Everyone loves a good one-and-done freshman. But how about some love for the guys who stayed another year in college hoops?
1. Nigel James Jr., Marquette
2025-26 stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG
If there’s one player in all of college basketball I’m excited to see this season – not just a list of sophomores – it’s James. Marquette’s star guard is the second coming of Ja Morant – a quick point guard who plays above the rim on the drive and creates havoc defensively. He’s every coach’s dream, and he’s a highlight machine. And after one year in the books, huge things are in store for the leader of the Golden Eagles.
2. David Mirkovic, Illinois
2025-26 stats: 13.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 37.5 3P%
Some players struggle to play within themselves. That is far from an issue for Mirkovic. The 6-foot-9 forward is a three-point threat, a tough guy to guard on the drive, and a handful in the paint. He’s got outside shot fakes, inside moves, and knows how to dribble-drive as a power forward. And now back for his sophomore year, he figures to be the go-to guy on this Illinois squad.
3. Shelton Henderson, Miami (Fla)
2025-26 stats: 13.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 56.7 FG%
When you talk about big, physical guard/forward combos, Henderson is arguably the best in college basketball. I’ve compared him to more guard-oriented Bonzi Colson – someone whose height doesn’t match his physicality. If Henderson can add a three-point shot to his game, he’ll be one of the most unstoppable players to guard in college basketball.
4. Tounde Yessoufou, St. John’s
2025-26 stats: 17.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 2.0 SPG (Baylor)
One of the best one-on-one offensive players in college basketball, Tounde Yessoufou transfers from Baylor to St. John’s, where he will be the lead guard under Rick Pitino. And much like Henderson, while Yessoufou’s height makes him a guard, his physicality allows him to do so much more on the basketball court. He loves working on guys in the mid-range, can step out and hit from three on occasion, and is a handful to guard on the drive. Now in a new system, it will be exciting to see how much more he develops under Pitino.
5. Braylon Mullins, UConn
2025-26 stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.0 SPG
Braylon Mullins owns one of the greatest shots in college basketball history, downing Duke on a long three-pointer to send UConn on to the Final Four. But now, he’ll look to be the most talented overall scorer on this Huskies roster after having to share the load as a freshman. Mullins has a quick shot and unlimited range, and has a crafty mid-range pull-up game. He needs to add some strength to get more consistent inside, and if he does, could truly be one of the best offensive talents in the game in 2026-27.
6. Isaiah Johnson, Texas
2025-26 stats: 16.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 37.8 3P% (Colorado)
Johnson is as smooth of a lefty as you can have and, despite being slightly built, knows how to finish through contact. But that’s just one part of his game. He leads in transition and is a very good three-point shooter, pretty much becoming Colorado’s best player as a freshman. Now he’ll get to pair up with some stars at Texas in David Punch and Matas Voketaitis, which should lead to some even better all-around play.
7. Amari Allen, Alabama
2025-26 stats: 11.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.0 SPG
Amari Allen has the potential to turn into a true superstar this season. When you find a way to become a key player on Alabama as a freshman and average the stats he did, you’ve got some great qualities. This year, it’s all out there for Allen to dominate, and he should be viewed as Bama’s best player. And staying with the theme of big guards, Allen truly has the qualities of a forward. He rebounds like one, drives like one, and bodies up with them. But he’s got tremendous dribble skills for a 6-foot-6 hybrid and is comfortable playing outside the perimeter. There’s just so much to like about the rising sophomore’s game.
8. Trey McKenney, Michigan
2025-26 stats: 9.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 39.1 3P%
With Michigan’s roster looking like a revolving door, Trey McKenney steps into a huge role as a sophomore. A lot of people may look to his ability to spot-up for threes, but McKenney is so much more than just that. McKenney can handle the ball, has underrated court vision, and isn’t prone to staying outside if his shot isn’t there. It would be nice to see him settle a bit less, but when you shoot 39.1% from deep as a freshman on a National Championship-winning team, you can’t fault him too much.
9. Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
2025-26 stats: 10.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 SPG
Just like Mirkovic, Ivan Kharchenkov plays within himself and is enough of an outside threat to keep opposing teams honest. He’s so comfortable spotting up from deep, you get the feeling he’ll have better numbers than his 31.7% mark last year. But Kharchenkov’s game is unique because of his finesse despite being labeled as a 6-foot-7 big man. It can look awkward at times, but he’s clearly got it under control. Now heading into his sophomore year and with a brand new Arizona team, Kharchenkov heads to a massive new role.
10. Najai Hines, UConn
2025-26 stats: 6.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, 2.2 BPG, 60.2 FG% (Seton Hall)
After watching UConn’s exhibition game against Syracuse, Hines looked like a new man both physically and on the court. At Seton Hall, he showed bursts of potential, but needed better conditioning and more offensive tools. In one offseason under Dan Hurley and co., Hines seems to have dropped weight and lost his clumsiness on offense. Pair that with an outstanding 2.2 blocks per game on the Pirates despite not even playing 20 minutes per game, and you’ve got one of the best two-way bigs in the country.
11. Acaden Lewis, Miami (Fla)
2025-26 stats: 12.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.9 SPG (Villanova)
I’m a little bit surprised Acaden Lewis didn’t stay at Villanova, because he fell into a perfect situation as a freshman. But he joined Miami and one heck of a roster there, so all is well for the rising sophomore. There may not have been a better playmaking freshman in college hoops last season. While Lewis would definitely get his own buckets, he always knew the correct pass to make and played with tremendous court vision. Now he’s got one of the best offensive groups around him in college basketball, and we could see Lewis as one of the top five point guards in the nation.
12. Amare Bynum, Ohio State
2025-26 stats: 9.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 50.6 FG%
It always seems like young college basketball players struggle at knowing how to go up strong inside and finish with authority. Amare Bynum does not struggle with that and can best be described as a rim-rattler. The Ohio State power forward doesn’t just command a physical defender – he invites it. Expect more of the same as a sophomore, and maybe a more fine-tuned game with a bit more finesse.
13. Chance Mallory, Virginia
2025-26 stats: 9.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.6 SPG
Virginia put a lot of trust in Chance Mallory, handing him the keys as a freshman. Now, the starting point guard returns to a Cavaliers team destined to do even better things in the ACC. The team runs through Mallory, who, as a smaller guard, is adept at getting open threes, passing with extraordinary court vision, and dribbling through defenders. He plays with poise, but also a lot of excitement, which is always fun to watch in a point guard.
14. Ace Glass III, Vanderbilt
2025-26 stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 36.4 3P% (Washington State)
You look at Ace Glass play, and you see someone who knows how to score and knows how to body up to defenders. Of course, that was at Washington State, so now that he’s in the SEC, his competition will be all the more stiffer. But for a player with range and physicality, he’ll be just fine in this role.
15. Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
2025-26 stats: 15.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 50.8 FG%
Coming off a First-Team All-ACC nod, De Ridder is looking for a second in as many seasons. He’s a big man – but he also has outstanding range and forces defenders to be ready to guard him all over the court. De Ridder is such a tough guard because he pairs nicely with Johann Grunloh, giving Virginia two big men to match up against. But offensively, De Ridder can find a bucket from outside, in the mid-range, and by driving to the bucket. He’s a handful to guard and should once again be a top scorer in ACC basketball.
16. Jake Hall, New Mexico
2025-26 stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 43.8 3P%
I don’t care what you think of Mountain West basketball. If Jake Hall was playing Power 5 hoops, he’d still be considered one of the best pure scorers in the game. When you watch him play, you just know he’s searching for buckets, and he’s going to find a way to get them. Hall is also unique because despite making nearly 44% of his threes a season ago, he doesn’t settle. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a huge part of his game, but if Hall sees another way to find a bucket, he’s going to take his chances doing that. The man just knows how to score.
17. Neo Avdalas, North Carolina
2025-26 stats: 12.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.6 APG (Virginia Tech)
Neo Avdalas plays with a lot of poise and patience. Sometimes, you actually wish he would play a little bit faster, but his game revolves around slowing things down and breaking down defenders with his smarts in scoring and playmaking. Now he’s with a new team, but also a new coach, Michael Malone. Avdalas has a very NBA-type game, and Malone is known for developing NBA talent, so the potential of an even better sophomore season is right there in front of Neo.
18. Braden Frager, Nebraska
2025-26 stats: 11.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 35.2 3P%
Braden Frager is a scorer, doing most of it on the catch-and-shoot, but a little bit off the dribble as well. I sense that part of his game is a little underrated, and as a sophomore, we could see Frager look to attack even more. He’ll have more chances, with a lot of Nebraska’s team gone from a season ago. Obviously, Pryce Sandfort is still there, but there’s no Rienk Mast anymore, and Frager seems to be the second option offensively for the Cornhuskers.
19. Malachi Moreno, Kentucky
2025-26 stats: 7.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.5 BPG, 58.2 FG%
Moreno’s numbers won’t jump off the stat sheet, but when you watch the tape, you see a freshman big man who already knew how to establish position offensively and run the court well. Plus, the footwork looked good. Defensively, he made a living inside, as the 7-footer blocks one and a half shots per game. Year two will be about Moreno commanding defenses and turning into a dominant big man. College basketball seems to be pretty guard-oriented right now, so Moreno could really be one of the 10 best bigs in the nation.
20. Roman Domon, Murray State
2025-26 stats: 14.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, 36.8 3P%
Domon is an electrifying player with a pretty uncanny release. But if it works to the extent it does with him, why bother fixing it? Last season, Domon shot nearly 37% from deep and was super crafty inside the arc, giving teams in the Missouri Valley Conference all sorts of trouble. Sure, it’s mid-major ball, but Murray State carries a certain amount of respect with a track record of producing some NBA talent like Ja Morant and Isaiah Cannan. Could Domon be next? He could be in for a big sophomore season after opting to return and run it back with the Racers.
21. Davis Fogle, Gonzaga
2025-26 stats: 8.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 51.8 FG%, 35.0 3P%
Fogle is an interesting player because he shot well from three last year but opted to pass that up and instead put the ball on the deck and drive. It made sense, because he was excellent at finishing inside the arc and in the paint, and he plays with so much energy; it’s just tough to slow him down. It also must have been tough, as he only got about six shots per game and saw the court just 17 minutes per game. That could nearly double, and the shot attempts and opportunities should as well. We could see Fogle take as big a leap as anyone in college basketball.
22. Stefan Vaaks, Illinois
2025-26 stats: 15.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 35.0 3P% (Providence)
Providence was not good last year, but Vaaks was a bright spot, shooting efficiently from three and honestly finding a way to score some very tough buckets through contact and defense. He’s a skilled guard who transferred to Illinois and shouldn’t face as much pressure, playing alongside a pretty established group featuring Mirkovic and Andrej Stojakovic. It’s tough to gauge his role after transferring up to a team with some good talent on it already, but Vaaks showed a lot of skill with the Friars that leads you to believe things will work out well with the Illini.
23. Larry Johnson, McNeese
2025-26 stats: 17.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.2 SPG
Larry Johnson was a flat-out STAR for McNeese, serving as one of the best freshmen in the nation. He found a way to average over 17 PPG per season despite shooting barely over 20% from deep. That’s a very impressive feat, but he will need to become more reliable from distance to continue improving. Even if Johnson can become a 30% shooter from outside, he could turn into one of the best scorers in the country.
24. Killyan Toure, Iowa State
2025-26 stats: 8.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.5 SPG
Killyan Toure has established himself as one of the best two-way players in the Big 12. This season, it’s about turning into a more established offensive threat. We know the impact he can make on the defensive side, and we saw potential on offense, but can Toure become a solid 12-13 PPG type of guy? That’ll be the challenge for an already solid player.
25. Johann Grunloh, Virginia
2025-26 stats: 7.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 2.2 BPG, 53.3 FG%
Grunloh was a very raw player as a freshman, but showed huge potential both as a scorer and a shutdown defender. Actually, it’s tough to say the word ‘potential’ when you’re talking about a guy who averaged over 2 blocks per game as a freshman, but when you’re that early on in your basketball career, there’s still so much more in store. With Grunloh, it’ll be about honing in on the little things as a big man – footwork, establishing position, and bodying up with more physical bigs. Get those things down and Virginia’s ‘big three’ is looking very scary.