At the beginning of the season, I ranked the top five players at each position in college basketball. Now, as we stand here in January, it’s time to update the list for the midseason edition.
Point Guards
1. Braden Smith, Purdue
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 14.5 PPG, 9.1 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 42.7 3P%
Not only is Braden Smith leading the nation in assists per game, but he’s also shooting the ball the best he’s had in terms of pure volume and efficiency. The Purdue legend – and yes I mean that – is still on track to pass Bobby Hurley and become the all-time college basketball leader in assists sometime in March.
2. Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 20.2 PPG, 7.4 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 45.3 3P%
I’m not sure how Anderson has the time during each game to dish out over seven assists per game and still drop over 20 points, but he’s found the perfect balance of scoring and facilitating. Plus, when you have JT Toppin, things become even easier. But that’s no shot at Anderson, who has risen onto the scene and is here to stay.
3. Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 13.2 PPG, 8.4 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG
Fears may not be the biggest three-point shooting threat for the Spartans, but he’s found a way to score in other ways, and his playmaking is what’s got the train rolling along in East Lansing. The junior would be the best guard in the Big Ten if it weren’t for Braden Smith.
4. Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 20.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 56.5 FG%, 41.4 3P%
A point guard who is shooting better than 56% from the field? Yeah, that’s what you get in the physical Thornton, who is also a three-point threat and playmaker when he has to be. For this Ohio State team, Thornton really does need to score a lot, but make no mistake – he’s still a point guard when he needs to be.
5. Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 19.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 2.9 RPG, 41.0 3P%
The best freshman point guard in college basketball plays for John Calipari. Should that really come as a surprise? Acuff has taken over games offensively and is clearly an NBA-ready guard. But even for how seasoned of a scorer he is, he’s also a playmaker, and that’s what has somewhat gone under the radar.
Shooting Guards
1. Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Stats as of Jan. 23: 10 GP, 21.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 42.0 3P%
When he’s on the court, Darryn Peterson is the best player in college basketball – bar none. Through 10 games, he’s dominated as a scorer, and it doesn’t matter who the competition is. Peterson has made at least two threes in every game he’s played so far, and he rarely turns the ball over. It’s rare to see a freshman so in control, but he’s that type of talent.
2. Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
Stats as of Jan. 23: 17 GP, 22.0 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 53.4 FG%, 38.0 3P%
Philon is truly a point guard, but because of his combo-guard traits, I’m listing him as a shooting guard. Also, I would feel awful to have him any worse than third on a loaded point guard list, hence putting him at second in college basketball as a shooting guard. With all that being said, he’s the deadliest scorer in the SEC and the perfect player for Nate Oats’s system.
3. Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
Stats as of Jan. 23: 17 GP, 22.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 SPG
Who knew Stanford would have such a player in 2025-26? Yeah, Ebuka Okorie has been a very pleasant surprise. The 119th-ranked recruit per 247Sports Composite is playing like a top five freshman in college basketball. If Stanford makes the NCAA Tournament, you can thank him first and foremost, because no one in the ACC has been able to slow him down.
4. PJ Haggerty, Kansas State
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 23.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 36.6 3P%
Speaking about not being able to slow a player down, the Big 12 has its hands full with PJ Haggerty this year. Kansas State might not be very good, but Haggerty is an all-world talent and has shown that, at third in the country in scoring.
5. Dior Johnson, Tarleton State
Stats as of Jan. 23: 16 GP, 23.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 54.7 FG%, 56.4 3P%
Tied for the leading scorer in college basketball is none other than Dior Johnson. Sure, he had a rocky start to his collegiate career, but that seems past him now, and he’s getting past anyone in his way on his way to the bucket. And that three-point percentage? I know he only attempts a couple per game, but that’s plain remarkable.
Small Forwards
1. AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 22.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 54.7 FG%
In one of the deepest drafts in recent memory, AJ Dybantsa is looking like a great choice to go first overall. His three-point shot needs a little bit of work, but other than that, he can score efficiently anywhere on the court, can plow over smaller defenders, is quicker than bigger defenders, and has all of the tools to shake the top defenders he goes up against. Yeah, have fun while you have him, BYU.
2. Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 18.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 54.5 FG%, 54.0 3P%
Momcilovic has to be one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time, right? He’s hitting 54% of his shots, and unlike Dior Johnson, is a volume shooter at 7.3 3PA per game. Iowa State has a championship-winning roster, and Momcilovic is reason number one or two why.
3. Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 17.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 41.8 3P%
Nebrasketball feels like a fever dream, and I hope it never ends. So, I’m giving Pryce Sandfort a big ‘thank you’ for giving college basketball fans everywhere the joy of following the Cornhuskers. He’s not the only Nebraska player on this list, but he sure is part of the duo that makes them go.
4. Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 14.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 51.3 FG%
Peja’s kid has some game! On a loaded roster, Andrej Stojakovic is a great scorer and is doing so with some of his worst efficiency from deep as a college basketball player. Luckily, he’s one of the top slashers in the country, but if he ever figures it out and starts canning his threes, he could lead Illinois to great distances this March.
5. Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 23.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 55.1 FG%, 52.1 3P%
Tied with Dior Johnson for the country’s leading scorer is Nick Martinelli. And did you know both players are on teams that have purple in their colors? That’s just a fact I found cool! For Martinelli, I’m sure he thinks it’s cool putting up these numbers on extreme efficiency, but the Wildcats have had a hard time turning it into wins.
Power Forwards
1. Cameron Boozer, Duke
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 23.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 58.6 FG%, 37.7 3P%
Right there with Dybantsa and Peterson as the potential top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is Cameron Boozer. Like Dybantsa, he can score in a multitude of ways, and like Peterson, he’s a threat from outside. Boozer will only be a one-and-done, but he can still cement his legacy as one of the greatest to put on a Duke jersey if he leads them to a National Title.
2. JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 21.6 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.8 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 56.7 FG%
Toppin’s numbers are eye-popping – nearly 22 points per game in a double-double for someone who isn’t even a true center. Yeah – the power forward is an outstanding athlete and brings energy on both ends of the court. Paired with Christian Anderson, it might be the best duo in college hoops.
3. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 14.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.4 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 51.2 FG%
Like Toppin, Lendeborg is another great two-way player. He’s not the same type of player and is definitely more of an outside threat, which is helping his NBA Draft stock. Michigan has a massive disposal of big men, and Lendeborg is the top one.
4. Caleb Wilson, UNC
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 19.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 BPG, 58.4 FG%
Caleb Wilson has kind of fallen under the radar, but mostly due to the Tar Heels’ struggles and not his game. Wilson will need to find a three-point shot in the NBA, but he’s got the rest done, and could create his own poster-making company if he wanted to. If you’re a defender and he’s in the area – watch out!
5. Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 17.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 35.8 3P%
Before I get to Jefferson’s game – imagine if he had stayed at Saint Mary’s. The Gaels would have actual National Championship aspirations. So if you’re an Iowa State fan, feel grateful he transferred to Ames! Jefferson is a triple-double waiting to happen (he’s got two of them this year), and sort of the machine that helps turn Iowa State on into full gear.
Centers
1. Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
Stats as of Jan. 23: 14 GP, 14.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.1 BPG, 1.2 APG, 60.7 FG%
If you watch UConn games, you understand that without Tarris Reed, they are a second-weekend team at best. With Tarris Reed, the Huskies are a Final Four contender. He’s a man amongst boys, and on a team with a lot of talent, he’s the x-factor.
2. Rienk Mast, Nebraska
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 14.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.9 APG
Mast didn’t play all of last year because of an injury, and I’m so glad he’s healthy now. The big man has so much skill and, like Joshua Jefferson, is a triple-double threat on the floor. Pairing him with Pryce Sandfort was a cheat code in retrospect.
3. Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Stats as of Jan. 23: 19 GP, 14.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.7 BPG, 65.9 FG%
Bidunga isn’t going to touch a three-point shot even in a video game, but that’s okay, because he’s a complete handful inside the paint. Offensively and defensively, you’d better get your weight up if you go against him.
4. Graham Ike, Gonzaga
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 18.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.7 APG, 55.5 FG%
Ike is averaging career-highs across the board (at Gonzaga) and is really soaking in his last year of college basketball. Gonzaga’s right there in the mix again, and Ike is the first reason why that’s the case.
5. Aday Mara, Michigan
Stats as of Jan. 23: 18 GP, 10.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.6 BPG, 67.5 FG%
Aday Mara has seen some of the most growth of any player in college basketball. His overall scoring still needs some work, but around the rim, he’s a cheat code, and defensively, he’s a shot swatter. Good luck going in the paint on the Wolverines.