Akron – Tavari Johnson
A two-time All-MAC selection, a top-30 scorer in the nation and one of the league’s top defensive talents, 5-foot-11 Tavari Johnson is as scrappy as they come. Not only did he lead Akron in points and assists this season, but he’s 118th in the country in true shooting percentage by KenPom’s metrics. Don’t underestimate Akron or Johnson because he and the Zips will get downhill or out on the fastbreak in a flash.
Cal Baptist – Dominique Daniels Jr.
If you aren’t already familiar with Dominique Daniels Jr., I suggest you learn because this is one of the most electric players in all of college basketball. Averaging 23.2 PPG, fifth most in the nation, Daniels led the Lancers to their first ever WAC Championship title and the program’s highest win total at the Division-I level. This is a Cal Baptist team that smothers opponents with the 50th most efficient defense in the nation while Daniels fuels the offensive engine.
Furman – Alex Wilkins
Alex Wilkins might only be a freshman, but this is one of the most dominant freshmen in all of mid-major college basketball. He finished All-SoCon Second Team in his first year of college. Dropped 34 points to lead Furman over UNC Greensboro in the semifinals of the conference championship and grabbed tournament MVP along the way. Meanwhile, he’s one of only a few freshmen nationally averaging more than 17.0 PPG and 4.5 APG.
Hawaii – Isaac Johnson
According to the Washington Post, Hawaii is actually the shortest state in the union with men averaging a height of 5-foot-9. Undoubtedly, that makes the 7-foot towering giant, Isaac Johnson, hard to miss on the Island of O’ahu. Averaging 14.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 1.1 BPG, he finished top-15 in the Big West in all three categories. Johnson is in the 98th percentile for player efficiency rating too and should be a real problem on the interior against Arkansas.
High Point – Terry Anderson
High Point absolutely steamrolled competition in the Big South on the way to the program’s first ever 30-win season, a conference championship title and a second NCAA Tournament appearance. Terry Anderson’s arrival from Lamar was a major reason why as he started 30 out of 34 games and scored double-digits in all but seven of them, including three times in the Big South Championship as Tournament MVP. Anderson is top-150 nationally in offensive rating by KenPom’s metrics and currently has the Panthers in the midst of a 14-game win streak, the longest in the nation.
Hofstra – Cruz Davis
After falling short of expectations in 2024-25, Cruz Davis returned to Hofstra and absolutely took over, leading the Pride to 20 wins and the programs first CAA Championship title ever. It’s a fairytale ending for Hofstra, alongside then assistant coach Speedy Claxton, who missed out on the NCAA in 2020 due to the nationwide pandemic. This might be a feel good story but Hofstra is far from an easy opponent with the Pride ranked top-100 in both offensive and defensive efficiency by KenPom’s metrics. While Davis, the CAA’s Player of the Year, chips in with an average of 20.1 PPG and shoots 40% from 3-point range.
Bryce Harris – Howard
The 2025-26 MEAC Player of the Year is in his fifth year at Howard and it took time for him to become the player he is today. Harris primarily rode the bench his first two seasons, exploded as a junior before ultimately battling injuries and missing the majority of 2024-25. His return this season was miraculous, Harris averaging career-highs of 17.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 2.5 APG to lead the Bison to a 24-10 record and a pair of MEAC titles for their trophy case. In Tuesday’s First Four bout with UMBC, he was critical with a double-double of 19 points, 14 rebounds and five assists to lead Howard to an 86-83 win.
Idaho – Isaiah Brickner
Isaiah Brickner was averaging just 4.1 PPG upon his arrival at Idaho last offseason, but in 2025-26, he morphed himself into the Big Sky’s Sixth Man of the Year as a deadly weapon off the bench. Brickner managed a career-high 12.1 PPG and shot 42% from 3-point range to power Vandals perimeter offense, finishing in the 91st percentile amongst all 3-pint shooters this season. Flashback to last week’s conference tournament when he dropped 23 points and grabbed 10 boards to help defeat Montana in the Final, earning himself a selection to the Big Sky’s All-Tournament Team.
Kennesaw State – RJ Johnson
What an interesting season it’s been for Kennesaw State. The Owls had some early struggles, lost leading scorer Simeon Cottle to suspension amidst the point shaving scandal, ended the regular-season on a two-game losing streak, and still ran the table at Conference USA Championship. RJ Johnson stepped up in a huge way over the course of the season, but maybe more importantly, had 20 points and six assists in a quarterfinal win over Sam Houston State.
LIU – Jamal Fuller
Greg Gordon might be LIU’s defensive lead and undoubtedly Malachi Davis is the team’s offensive conductor, but Jamal Fuller, the former DII transfer, is such a unique talent. He is 6-foot-6, 215 pounds and is an absolute mismatch nightmare at the NEC level. Fuller can get downhill with his unique combination and size, athleticism and quickness but he’s also more than capable of stepping back to knockdown a three where he shot 44% this year. Not only that, but he’s essentially top-100 nationally in both effective field-goal percentage and true shooting percentage.
McNeese State – Larry Johnson
Johnson spent 2024-25 as a redshirt at Creighton but the former top-100 prospect really found his niche at McNeese State where he finished All-Southland First Team and Rookie of the Year. Not only did he average 17.5 PPG and shoot 50% from the floor, but Johnson also headlines the 49th most efficient defense in the nation by KenPom’s metrics. That combination of deadly offense from the high-major transfer and one of mid-major basketball’s best defensive units makes the Cowboys a dastardly matchup for just about anybody.
Miami (OH) – Peter Suder
If you don’t already know Miami’s story, where have you been? The RedHawks just closed out a perfect regular-season, 31-0, to win the program’s first MAC title since 2005 before falling in the conference championship. Peter Suder is the frontrunner for this Miami team, averaging 14.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG to earn a selection as the league’s Player of the Year in 2025-26. A player that’s in the 94th percentile for efficiency rating, the 92nd percentile for true shooting percentage, and 97th percentile for field goal percentage, all by CBB Analytics.
North Dakota State – Treyson Anderson
North Dakota State absolutely stormed through conference play with a 27-7 record overall, only twice falling in the Summit League on the way to regular-season and conference tournament titles. It’s the most wins in Bison history and no doubt, the sophomore leap of 6-foot-10 Treyson Anderson played a major role in what’s been a legendary season up in Fargo. In addition to being one of the nation’s most efficient rebounders, Anderson is averaging 10.4 PPG and one BPG as one of the Summit’s premier two-way talents.
Northern Iowa – Trey Campbell
It’s not often you see four year players in today’s era of college basketball let alone a player who started for all four years they played college basketball. Well, meet Trey Campbell of Northern Iowa who has started 131 out of 133 games over four seasons with the Panthers. After back-to-back 20+ win seasons, this will be Campbell’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament having lifted Northern Iowa to the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference title with 23 points over UIC.
Penn – TJ Power
Following stints at Duke and Virginia, former top-100 prospect TJ Power reunited with head coach Fran McCaffery at Penn who had initially recruited him to Iowa out of high school. Power’s addition at Penn was an instant home run and allowed the Shrewsbury, Mass., native to play with a newfound freedom with a head coach who was confident in his abilities. Power went on to earn an All-Ivy League First Team selection and led Penn back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 with a marquee 44-point performance against Yale.
Prairie View A&M – Dontae Horn
Sure the numbers are flashy with Horn averaging 20.3 PPG which is currently tied for 28th nationally, but he’s been clutch in some big moments for Prairie View this season. Like managing 26 points, nine rebounds and three assists at the SWAC Championship against Alcorn State. Following it up with 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting to down Bethune-Cookman. Or even his 25-point performance in Wednesday night’s First Four clash, to lead the Panthers over Lehigh, 67-55.
Queens – Nasir Mann
In its first season of NCAA postseason eligibility after completing the required transitional period, Queens is heading to the Big Dance. It’s tough to single out just one “player to watch” from a rotation that bolsters six different double-digit scorers but Nasir Mann has been steady all season long and leads the Royals with 13.4 PPG. He just put together three straight double-digit performances at the ASUN Conference Championship and even managed 17 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals to stave off West Georgia in the opening round.
Saint Louis – Robbie Avila
Cream Abdul-Jabbar. Milk Chamberlain. SLU Alcindor. Larry Nerd. Steph Blurry. LeBron Frames. Rob Wave. Need I say more? Robbie Avila is heading to March Madness for the first time in his career. He’s the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and will have every shot at leading a First Round upset against an eighth seeded Georgia team that’s had its struggles this season.
Saint Mary’s – Paulius Murauskas
No doubt Saint Mary’s has one of the best defenses in the nation, ranked 20th in defensive efficiency by KenPom. When the Gaels want you to stop scoring, you stop scoring. Murauskas is obviously a big part of that but it’s truly on the offensive end where he shines, currently 246th in the country in offensive rating. He’s averaging 18.8 PPG, is in the 95th percentile for player efficiency rating and dominates on the boards for a team that’s 15th in the country in rebounding rate.
Santa Clara – Christian Hammond
Does anybody remember back in January when Santa Clara ousted Saint Mary’s, 62-54, to remain undefeated at home and beat the Gaels for the first time in eight meetings? Well the man who spearheaded that upset: Christian Hammond. He dropped 25 points that night on 8-of-14 from three and will try to lead the Broncos first NCAA Tournament win since 1996.
Siena – Gavin Doty
For analysis on Siena sophomore Gavin Doty, I’ll borrow the words of our esteemed MAAC reporter, the legendary Sam Federman: “Doty doesn’t need a foul to finish through contact, but he’ll gladly take one. He may lead the country in shots made while falling to the ground. There isn’t a player in the MAAC, star or not, that ends up on the canvas more than him, but he gets up every time.” Undoubtedly, he’ll be up for the challenge against Duke.
South Florida – Izaiyah Nelson
Izaiyah Nelson’s career has followed that of South Florida head coach Bryan Hodgson. In Hodgson’s first season at the helm of Arkansas State, Nelson flourished and quickly worked his way into the starting lineup heading into year two. When Hodgson took the job at South Florida, he brought Nelson along with him. Now, he’s being selected as the American Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and will get his first opportunity to showcase his incredible 6-foot-10 skillset on a national stage.
Troy – Thomas Dowd
Thomas Dowd has been an absolute double-double machine in 2025-26, averaging a career-high 14.8 PPG and 10.1 RPG. He’s currently 10th nationally with 17 double-doubles this season, leads the Sun Belt Conference in rebounding and even managed a double-double in Troy’s conference tournament final win over Georgia Southern. In what’s been a historic season for the Trojans, it’s Dowd’s rebounding that’s been the catalyst for so many extra offensive possessions and opportunities.
Utah State – Mason Falslev
This is Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev. Two-time All-Defensive selection, First Team All-Conference, one of the most efficient players in the country at any level of college basketball. He very well might be the best player on the court when Utah State takes on Villanova this week and will give the Aggies every chance at a second NCAA Tournament win in three years.
VCU – Terrence Hill Jr.
The sophomore leap of Terrence Hill Jr. cannot be understated. He went from underused freshman averaging just 3.4 PPG to All-Conference First Team selection in the A10 averaging 14.4 PPG and leading VCU to its second straight conference championship title in Pittsburgh last week. In addition to being selected as the A10’s Sixth Man of the Year under new head coach Phil Martelli Jr., Hill is 130th in true shooting percentage, 241st in assist rate and 60th in offensive rating by KenPom’s metrics.
Wright State – TJ Burch
In a similar vein to Hill, Wright State’s growth in 2025-26 is in part due to the sophomore development of TJ Burch who arrived from Ball State this past offseason. Burch had played just 21 games as a freshman with the Cardinals and averaged only 4.8 PPG before transferring over to Wright State where he’s managing 12.3 PPG, 3.5 APG and led the Horizon League with 3.5 SPG. That was enough to earn Burch the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award in addition to a plethora of other silverware in just his second season of college basketball.