A new college basketball season usually creates its own set of unexpected names, but this group already has the look of a breakout watch list. Some of these players flashed as freshmen.
Others were buried behind older pieces. A few were simply waiting for the ball to find them more often.
Now the minutes, usage and responsibility are lining up.
Trey McKenney might be the loudest candidate of the bunch. The 6-foot-4 Michigan guard spent last season as a supporting piece on a national title team, averaging 9.9 points as a freshman while sitting behind Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson and Aday Mara.
With that trio now in the NBA, McKenney is set up to become one of the best players in the country. He could even be in the mix for Big Ten Player of the Year as a sophomore.
Kentucky has its own sophomore ready to take a big swing forward in Malachi Moreno. The 7-foot big man already showed real substance last season, putting up 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game as a freshman. The next step should be even more important for the Wildcats, who are entering their third season under Mark Pope, and Moreno looks on track to become an All-SEC caliber player.
Chance Mallory flew a little under the radar during Virginia’s 30-win season, even though his first year was productive: 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. That kind of line would draw plenty of attention in most places, but last year’s freshman class was loaded.
Now the spotlight shifts to him. As a sophomore, he’ll get the keys for Virginia, which is firmly in the discussion as Duke’s top challenger in the ACC.
UConn’s Jayden Ross also enters the season with momentum after proving useful on the biggest stage. The 6-foot-7 forward was a key part of the Huskies’ run to a third national title-game appearance in four seasons, especially in March Madness wins over UCLA and Illinois.
He averaged 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in those games, and Dan Hurley is expecting another leap. Ross has a chance to go from glue guy to an All-Big East player in his fourth season.
Michigan State is bullish on Jordan Scott, too. The 6-foot-7 wing shot 37 percent from 3-point range last season and averaged 5.8 points as a freshman, and the Spartans believe there’s more there.
With a year of experience under his belt, he looks ready to give them a steady perimeter option between Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr. A doubled scoring average wouldn’t be a surprise.
Purdue’s Omer Mayer may be the player most directly tied to a new role. With Braden Smith gone from point guard, the 6-foot-4 Mayer should move into a much larger job after coming off the bench last season. Matt Painter and his staff are high on him, and the expectation is that he can settle in around 15.0 points and 5.0 assists as the Boilermakers’ primary lead guard.
Ohio State got a big late-season surge from Amare Bynum, and that stretch is a strong reason to expect more. Over the Buckeyes’ final six games last season, the 6-foot-8 Bynum averaged 12.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 59.2% from the field. Another jump is coming, and he could be one of the Big Ten’s top interior players by Christmas.
Rick Pitino has a major opening to fill at St. John’s, and Ruben Prey is one of the players positioned to benefit.
Prey scored 12 points in 13 minutes in the Red Storm’s Sweet 16 loss to Duke last March, a snapshot of what he can do with more run. With Dillon Mitchell, Bryce Hopkins and Zuby Ejiofor no longer in the program, St.
John’s needs that kind of leap from the 6-foot-11 big man.
Houston’s path to replacing its lost perimeter scoring could run through Chase McCarty. Kingston Flemings, Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp are gone, so the Cougars need production to emerge from somewhere.
McCarty was used in spurts last season as a small-ball power forward, but his role should expand sharply in 2026-27. He already gave a preview in the Sweet 16 loss to Illinois, scoring nine points in 20 minutes.
The final name here is Davis Fogle, and the case for him is simple: the freshman production was already strong, and the ceiling looks even higher. In four postseason games last March, the 6-foot-7 Gonzaga forward averaged 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists. With Braden Huff and Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop alongside him, Mark Few could have one of the best three-four-five combinations in college basketball.
In Other News...
Virginia Faces A Friday Night Test That Could Define Its Season
Friday night brings a pivotal test for Virginia, and the setting alone makes it feel bigger than a typical midseason ACC game. The Cavaliers have stayed unbeaten at home this season, but they are also looking for a spark as they try to steady their footing, while Duke comes in having dropped two straight after a strong start.
A big part of the matchup will be how Virginia handles Duke's ground game, especially with Nate Sheppard driving the Blue Devils' attack. On the other side, Virginia's own run game could help set the tone and take pressure off the offense, giving the Cavaliers a cleaner path to the kind of performance that could help define where their season is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Faces A Duke Defensive Test That Could Decide Friday Night
Virginia is about to run into a Duke defense that has become one of the ACCs tougher groups to deal with. The Blue Devils are giving up just 16 points per game, good for 19th nationally and second in the league, and the improvement has been built on a few key pieces playing their roles more consistently. Watson has been active in the backfield, Morris has kept contributing after working through injuries, and Loud has given Duke a bigger, more physical presence at corner.
For Virginia, that means Friday night could come down to how well it handles Dukes pressure and whether the Cavaliers can create the kind of clean possessions that keep a defense like this from settling in. Watsons disruption and Louds coverage ability give Duke multiple ways to close off windows, while Morris adds another layer of reliability in the middle of it all. It sets up a game where Virginia may have to earn every yard, and the first team to solve the other sides strength could end up controlling the night. [Read more 🡒]
Ty Jerome Just Gave Virginia Fans A New Reason To Brag
Ty Jerome gave Virginia fans a fresh talking point on opening night, and it came in a big way. The former Cavalier turned in the best scoring performance of his NBA career for Memphis, piling up points with efficient shooting while also adding seven rebounds and six assists in the Grizzlies season opener.
For a program that has plenty of NBA alumni to follow, it was the kind of all-around showing that stands out immediately and gets remembered around Charlottesville. Jeromes night helped set the tone for Memphis early in the year, and it also put his name in a different place in Virginias pro basketball conversation, with a new benchmark now sitting atop the list. [Read more 🡒]