Final Four Player Rankings: Is Illinois’ Keaton Wagler the Top Star Remaining?

The college basketball season was dominated by a historically gifted – and deep – class of first-year players. But as tends to be the case in March, those players were slowly knocked out of the field by older, more seasoned stars and teams. Experience nearly always wins in the NCAA Tournament – evident in our Final Four player power rankings below (although two freshmen did manage to stick around). Without further ado:

Final Four player power rankings: Top five

Michigan center Aday Mara (15) yells in triumph during a NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game against Tennessee at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 5 Aday Mara, Michigan

Offense is often the category given the most weight in these sorts of exercises, but Aday Mara – who, not for nothing, is a solid contributor on that end – does most of his work on the other side of the floor. And it is excellent work. His 2.6 blocks per game don’t do Mara justice as a defender. With his 7-foot-3 frame and superb awareness, he deters guards from even attempting to drive inside. And even bigs rarely try to put anything up in his vicinity.For his size, he’s also shockingly sound when switched on to guards, using his length to give himself a cushion and often working back into the play to reject a shot if beaten.

Offensively, his touch is unfathomably soft, and if he gets to his spot, it’s an automatic deuce. Between Mara’s scoring ability with his back to the basket and his severely underrated passing, Michigan’s best offense is often just dumping it into Mara in the post.

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No. 4 Brayden Burries, Arizona

Mar 28, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) celebrates in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers during an Elite Eight game of the West Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Freshman Brayden Burries, who shares backcourt…

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Publish date : 2026-04-01 02:20:00

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