The Big Ten’s small forward spot is loaded with returners, but the position also has a fresh wave of freshmen ready to matter right away. That mix makes the top of this ranking especially tricky, because the league has proven it will lean on both portal additions and homegrown talent. In 2026-27, though, the three spot could be defined as much by newcomers as by veterans.
Brandon McCoy is listed as a guard, but he projects to spend plenty of time at small forward alongside Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, both of whom landed in the top five of their own positional rankings. At 6-foot-5 with a reported 6-foot-10 wingspan, McCoy brings the kind of length and athleticism that lets him defend across positions 1 through 3 and even handle some 4s.
The physical tools are obvious, but so is the edge. He plays with that so-called “dog mentality,” and that should make defense an immediate strength even as a freshman.
That same aggression shows up on offense. McCoy attacks downhill, plays through contact and brings real pop as an offensive rebounder.
The shot from deep is still a work in progress, and that matters for how high his ceiling climbs next season. But even if the jumper lags, he has the look of a glue guy who can do a little bit of everything.
Think McKenney last season for the Wolverines.
Coen Carr has spent three years in East Lansing with two labels attached to him: the most explosive jumper in college basketball, and a player who can’t shoot. In this era, that second part usually limits a 6-foot-6 wing.
Carr has found a way to stay useful anyway. He is the best off-ball transition threat in the country, and having Jeremy Fears Jr. push the break only makes that more dangerous.
He’s also a strong slasher, even when defenders are giving him room to operate.
Carr gives Michigan State more than just athletic fireworks. He rebounds on both ends, defends on the ball and holds his own as a help defender, which fits right into the Tom Izzo mold.
There has also been some movement from deep: he took 2.2 threes per game last season and hit 27.6 percent. If that number keeps climbing in 2026-27, Carr could push himself onto an All-Big Ten team.
Anthony Thompson brings a different kind of upside to Ohio State. The freshman is 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and plenty of spring off one foot or two.
But what really separates him is his shot-making. Off-the-bounce threes, pull-ups, fadeaways - he already has answers that force defenses into bad choices.
At his size and release point, he can get to his spots and still stay efficient even when contested.
Thompson is also a versatile defender and an excellent shot blocker, with underrated passing to go along with it. Still, scoring is the headline here. He has a real chance to be one of the top scorers in the Big Ten.
Andrej Stojakovic may be the most dangerous downhill player in the country coming back. He attacks the rim with force, burst and a frame built to absorb contact.
He knows how to vary his approach, whether that means stretching out his steps, slowing down, Eurostepping or simply going right into a defender. He’s just as comfortable finishing off one foot as he is working through the footwork on two.
Stojakovic has also become a tough on-ball defender and a strong rebounder for his position. The one thing holding him back from the very top of this list is still the jumper. If that piece comes along, he won’t just move up here - he’ll be climbing to the top of plenty of rankings in 2026-27.
Pryce Sandfort is the best movement shooter in the nation, and that alone makes him a nightmare to defend. He bends coverage constantly, forcing opponents to chase him through screens and send extra attention his way. Even with all that pressure, he shot 41.6 percent from three and hit 3.7 threes per game in 2025-26.
Sandfort’s release is lightning fast, and he can get shots off from either direction, whether he’s curling, flaring, working off handoffs or taking pitchbacks. He’s also a smart cutter, a willing rebounder for a shooter and a solid defender. On top of all that, he turned the ball over just 0.7 times per game last season, which is a huge plus for a player who lives so much off movement and timing.
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Bret Bielema Just Raised A Massive 2027 Question For Illinois Secondary
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Clarke has already shown why his future matters, following up a strong 2024 with another productive season even while missing four games and still ranking among the Big Tens better ballhawks. Bielema clearly sees the possibility of another year in Champaign, but the calendar also points to a tougher question for Illinois: whether Clarke is in line to anchor the secondary again in 2027 or whether his next step comes in the NFL Draft instead. [Read more 🡒]
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That mobility is part of what makes Houser intriguing for Illinois, especially in a Big Ten that tends to punish quarterbacks who invite too much contact. Houser talked at Big Ten Media Days about needing to stay smart with his body and not leaning on the run unless he has to, which leaves the Illini with a familiar offseason question: how much of his ceiling comes from the threat of his legs, and how much can they ask him to use it without wearing him down? [Read more 🡒]