For the first two months of the season, we weren't sure if Darryn Peterson would finish the season as he wrestled with cramping and injuries. He had spent more time on the bench than on the court for Kansas, which made it impossible to fully analyze the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, per ESPN.
Then, he put together one of the most eye-opening efforts of the season when he scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting in a nationally televised win over Baylor on Friday. The performance helped him qualify for our rankings, now that he has played in at least 50% of his team's games. He slots right into the top half, too.
Peterson is one of the most gifted offensive players in recent memory. If he can stay healthy, he could end the 2025-26 season in a battle with Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Caleb Wilson for the No. 1 spot in our rankings.
1. Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
Previous rank: 1
Biggest performance so far: 35 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Arkansas in Chicago on Nov. 27
AJ Dybantsa could make a case for the Wooden Award if he and BYU bulldoze the Big 12. Darryn Peterson's health is also an X factor in this conversation. But Boozer's combination of excellence, efficiency and consistency remains unmatched. He might lack the same above-the-rim highlights of his peers, but he's the leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals for a team that features three projected first-rounders in ESPN's latest mock draft. Most freshmen need a month or two to hit their respective strides. That wasn't the case for Boozer, who has been the dominant force in the sport from day one. -- Myron Medcalf
2. AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
Previous rank: 2
Biggest performance so far: 28 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists vs. Clemson in New York City on Dec. 9
Dybantsa had perhaps his worst game of the season in BYU's loss to Texas Tech over the weekend, finishing with 13 points on 6-for-17 shooting. That performance came after a 10-game streak of 20-point performances, and a Division I freshman record nine straight games with at least 20 points on 50% field goal shooting. Dybantsa continues to show flashes of absurd dominance, with an ability to take over a game like few of his peers. He entered the week fifth in the country in scoring at 22.5 points per game, to go with 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists. -- Jeff Borzello
3. Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina
Previous rank: 3
Biggest performance so far: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Kansas on Nov. 7
There is drama in Chapel Hill, and Wilson has been at the center of it. Following his team's loss to Stanford -- part of a 1-3 stretch for UNC entering the week -- Wilson suggested the Cardinal had used the same plays all game to beat the Tar Heels. Coach Hubert Davis disagreed with his star player's assessment. Despite the struggles around him, Wilson has held on to this No. 3 spot because he's still one of the best players in America. He has scored 20 points or more in 12 games this year. The Tar Heels have issues they must fix, but Wilson isn't one of them. -- Medcalf
4. Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Previous rank: Unranked
Biggest performance so far: 26 points, 3 assists, 11-of-13 FG in 23 minutes vs. Baylor on Jan. 16
Peterson makes his long-awaited debut in the rankings after finally hitting the 50% games played threshold, when he suited up for his ninth game -- out of Kansas' 18 so far this season -- last Friday against Baylor. He responded with one of the most efficient performances we've seen from anyone all season, finishing with 26 points on 11-for-13 shooting in just 23 minutes of action. That came on the heels of a 16-point effort in Kansas' upset win over Iowa State. In Peterson's nine games entering the week, he had hit the 20-point mark in six of them, averaging 22.2 points on 50% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from 3-point range. -- Borzello
5. Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
Previous rank: 4
Biggest performance so far: 29 points, 4 assists vs. Tennessee on Jan. 3
For most teams at this level, losses can be traced to the struggles of their best player. One of Acuff's best qualities this season, however, has been his ability to step up in Arkansas' toughest games. In the Razorbacks' five losses entering the week (to Michigan State, Duke, Houston, Auburn and Georgia), Acuff averaged 20.6 PPG and 5.0 APG. On the season, he's making nearly 41% of his 3-point attempts. And, since the start of the new year, he has registered a 2.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. At 6-foot-3, Acuff is never the biggest guy on the floor, but he's often the most impactful.
6. Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
Previous rank: 5
Biggest performance so far: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals vs. Arkansas on Dec. 20
Flemings' shooting numbers have been a little more inconsistent in Big 12 play than they were during the nonconference portion of the season, but the lottery pick point guard continues to produce at both ends of the floor, despite the schedule getting tougher. He opened league play with 19 points, six assists and five steals against Cincinnati, followed it up with 23 points and five assists against Texas Tech and is coming off a 20-point, eight-assist, four-steal, two-block performance in Sunday's win over Arizona State. He also had seven assists in back-to-back games against Baylor and West Virginia when his shot wasn't falling. -- Borzello
7. Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford
Previous Rank: 10
Biggest performance so far: 36 points, 9 assists, 2 steals vs. North Carolina on Jan. 14
In high school, Okorie was the fourth-ranked player -- in the state of New Hampshire. The former three-star recruit is the most unheralded freshman on this list. He's also one of the best. His 36-point effort in last week's win over North Carolina was his ninth game of the season with at least 25 points. Averaging 22.1 points, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals, Okorie is also an effective playmaker for a Stanford group that has won three games against top-60 KenPom opponents (Louisville, Virginia Tech, North Carolina) in 2026 alone -- matching the three victories over top-60 KenPom opponents it had in the entire 2024-25 season. -- Medcalf
8. Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois
Previous rank: 6
Biggest performance so far: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Missouri on Dec. 22
On a team filled with college upperclassmen and former European pros, it's Wagler -- who doesn't even turn 19 years old until February -- who has emerged as Illinois' go-to scorer in the early part of Big Ten play. He has led the Illini in scoring in six of their past 10 games -- including three of their past four. He is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists in that stretch, shooting better than 46% from 3-point range. Wagler continues to rise up mock drafts as well and is trending toward being an odds-on lottery pick by the end of the season. -- Borzello
9. Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
Previous rank: Unranked
Biggest performance so far: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists vs. Florida on Nov. 3.
Peat dropped off our board in early January following a string of lackluster December performances. Part of the reason for his decline was that his season-opening performance against Florida raised expectations, perhaps unfairly. Yet, he has risen to the occasion in recent weeks for the No. 1 team in America. The 6-8 forward has been a go-to player for Tommy Lloyd's crew. Since the start of the new year, he has also made 58% of his shots inside the arc -- an efficient output few players on this list have matched. Once again, Peat looks like the projected lottery pick most assumed he'd be after his explosive effort to begin his college career. -- Medcalf
10. Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn
Previous Rank: Unranked
Biggest performance so far: 24 points, 3 assists, 6 3-pointers vs. Providence on Jan. 7
Mullins' numbers at this point in the season aren't on the same level as the other players on these rankings: The Indiana native is averaging 11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds entering the week. But he's on an upward trajectory as we enter the final stretch of the regular season. He was even the player Dan Hurley drew up plays for in overtime against Providence earlier this month. Mullins missed the first month of the season with an ankle injury but scored 17 points on the road at Kansas in the second game of his career and immediately forced his way into the starting lineup for the No. 2 Huskies. He was arguably the best shooter in the 2025 class coming out of high school, and he has already made at least five 3s twice in Big East play. -- Borzello
