NCAA Basketball Player of the Year Candidates Emerge for 2025-26

UPDATE: As the 2025-26 NCAA basketball season approaches, the battle for conference player of the year honors is heating up, with top contenders emerging from major conferences across the country. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see which players will rise to the occasion in the coming months.

Among the frontrunners, Cameron Boozer of Duke and Darrion Williams of NC State are set to lead the charge in the ACC. Meanwhile, Donovan Dent, a transfer from New Mexico now at UCLA, is poised to challenge Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn in the competitive Big Ten.

In the SEC, Otega Oweh from Kentucky and Alex Condon of Florida head a strong list of candidates. The Big 12 is also a hotbed of talent, with AJ Dybantsa from BYU and Darryn Peterson from Kansas competing not only for player of the year but also for the top pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, as every conference showcases exciting races and potential breakout stars. Here’s a closer look at the key candidates and their main competitors across all 31 conferences for the upcoming season.

America East Conference

TJ Hurley of the Vermont Catamounts aims to lead his team back to prominence after finishing second last season. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 15.8 points and hit 38% from beyond the arc. His main rival will be TJ Long of Vermont, who averaged 11.1 PPG.

American Conference

Rowan Brumbaugh is the top returning scorer for Tulane, having averaged 15.5 PPG. He will face competition from Jordan Riley of East Carolina, who averaged 14.5 PPG.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Cameron Boozer is determined to build his legacy at Duke, following in the footsteps of his father. He faces a strong challenge from Darrion Williams, who averaged 15.1 PPG at Texas Tech.

Big Ten Conference

Braden Smith of Purdue returns as a leading contender after an impressive season, averaging 15.8 PPG. His main rival is Donovan Dent, who averaged 20.4 PPG at New Mexico.

Southeastern Conference

Otega Oweh of Kentucky is a strong candidate for both All-America honors and the Wooden Award, looking to lead his team to a Final Four appearance. He faces Alex Condon of Florida, who averaged 10.6 PPG.

Big 12 Conference

JT Toppin of Texas Tech is on track to contend for the Wooden Award after averaging 18.2 PPG last season. Darryn Peterson from Kansas is also in the mix, projecting as a top NBA Draft pick.

The excitement for the upcoming season is palpable, with fans eagerly anticipating which players will emerge as the best in their conferences. As the games unfold, keep an eye on these standout athletes, as they strive for individual accolades while leading their teams toward championship glory.

Stay tuned for further updates as the season progresses, with more player profiles and conference breakdowns coming soon.