Big East basketball has always had some of the most underrated players in the country. This year is no exception.
1. Nigel James Jr., Marquette
2025-26 stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG
Is there a chance Nigel James Jr. becomes a legitimate contender for National Player of the Year? Marquette has been getting some buzz, and with their star freshman back, rightfully so. Obviously, the Golden Eagles weren’t great last season, but James began to create some hype about the future. He was one of the best freshmen in the country, proving it as a scorer, a playmaker, and a defender. Now he’s back, and the sky is the limit.
2. Tounde Yessoufou, St. John’s
2025-26 stats: 17.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 2.0 SPG (Baylor)
Baylor had a very down year last season, but when you’re posting the line that Yessoufou had for a Power Five school, you can practically throw that out the window. Plus, he did all of that damage with a very low-percentage three-point shot. If that improves under Rick Pitino at St. John’s he could be virtually unguardable. And yes, with the 2.0 SPG, he’s set to be a top-notch defender in the league as well.
3. Keyshawn Hall, St. John’s
2025-26 stats: 19.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, 37.9 3P% (Auburn)
Hall’s eligibility is in limbo but if he plays, would form one of, if not the best duo in all of college hoops with Yessoufou. Obviously, Hall was Auburn’s star last season, as one of the best scorers in the SEC. He would be on his fifth team in five years, which would be cause for concern, had he not done this at practically every place he’s played for. There’s no reason to think that wouldn’t hold with the Red Storm and his Hall of Fame coach.
4. Silas Demary Jr., UConn
2025-26 stats: 10.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 38.5 3P%
With one year under his belt at UConn, Demary is hoping to explode onto the scene for his senior season. Playing point guard for Dan Hurley is not for the faint of heart, and he proved he was worthy of that job last season. Now, Demary is out to dominate and be the top dog on the Huskies and in Big East basketball.
5. Braylon Mullins, UConn
2025-26 stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 SPG
I’m a lot higher on Mullins than most, which is interesting, because he arguably lived up to his freshman expectations and even then some. It’s tough to earn minutes on Dan Hurley’s UConn teams, no matter how high you’re rated coming out of high school, yet Mullins quickly became one of the Huskies’ top players and a true NBA prospect. Now he’s back, and with his three-point range and high basketball IQ, it should have the rest of Big East basketball on notice.
6. Miles Byrd, Providence
2025-26 stats: 10.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 1.2 BPG (San Diego State)
If you’re just a stat-watcher, you won’t understand Byrd’s abilities. He was a true do-it-all guy for San Diego State, and it’s tough to be much of a scorer in Brian Dutcher’s system. Yet Byrd proved to be a guy the Aztecs could trust in nearly every department of the game. Now, he gets to play under an up-and-coming head coach in Bryan Hodgson who has had success with guards. That pairing seems elite for some improvements on offense. Defensively, you could make the case for Byrd being the top guy in the Big East, as someone who can guard 1 through 4.
7. Sananda Fru, Marquette
2025-26 stats: 9.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.4 BPG, 75.3 FG% (Louisville)
Obviously, Nigel James Jr. is the number one reason to love Marquette this year, but Sananda Fru is also right there. He showed so much potential as a freshman at Louisville. Fru was practically automatic inside and really affected things defensively with 2.6 blocks per 40 minutes. Now, he heads to a Shaka Smart-coached team where defense is the number one most important thing. Fru should rival Byrd as the Big East’s top defender.
8. Tyler Perkins, Villanova
2025-26 stats: 13.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 36.9 3P%
There are so many great guards in Big East basketball, and you can’t forget about Tyler Perkins. He put together an outstanding sophomore season at Villanova, leading the team in PPG and finishing second in RPG. With Acaden Lewis gone to Miami (Fla), it opens the floor for Perkins to be even more dominant on the offensive end, although now sharing it with Devin Royal. Still, the Nova guard should be one of the best in the conference and in for a big senior year with the Wildcats.
9. Tru Washington, Xavier
2025-26 stats: 11.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 35.2 3P% (Miami-Fla)
Coming over from the Hurricanes, what is Tru Washington’s ceiling at Xavier? While he will be playing alongside other great scoring guards in Chance Westry and Ruben Dominguez, you have to figure that Washington will be the leader of that pack, after performing well for one of the best teams in the ACC a season ago. Xavier is also coming off a rough year, so Washington will be looking to both star and put the Musketeers back on the map. And as a two-way player, he’s got the potential to do so in a very big way.
10. Jasen Green, Creighton
2025-26 stats: 10.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 54.4 FG%, 35.1 3P%
Creighton doesn’t have just one guy – it will be by committee. However, Green showed he could be the team’s go-to option, at the very least. After two seasons working his way up the rotation, Green finally turned into a starter and showed his worth, finishing fourth on the team in PPG, first in RPG, second in APG, and third in FG%. All of those guys ahead are no longer on the Bluejays, which opens the door for Green to be the leader across those statlines and in the locker room. Plus, he’s a reliable three-point shooter, which is pretty much a requirement to play at Creighton.
11. Devin Royal, Villanova
2025-26 stats: 13.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.6 APG (Ohio State)
Perkins might be a pick to do big things in his senior year, but Devin Royal will be his perfect sidekick. As an undersized forward, Royal is a gritty player who should fit Kevin Willard’s defensive approach, but also be a willing scorer. I don’t want to draw a comparison to a legend in Bonzie Colson, but with Royal’s physical traits, he could turn into a very tough player to guard, especially with some great offensive talent surrounding him.
12. Najai Hines, UConn
2025-26 stats: 6.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, 2.2 BPG, 60.2 FG% (Seton Hall)
Could Hines be the breakout star UConn is hoping for? Nicknamed “Baby Shaq,” he showed loads of potential for Seton Hall, specifically on the defensive end with 2.2 BPG. But Hines only played 18 minutes per game, so with more conditioning and the tutielege of UConn’s staff, could we see a monster 3 BPG line in his sophomore season? I’d say that’s a good bet. Offensively, Hines also showed potential, but definitely needs work there to become more comfortable with the ball in his hands. If Hurley and co can work their magic, it gives UConn a terrifying big three.
13. Layden Blocker, DePaul
2025-26 stats: 11.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.6 SPG
Could Layden Blocker be poised for a huge jump in production? Stock is UP on DePaul after a .500 record and going 8-12 in the Big East, and Blocker was a key cog in it all. Expect the Blue Demons’ top returning player to fit right in the conversation of the best guards in Big East basketball. What a time to be a Blue Demons fan!
14. Wes Enis, Creighton
2025-26 stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 35.2 3P% (South Florida)
Speaking of Hodgson, his former guard at South Florida now finds himself at Creighton. Enis dazzled at South Florida and that included some big games against Alabama, Oklahoma State, and Colorado State. He may have been shut down by Louisville, but I fully believe Enis will adjust just fine from the American to the Big East and be one of the top guards in the conference.
15. Kwame Evans Jr., Villanova
2025-26 stats: 13.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.0 SPG (Oregon)
What’s the verdict on Evans, who put up some outstanding numbers across the board but did it for an Oregon team that won just a dozen games in 2025-26? I’m obviously cautious, but also love the versatality and heads-up play Evans brings on both sides of the floor. With a seasoned guard in Perkins and a tough small forward in Royal, it allows Evans to free up and play his game, which is truly a little bit of everything, from outside the arc to inside. I also love the pairing with Kevin Willard, who has had lots of success with lefties.
16. Adrien Stevens, Marquette
2025-26 stats: 7.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.5 3P%
Stevens is my choice for most improved player in Big East basketball. As a freshman, he was clearly overshadowed by Nigel James, but still got his own, becoming a key rotation player and a knockdown three-point shooter. Now he heads into his sophomore season forming one of the best backcourts in the Big East alongside the best player in the conference. But he isn’t just a Robin. Sure, James is Marquette’s Batman, but Stevens has the potential to grow into a top player in this conference in his own right. He reached double figures in scoring once in his first 21 games and then in six of his next 11 contests. If that doesn’t scream potential to have a breakout year, I’m not sure what does.
17. Malik Mack, Providence
2025-26 stats: 13.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.1 APG (Georgetown)
After putting together one of the greatest seasons by a freshman in Ivy League history, Malik Mack didn’t necessarily become the star guard Georgetown had hoped for. Make no mistake, he’s a scorer and a playmaker, but just not at the level the Hoyas may have foreseen. Things could change at Providence, as Mack will be coached by a PG-friendly guy in Bryan Hodgson. With a defensive guy in Byrd already on this team, it certainly alleviates those stresses from Mack and could help settle him down on his third team in four seasons.
18. Chance Westry, Xavier
2025-26 stats: 15.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG (UAB)
You just have to feel great for a guy in Chance Westry, who, after some injury-filled years at Auburn and Syracuse, finally got his CHANCE at UAB. Westry starred as one of the best players in the American, proving his value as an elite Power Five guard. Richard Pitino took a chance, and now Westry will be part of a Xavier backcourt that figures to compete near the top half of the conference. With Tru Washington also in the backcourt and Ruben Dominguez on the wing, it should allow Westry to comfortably fit in without needing to do too much.
19. Royce Parham, Marquette
2025-26 stats: 12.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.9 APG, 52.2 FG%
For me, this Marquette team will be a combination of James Jr., Fru, and the emergence of Stevens as its main trio. But somehow, that leaves out Parham, the team’s starting power forward, who gives the Golden Eagles another player who makes Marquette a matchup nightmare. He rose onto the scene as a sophomore, doubling his PPG. That could slow down a bit on a team with so many options, but what won’t slow down is his ability to play outside-in and shoot efficiently from inside the arc.
20. NJ Benson, Georgetown
2025-26 stats: 11.7 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 63.6 FG% (DePaul)
Benson was a big reason for the resurgence of DePaul basketball in 2025-26 and now looks to star under Ed Cooley at Georgetown. He’s hoping to be eligible for a fifth season, and if he is, he would clearly be a high-end forward in Big East basketball. The question isn’t his talent, but at what level he will be under Cooley. Benson is an elite rebounder and an efficient offensive player, but was the situation at DePaul better than what he’s going to at GTown?
21. Oswin Erhunmwunse, Creighton
2025-26 stats: 6.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 0.8 APG, 2.1 BPG, 67.3 FG% (Providence)
After dominating defensively at Providence, Erhunmwunse heads to Creighton, looking to do the same. Much like Hines at UConn, he transfers within conference and hopes to continue his shot-blocking in new colors. Although Erhunmwunse has already played two seasons in college and averaged about 25 MPG last season, so he’s much closer to what his full potential in college basketball will be. It’s still very elite in this conference, but the upside just isn’t as much as a rising sophomore like Hines.
22. Ruben Dominguez, Xavier
2025-26 stats: 10.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 40.0 3P% (Texas A&M)
Dominguez might be a one-trick pony, but he’s one of the best in Big East basketball. Shooting threes at a 40% clip, he now pairs with Westry and Washington, helping to form an outstanding guard/wing trio for the Musketeers. And we aren’t just talking about a good three-point shooter, but someone who hit 10 threes in a game against Manhattan. When he catches fire, you almost can’t do anything to slow him down, and with some great guards there to attack the rim, he could find himself with lots of chances to up the ante.
23. Vincent Iwuchukwu, Georgetown
2025-26 stats: 11.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 0.5 APG, 54.9 FG%
Iwuchukwu’s performance this year will largely be dependent on whether or not Benson is able to play. If they share the court, it should help each other inside, but also somewhat cancel some production out. If Benson isn’t good to go, Iwuchukwu suddenly becomes the main guy inside and will be counted on to be an elite rebounder and post player. He’s flashed throughout the years, but hasn’t shown he can be as dominant as some of the other big men on this list.
24. Ian Jackson, St. John’s
2025-26 stats: 9.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.3 APG
What will Ian Jackson’s role really look like on a St. John’s team with so much great talent? On one hand, it should help a junior guard who was once one of the top recruits in the country. Playing with great talent usually helps talent hoping to emerge, and Jackson certainly has the potential to be a key player on this Red Storm team. He may not be one of the go-to options, but his presence will be felt.
25. Nolan Minessale, Marquette
2025-26 stats: 19.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 50.6 FG% (St. Thomas)
One last Marquette guy to get to! Transferring from a low mid-major conference to a Power Five school usually doesn’t work out in big doses, but this has to be different for Minessale, right? After all, he’s an elite AND efficient scorer, coming over from a program used to winning, and has so much other talent around him that he may legitimately be the fifth scoring option on this team. He won’t need to lead Marquette in scoring, but he’s just another guy who can drop 15-20 points on any given night.