Award.
5. David Mirkovic, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, Illinois
It’s unclear whether Mirkovic will be ready for the start of the season after suffering a left foot injury that required surgery over the summer. But if his rehab remains on schedule, he shouldn’t miss much time.
A former pro in Montenegro, Mirkovic had an exceptional freshman campaign, averaging 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three. His workload should increase this year, as Illinois lost its top two playmakers in Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell. The program’s high octane offense will often run through Mirk, giving the big man ample opportunities to showcase his versatile skill set. Expect him to stuff the stat sheet on most nights and help lead the Illini, who landed at No. 5 in Hoops HQ’s Never-Too-Early Top 25, to a lot of victories.
6. Tyran Stokes, 6-foot-7 freshman forward, Kansas
The consensus No. 1 player in the Class of 2026, Stokes is the likeliest candidate to keep the streak of freshmen Wooden Award winners alive. As a senior at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, the dynamic forward averaged 31 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals to lead his team to a 29-1 record and a 3A state championship.
After overhauling their roster this offseason, the Jayhawks are counting on Stokes to carry a massive burden. It won’t be easy, but the 18-year-old has the opportunity, stage and talent to blossom into the biggest star in college basketball. “Tyran is as versatile a youngster that I’ve ever recruited,” coach Bill Self said. “He’s had far more exposure to basketball than most kids his age and will come in here with the ability to live up to the lofty expectations that will be placed on him by others.”
7. Caleb Holt, 6-foot-5 freshman wing, Arizona
Stokes isn’t the only freshman in the Big 12 with NPOY potential. A five-star out of powerhouse Prolific Prep in Florida, Holt is taking over as the centerpiece of an Arizona team with national title aspirations. The two-way wing dominated the Adidas 3SSB circuit last summer and wrapped up his high school career ranked No. 2 on the 247Sports Composite. He already has experience with coach Tommy Lloyd, having played for him on USA Basketball’s U19 squad. “He instilled a lot of confidence in me,” Holt told Hoops HQ’s Krysten Peek.
During the Wildcats’ summer tour in Lithuania, Holt struggled to find his shot but still put up impressive numbers, averaging 11.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals. His all-around production on a contending squad should make him a legitimate Wooden Award contender.
8. Juke Harris, 6-foot-7 junior guard, Tennessee
Rated as the No. 1 transfer by Hoops HQ and The Portal Report, Harris headlines a revamped Tennessee roster with a lot of firepower. The jumbo wing made a dramatic leap as a sophomore at Wake Forest, winning ACC Most Improved Player with averages of 21.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals. His 730 total points were the second most ever recorded by a Demon Deacon in a season.
The Vols are loaded with high-level scorers, so Harris probably won’t see major upticks in usage and shot attempts like some of the other players on this list. But the 21-year-old should have a much bigger audience this season, as UT is projected to be among the nation’s best teams. He could very well become the program’s first-ever NPOY if his squad rises to the top of the SEC.
9. Braylon Mullins, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, UConn
Had he declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, Mullins likely would have been picked in the first round. Instead, the gifted wing — and hero of UConn’s unforgettable Elite Eight win over Duke — decided to return to Storrs after almost winning a national title as a freshman. He started 29 of 33 games and averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists, earning Big East All-Freshman Team honors.
Without their three leading scorers from last season (Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. graduated, while Solo Ball was ruled out for the year with a wrist injury), the Huskies desperately need Mullins to step up. As the new focal point of Dan Hurley’s offense, the sophomore should see his numbers spike and his name mentioned in the NPOY race.
10. Flory Bidunga, 6-foot-9 junior forward, Louisville
There’s a ton of buzz surrounding Louisville heading into the 2026-27 campaign, as Pat Kelsey utilized a hefty NIL budget to assemble a stacked portal class. The program’s marquee signing was reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Flory Bidunga, who averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks at Kansas last season. The big man signed a seven-figure deal to fill the Cardinals’ glaring void in the frontcourt.
Louisville had one of the best offenses in college basketball in 2025-26, but the defense often faltered, ranking 136th nationally in points allowed per game. Bidunga was brought in to change that. His path to the Wooden Award depends on him turning the Cardinals into a defensive force and expanding his offensive repertoire to become a more well-rounded scorer.
Meet your guide
