Brackets are guesswork. Drafts + data-backed scoring aren't. We’re building bracketball for march. Top 100 2026-27 CBB Player Rankings out NOW (#11/100)
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Breaking: Oregon State star freshman WR Jesse Legree has re-signed with the Beavers and will return to play there in 2027, he tells @PeteThamel.
Legree has been the country’s breakout freshman star for JaMarcus Shephard at Oregon State, as he leads the nation in receiving yards (1,040), touchdown catches (14) and receiving yards per game (148.6).
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Auburn vs Bama Takeaways:
- Reminder: We only care about the pieces, exhibitions mean: limited sets, new roles, new teammates, new lineups, tired legs. Don’t care about shooting %s.
- Early GOTY candidate 😂
- 2nd time checking out Bama, so will only repeat things that should be emphasized.
- No Holloway, Cloer, Diaz. No Mantas, King, Freeman.
- Bouie continues to flash. The bounce is unreal, trying to the think of a good comp for this kid bc he will be in the NBA in a year or 2.
- Pettiford looked more like end of last year. Decision making is much improved. Loved his feel for when to attack, when to get others involved. You can tell the chemistry between him and Overton. He’s defending at a really physical high level. Doesn’t get enough love for that. Needs to clean up some turnover work but again 2nd exhibition, a lot of those are getting cleaned up.
- Allen, man you love the heart, you love watching him develop, getting on the floor as the team leader. These games are great for him to get PG reps. He was getting his guys involved early, and able to break down his matchup for a bucket late when they needed it. Tough tough matchup for most defenders. Bullies smaller guards. Too quick for bigs.
- Ngoy is a mountain. How quickly can Auburn get him in shape. The more they can get him on the floor, the better. Feet are a little slow when he has to come out on a switch on the perimeter, but huge intimidating factor in the paint. I love his hands - Wow so soft, dude can handle really tough passes, really impressive for his size.
- Loved watching Oboye grow last season at SC. Foul trouble was an issue. Looked like his head was swimming a little early. But high energy, makes good mistakes, he’s giving high effort which lead to lots of extra chances and the turnovers will get cleaned up. Another freakish athlete that can rim run and expand the court with his verticality.
- Bristow was everywhere. JDF and Garrison struggled with The Mountain. Bristow came in and flipped the script and was able to pull him out and get some fouls on him. We said last time it’s going to be a different guy for the Bama front court each night. And his rebounding, and energy was key for Bama tonight. Also a couple blocks from him! They have 5 bigs who can defend, rebound, crash offensive boards. Be a star in your role! Bristow was tonight, probably won them the game. Active hands.
- Jemison is really developing a nice shot. Nice option to give them a big who can space.
- Dowd was on the floor a lot. Caused the first kerfuffle with his offensive rebounding. Seemed like he was never giving up on a play. Getting his hands in, stealing the ball. Knocking the ball away from guards. Fighting with bigs. With Troy he did this but, he also had some really nice offensive games. I think he can expand his game more here, but it’s lineup dependent.
- Caleb Williams - is this dude really a freshman? Plays like a vet. Never forced anything. Plays within the flow of the offense. Some big balls, big buckets. Would like to see him improve on the defensive end. Patience is a skill.
- Speaking of Freshman who are vets: Samuels continues to produce every game for Bama. Continued to hit big shot after big shot. Exciting that I still think he can clean up his shot diet too. Was able to bully Auburn’s smaller guards. He & Allen were the best matchups in this game for Bama.
- Olsen - sniper. Need to watch him more on defense. But Lethal on offense.
- Kimble is very explosive, bouncy, physical guard. Looks like he is still getting his legs under him coming back from injury. But you can see the athletic ability. Needs to stop fouling. Probably a symptom of the aforementioned. Let’s see how he progresses, was an absolute bucket at EKY.
- Thought Fielder had a quietly good game. Needs a dirty work shout out.
- Garrison is still so Jekyll and Hyde, I don’t know how else to describe him. Disappears too often. Let’s see how he progresses under Oats.
- Richardson got some run, looks like whatever injury he had has caused him to be behind the others. Let’s see if he can work into more run against the easier opponents on the schedule.
Both teams have to feel good about this one. The physicality of both teams is excellent and they left some meat on the bone with several key contributors out. Biggest issue was quality depth which makes sense with 3/4 guys out a piece.
Still feel same way about Bama. This is at worst a Sweet 16 team. Can’t wait to watch them at full strength. Feel even stronger about the front court’s ability to piecemeal it and have someone step up each night.
Left this game feeling really good about Auburn. Front Court has two guys that are developmental but they are so talented and athletic freaks that they can develop at this level. Looks like some growing pains with fouling and staying on the floor but man those guys are loads in the paint. Auburn’s biggest weakness to me is at the wing. They are missing a disruptor/slasher/connector at the wing that would make this team flow better. I know just the guy…
*Cues Mantas Bat Signal*
I think both of these teams are in the 3rd-6th range in the SEC, if they are full strength. Both should be buzzing.
PS: If you are another team watching this, you want to play a rival in October. This is better than even playing Duke. These teams just got the closest thing to a real Feb game over any team. Will pay huge dividends for these squads.
Just some absolutely ridiculous shot-making going on here and it’s not a one-off situation. This is what Daughtry does. Such a special player.
Cayden Daughtry impressed in today's matchup against RWE, posting 46 PTS, 6 AST, 6 REB, and 1 STL on 51.9% FG and 33.3% 3P
Across his 17U sample, Daughtry averaged 28.0 PTS, 6.0 AST, 5.1 REB, and 2.2 STL on 67.0% TS, leading Florida Rebels to a Peach Jam championship
Daughtry's remarkable combination of shot-making and playmaking makes a compelling case for him as the best prospect in the world
Bracketball 2026-27 Top 100 CBB Players
#10: Tyran Stokes (Kansas, F | Fr.)
I like to quote @babcockhoops in these breakdowns, largely because I seem to have a very similar perspective on a lot of these players. I went to start this breakdown with, “Stokes was the top player in his class and it’s easy to see why; he’s a LONG 6’7 245 pound point forward that makes getting to the basket, and the game overall, look incredibly easy.”
I then went to Babcock to see what they had to say and it was virtually the same exact start to their scouting report:
“Tyran Stokes heads to Kansas as the top-rated prospect in his class, and it's easy to see why. He's a 6'7", 230-pound guard/forward with a reported 7-foot wingspan, plus the kind of physicality, coordination, and overall athleticism you don't usually find on a frame his size. He's explosive vertically and plays with a high motor. Put it together, and you get a big, versatile wing who does a little of everything.”
You get the point.
Stokes is a wildly talented player who probably needs to mature a little bit. I’m hoping playing under Bill Self will be beneficial to him in that department — I think it will.
Stokes doesn’t really have too many weaknesses — perhaps the outside shooting? Which is still pretty good. Outside of that, it’s really just the alleged attitude and maturity, or lack thereof.
Either way, Stokes is going to be a really fun player to watch and follow, and the Jayhawks should be right back in the mix this year, especially with TW and TKR gaining eligibility (we’ll see if that lasts).
Stokes’ projected line for 2026-27:
15.7 PPG
6.7 RPG
2.5 APG
Projections powered by @CBBAnalytics
10 days until College Basketball.
Video Credits to @draftexpress
Need more athletes out there like Kellen.
Here’s a list of some others (current) on a similar path — hometown kid choosing and staying at their local, non-blue blood program:
Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State)
Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State)
Evan Ipsaro (Miami OH)
Brandon Jennings (VCU)
Marcus Hall (Green Bay)
Bracketball 2026-27 Top 100 CBB Players
#11: Thijs De Ridder (Virginia, F | So.)
A wing that plays much bigger than 6’9.
TDR was one of 3 freshmen 6’9 or taller last year to shoot at least 35% from 3 with an ORB% of at least 9.5%.
The other two?
Cam Boozer and David Mirkovic.
TDR’s return to college automatically makes him one of the best players in the country — he had already earned that label last year.
His strong, broad frame allows him to get whatever he wants inside while also stretching the floor at an elite clip. He’s not insanely fast, but quick enough to attack close outs and either run to the rim or bully his way there. He’s also a very capable ball handler who doesn’t need to be open in order to get his shot. He has the ability to create for himself pretty much anywhere on the floor.
TDR and Johann Grünloh are going to be one of the most prolific, imposing front courts in the entire nation and the Hoos are going to be right back in the mix as a contender. Expect them to make a deeper run in the big dance this year.
De Ridder’s projected line for 2026-27:
20.1 PPG
7.3 RPG
2.1 APG
Projections powered by @CBBAnalytics
11 days until College Basketball.
Video Credits to @theACCDN
Bracketball 2026-27 Top 100 CBB Players
#12: Pryce Sandfort (Nebraska, F | Jr.)
Pryce Sandfort has made some insane strides over the course of his first 3 years in college. He, of course, started off at Iowa where, as a freshman, he averaged 2.3 ppg on 8.6 mpg. His sophomore year, and Fran McCaffery’s last year with the program, he took a big leap and went for 8.8 ppg on 22.4 mpg. McCaffery was fired after failing to make the tournament two years in a row, and Sandfort left for one of Iowa’s B1G foes — Nebraska — and boy was that a match made in heaven. The Cornhuskers had their best year in the history of the program and Sandfort was the leader of the pack, averaging 18.1 ppg on 33.6 mpg and 41.6% beyond the arc (!).
Pryce really was one of the most valuable players in the nation. He was the ONLY player in the ENTIRE nation to shoot above 40% from three on at least 1000 minutes played while boasting a WARP above 8.
We’ve touched on WARP in previous breakdowns but just as a refresher, WARP stands for
Wins Above Replacement Player
It’s one of our favorite @CBBAnalytics metrics and our model favors it heavily when considering how valuable one is to their team.
It basically looks to evaluate players in the context of a team made up of them and four completely average players. The performance of this team is then compared to that of a team made up of four average players and one replacement-level player.
He also had a RAPM of 8.0 (99th %ile), which is an all-in-one metric developed at CBBAnalytics. It does not incorporate individual box score statistics and only considers their on-court play-by-play impact. Basically, a player’s impact on their team’s point differential per 100 possessions above the division average.
He’s a metrics darling, apart from maybe the defensive side of the ball where he’s pretty neutral — although he gets his hands in passing lanes often, and without fouling (96th %ile Steals/PF).
Sandfort’s projected line for 2026-27:
21.1 PPG
5.2 RPG
2.5 APG
Projections powered by @CBBAnalytics
12 days until College Basketball.
Video Credits to @HuskerMBB
No real complaints here.
I might swap Toppin with Krivas but it’s hard to project what type of impact JTT will have this year and what stage of recovery he’s in.
🚨AP Preseason All-American Team🚨
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt
David Mirkovic, Illiois
Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
Others receiving votes (in order):
Flory Bidunga, Louisville
Braylon Mullins, UConn
John Blackwell, Duke
Robert Wright III, BYU
JT Toppin, Texas Tech
Silas Demary, UConn
Tyran Stokes, Kansas
Milan Momcilovic, Kentucky
Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida
Juke Harris, Tennessee
Jordan Smith, Arkansas
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
Patrick Ngongba II, Duke
Alex Condon, Florida
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona
Malik Reneau, Miami
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Duke
Bracketball 2026-27 Top 100 CBB Players
#13: Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn, G | Jr.)
Tahaad, on paper, improved in his sophomore campaign but with where expectations were for Auburn and Pettiford, it’s easy to look at last year as a relatively disappointing campaign.
I loved the fact that, despite missing the big dance, Auburn TOOK the NIT bid and ran with it all the way to a chip. And then, they retained two of their best players in Overton and Pettiford! Keyshawn Hall just was not a fit for this team and it’s probably for the best that he’s now out the door. It would have been easy for KO and Haad to look at last year as a failure, skip town and move to other programs, but they didn’t. I have a feeling these guys will be rewarded and Auburn will have a nice bounce-back year.
Looking at Haad’s @CBBAnalytics page, one thing I noticed when filtering to Q1 games and “Clutch Time” metrics is that his game elevates SUBSTANTIALLY in big games and in the clutch. He shoots more efficiently, makes a bigger impact on the defensive end and takes care of the ball incredibly well. This is one of those things that was pretty apparent with the eye test too. It felt like every time Auburn had a big conference game, Haad was on one.
So where would I like to see Haad improve? Shot selection and stagnancy.
TP takes some really difficult shots and can be susceptible to forcing shots that just aren’t there, or part of his repertoire — yet. This played a big part in his lack of efficiency this past year where he shot just about 39% from the field and 29% from 3.
I’d also love to see Haad own the floor general role instead of sometimes over-dribbling and stunting the offense. He has the vision and ability to be such a good point guard. If he can average close to 5 assists and limit turnovers, it could totally transform Auburn and turn them into a real contender.
Big game and clutch time riser.
Pettiford’s projected line for 2026-27:
18.9 PPG
3.3 RPG
4.8 APG
Projections powered by @CBBAnalytics
13 days until College Basketball.
Video Credits to @hoopersreligionplus @CBMHoops
NEW: Former Boston Celtics guard RJ Luis will not be cleared by the SEC, and LSU has ended its push for his eligibility, CBS reports.
on3.com/news/rj-luis-not-exp…
Bracketball 2026-27 Top 100 CBB Players
#14: Caleb Holt (Arizona, G | Fr.)
Holt comes into Arizona as the #3 player in ESPN’s t100. He’s a 6’5 guard/wing that is physically ready for the next level and has a really polished game.
The intangibles are all there: IQ, effort, leadership, toughness, you name it, Caleb has it — and that’s part of why he’s regarded as such a strong prospect. His understanding of the game is clearly so far ahead of many others his age.
Despite relatively average positional size, Holt is still physically imposing with a solid, strong frame, almost a 6’10 wingspan and awesome athleticism.
Offensively, Holt gets to the rim at will and doesn’t care if that means running through a defender — and then finishes with strength and efficiency at the bucket.
Defensively, he’s going to have no problem adjusting. His tools and profile give him the ability to switch onto just about anyone outside the 5, especially given his unparalleled competitiveness.
I don’t have too much in terms of stats or metrics for freshmen at this point, but shoutout to @cjhanalytics for getting me averages from 3SSB, World Cups, EUROCAMP, etc. Go give him a follow — he’s put together a seriously impressive analytics site that builds profiles and projections for every player in the country.
Holt’s projected line for 2026-27:
15.6 PPG
5.5 RPG
2.5 APG
Projections powered by @CBBAnalytics
14 days until College Basketball.
Video Credits to @ontheradarhoops @n8buss
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The preseason AP Poll is here! 🚨
1. Florida
2. Duke
3. Illinois
4. UConn
5. Arizona
6. Michigan State
7. Texas
8. Tennessee
9. Virginia
10. Houston
11. Louisville
12. Arkansas
13. St. John's
14. Miami
15. Gonzaga
16. Michigan
17. Kansas
18. Iowa State
19. Texas Tech
20. Alabama
21. USC
22. UCLA
23. Kentucky
24. Vanderbilt
25. BYU
Bracketball 2026-27 Top 100 CBB Players
#15: Elliot Cadeau (Michigan, G | Jr.)
Elliot Cadeau is such a winner — and it’s always been that way. A change of scenery is exactly what he needed after a semi-rocky start to his college career in Chapel Hill.
Thanks to @CBBAnalytics awesome new “Season Explorer” tool, I was able to track down some really cool isolating numbers from Cadeau’s first few years playing college ball. Cadeau was 1 of 5 ELITE guards last year with the following metrics:
Assists/40 > 8
Ast/Tov Ratio > 2.25
Minutes Played > 1,000
The list?
Braden Smith
Donovan Dent
Jeremy Fears Jr.
Silas Demary Jr.
ELLIOT CADEAU
Oh, and you might notice that Cadeau was the only underclassmen amongst that group of players.
I was curious to look at his freshman year metrics as well. Of course the shot was not there yet, but his ability to distribute was still so strong on film — and way ahead of others his age. Sure enough, Cadeau was again part of an elite group.
In his freshman year at UNC, Cadeau was 1 of 3 guards to have:
Assists/40 > 9
Ast/Tov Ratio > 2.00
Minutes Played > 1,000
The list?
Braden Smith
Ryan Nembhard
ELLIOT CADEAU
Once again, the only underclassmen here.
Cadeau is such a special distributor, and I imagine his game will continue to transform this year as he takes on more offensive responsibilities and usage.
Winner.
Cadeau’s projected line for 2026-27:
13.9 PPG
3.2 RPG
7.9 APG
Projections powered by @CBBAnalytics
15 days until College Basketball.
Video Credits to @ellio @CBMHoops
Bracketball 2026-27 Top 100 CBB Players
#16: Tounde Yessoufou (St. John’s, G | So.)
It’s hard not to see the Ant Edwards resemblance with the way TY moves but it’s unfair to stamp him with that comparison with how good Ant is and how highly touted a prospect he was. With that being said, Yessoufou has the chance to be a really nice pro — he has all the tools.
Athleticism, handle, shot mechanics, positional size and length, etc. It’s all there. He does need to work on efficiency and playing within a system which I think will come as he plays under Pitino.
I say the handle is there but there’s definitely room for improvement there which is not surprising given his build and proportion.
Some interesting CBBAnalytics notes for TY:
8.7 ORB% (97th %ile)
5.3 WARP (96th %ile)
Pretty much all of his defensive stats are 90th %ile +
Analytically, he’s a beast. I’d actually like to see the usage come down a bit, and I think it will in Pitinoland, but other than that I like how Yessoufou projects.
Johnnies are going to be a fun watch this year.
Yessoufou’s projected line for 2026-27:
18.1 PPG
5.9 RPG
1.9 APG
Projections powered by @CBBAnalytics
16 days until College Basketball.
Video Credits to @swishcultures_
