Ranking 25 men's college basketball breakout stars in 2025-26

"Last season, Haugh was a key reserve for the Florida team that cut down the nets in San Antonio. This season, he is a bona fide All-America candidate and first-round NBA draft prospect who could lead the Gators to their second back-to-back national title reign in program history. His scoring average has increased from 9.8 to 16.9 points while maintaining a similar impact on the glass with 6.0 rebounds per game."

"Last season, Anderson was a star in the Sweet 16. This season, he has taken advantage of a bigger workload -- jumping from 30.5 to 38.7 minutes per game -- to emerge as an All-America candidate with 19.6 PPG, 7.7 APG and a 43.9% 3-point shooting rate. With teammate JT Toppin out for the season, Anderson will have to be both Batman and Robin for the Red Raiders come March."

"Nate Oats coached Alabama to top-five finishes in offensive efficiency with former All-America guard Mark Sears running the show the previous two seasons. Now Philon is the catalyst who has helped the Crimson Tide sustain that production. He's averaging 21.3 points as a sophomore, effectively doubling his 10.6 PPG mark as a freshman."

The 2025-26 men's college basketball season showcases exceptional talent across multiple categories of players. Beyond the highly publicized freshman class and notable transfers, 25 breakout stars have emerged through different paths. Haugh transformed from a Florida reserve averaging 9.8 points to an All-America candidate scoring 16.9 PPG while maintaining 6.0 rebounds. Anderson increased his workload from 30.5 to 38.7 minutes, becoming an All-America candidate with 19.6 PPG and 43.9% three-point shooting for Texas Tech. Philon doubled his scoring output to 21.3 PPG as Alabama's sophomore catalyst. Wagler, overlooked by most programs despite being Kansas High School Player of the Year, received limited scholarship offers but joined Illinois as a high-major prospect.

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