The 12 best players that will define the 2026-27 college basketball season

The 12 best players that will define the 2026-27 college basketball season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The college basketball offseason was effectively a nightmare, with eligibility battles continuing right up to tip-off, but there is no doubt the talent level across the country is enormously high.

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Between fifth-year players taking advantage of the NCAA’s new eligibility rules and talented players who returned for NIL paydays rather than jumping to the NBA, there are a number of big names with major aspirations in 2026-27.

There are also a slew of breakout players ready to emerge. Some are obvious, while others will make themselves known as the season plays out.

Here are 12 players who will define the 2026-27 college basketball season, from experienced veterans to a 17-year-old freshman.

MORE:SN’s preseason Top 25 rankings

Thomas Haugh, Florida

Haugh was one of many Florida standouts to pass on the NBA and return for another season in Gainesville, but he is the centerpiece for the Gators. A likely first-round pick in 2027, Haugh averaged 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season, developing from a weapon off the bench into the focal point of the nation’s most talented frontcourt. Florida’s national championship hopes hinge on Haugh continuing to play like a star.

Tyler Tanner

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Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt

The biggest win for any program when the NBA Draft deadline passed in late May was Tanner’s return to Vanderbilt, which gave the Commodores one of the nation’s most prolific scorers for another season. What Vanderbilt can do around Tanner is a question, but the third-year guard was fearless last season with 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on 48.5 percent from the field. Vanderbilt might not be the SEC’s best team, but Tanner has a case to be the conference’s best player.

Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State

Tom Izzo has never had to fully embrace the…

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Publish date : 2026-11-10 10:20:00

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