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.
In Other News...
Michigan May Be Headed For A Uniform Debate Fans Dread
Ohio States new JP Morgan Chase jersey patch has stirred up a conversation Michigan fans have long hoped to avoid, because once one Big Ten rival opens the door to corporate branding, the pressure on everyone else tends to follow. For Michigan, the idea lands in a particularly sensitive spot, with the schools traditional look and football identity built around one of the cleanest uniforms in the sport, and any move toward a patch would be viewed through that lens first.
Still, if Michigan ever decides the revenue is worth the tradeoff, the fit would likely be local rather than generic. Ford, Carhartt, Wolverine World Wide and Dominos Pizza all make sense as possible partners because of their regional ties and brand recognition, but for now it remains only speculation. No official decision has been made, and for a fan base that prizes the block M as much as the wins, that uncertainty is probably the part that matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. Is Already Turning Up The Pressure
Brandon McCoy Jr. arrived in Ann Arbor with the kind of profile that tends to change expectations before a freshman ever plays a college minute. The five-star forward is the highest-ranked basketball prospect to sign with Michigan in the 21st century, and the early buzz around him has only grown as the Wolverines get ready to sort through their lineup in the coming weeks.
Mike Boynton Jr. has already pointed to McCoys size, skill and competitiveness as reasons the freshman could matter right away, and his background only adds to the intrigue. McCoy has won gold with U.S. youth teams at multiple levels, which gives Michigan a newcomer who has already spent plenty of time in high-pressure settings, even before the staff starts testing rotations overseas in Lithuania and Croatia. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Marshall Just Put Michigan Fans On Alert About 2026
Jordan Marshalls focus for 2026 starts with something simple: staying healthy. The Michigan running back said he wants to be ready for the next season and, in particular, make it to the Ohio State game in good shape after his late-season availability was affected last year. Marshall still led the Wolverines in rushing in 2025, but the finish to his season was interrupted enough to make health the first item on his offseason checklist.
Michigans backfield still looks well stocked for next fall, with Marshall joined by Bryson Kuzdzal and top prospect Savion Hiter. Coaches have already voiced confidence in what that group can bring, which is part of why Marshalls status matters so much to the Wolverines. If he gets through the year the way he wants, Michigans ground game could be set up for another big season, and the trip to Columbus will carry even more weight. [Read more 🡒]