EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsEvery year, our goal is to give both men's college basketball diehards and casuals a taste of what's to come in the sport. It's usually a fairly straightforward exercise.But that was all before what we're dubbing "FifthGate."After the NCAA implemented a rule that grants all athletes a fifth year of eligibility -- while excluding players from the 2022 class -- lawyers got involved, and chaos ensued. The uncertainty around star players who had thought their college careers were over means that, as of mid-October, there are dozens of teams in college basketball that could add or lose program-altering talents.To avoid any confusion, we've mostly avoided those names from the conversation about preseason player of the year in each league (with a few exceptions). That does not mean we believe Missouri's Mark Mitchell Jr., St. John's Keyshawn Hall, Miami's Malik Reneau and LSU's Donovan Dent aren't capable of earning conference player of the year consideration in their respective leagues. It's just that we've chosen to exclude them -- a common theme, it appears -- until we know more. We've basically written this preview in pencil.And even without them, the game is loaded with proven talent and newcomers that you'll see below. The freshman class doesn't have the same pop as the first-year crew from a year ago, but Kansas star Tyran Stokes and his peers should make some noise this season. Returning vets such as Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. and Florida's Thomas Haugh are chasing national player of the year honors and national championships.Transfers such as Louisville's Flory Bidunga and Duke's John Blackwell also will compete for those all-conference honors. But there is an undeniable caveat to this list: A few court decisions could add new names and stars to every conference in the country.So -- based on what we know now -- here is the list of conference player of the year contenders.Note: Stats are from 2025-26 season unless otherwise noted.Jump to a conference:A-10 | American | ACC | America East | ASUN | Big 12 | Big East | Big Sky | Big South | Big Ten | Big West | C-USA | CAA | Horizon League | Ivy League | MAAC | MAC | MEAC | Mountain West | MVC | NEC | OVC | PAC-12 | Patriot League | SEC | Southern | Southland | Summit League | Sun Belt | SWAC | UAC | WCCAmerica East ConferenceGus Yalden, VermontLast season, the 6-foot-9 center averaged 18.9 points and made 46% of his 3-point attempts during an impressive seven-game stretch in February. He'll enter the 2026-27 season as both our America East preseason player of the year and also the most perplexing matchup in the league. He expanded his game last season with his ability to stretch the floor and hit 3s for a Vermont squad chasing its first conference tournament title and NCAA tournament berth since the 2024-24 season.Top competition: Jeremiah Quigley, Binghamton (14.5 PPG, 6.4 APG, 4.9 RPG)American ConferenceJe'Shawn Stevenson, North TexasThe 6-foot-2 guard was the staple of a squad that finished top-50 in adjusted defensive efficiency last season, which helped him earn a spot on the American's all-conference second team. He finished 16th in the league in Bart Torvik's PRPG! -- college basketball's version of baseball's WAR metric -- and should rise in those rankings this season. He also finished first in the conference in steals rate and committed turnovers about once every 10 possessions. Top competition: William Berg, Wichita State (8.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.3 BPG)Atlantic Coast ConferenceFlory Bidunga, LouisvilleLast season, Bidunga -- arguably the best defensive player in the country -- was the captain of a Kansas squad that finished ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom last season. The 6-foot-10 big man averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, and anchored a Kansas squad that had to weather Darryn Peterson's injury-related absences. Overall, opposing players missed 54 of 85 shots they attempted against Bidunga around the arc last season, according to Synergy Sports data. Top competition: Thijs De Ridder, Virginia Tech (15.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 57% clip inside the arc)ASUN ConferenceAvantae Parker, QueensThe catalyst for the best offense in the Atlantic Sun, Parker made 71% of his shots around the rim last season. But he was also a defensive presence who recorded four blocks and three steals during the team's run to the Atlantic Sun tournament championship. The 6-foot-9 forward helped his team earn an NCAA tournament berth in its first year of eligibility after transitioning to Division I following a successful stint in Division II that included a Final Four appearance in 2018. Top competition: Collin Kuhl, Stetson (13.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 66% inside the arc)Atlantic 10 ConferenceTrey Green, Saint LouisYou also could put Saint Louis standouts Amari McCottry and Kellen Thames in this spot. Robbie Avila, the reigning Atlantic 10 player of the year, is also seeking a fifth year of competition through the court system. But the 6-foot Green's success last season -- 44% from beyond the arc and 55% from inside the arc -- was proof of concept. This season, assuming Avila remains sidelined, Green will get more touches as one of the most important playmakers on this roster. Top competition: Lazar Djokovic, VCU (13.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.2 BPG)Big East ConferenceSilas Demary Jr., UConnLast season, Demary -- who averaged 10.1 points and 5.9 rebounds while connecting on 39% of his 3-point attempts -- emerged as one of the most efficient players in America. Per Evan Miya's individual efficiency rankings, Demary (No. 22) was ranked higher than NBA lottery picks Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 24), Caleb Wilson (No. 26) and Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 36). This season, he'll take on the same starring role Alex Karaban had under coach Dan Hurley in his four years with the program. Top competition: Nigel James Jr., Marquette (16.4 PPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG)Big Sky ConferenceAlton Hamilton IV, Eastern WashingtonWeeks before the Big Sky Conference season started, Hamilton -- a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 13.5 points and 5.7 rebounds -- proved himself with a series of notable efforts against high-major opponents. He registered double figures against UCLA (13 points), Colorado (18 points), Utah (19 points) and BYU (13 points). He then led the league's most efficient offense in conference play. His return to Eastern Washington should position Dan Monson's squad to build on last season's 11-7 finish in league action. Top competition: Christian King, Montana State (12.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG)Big South ConferenceJason Rivera-Torres, High PointThe former Monmouth star earned All-CAA second-team honors last season after scoring 20 points or more in eight games. The 6-foot-7 guard, who averaged 15.8 points last season, is joining a High Point squad that has been the top offensive team in the Big South for three consecutive seasons under Alan Huss. Rivera-Torres, within that system, will get opportunities to achieve the offensive production to earn conference player of the year consideration and help the program earn its third consecutive NCAA tournament berth. Top competition: Carl Parrish, Presbyterian (14.4 PPG, 40% from beyond the arc)Big 12 ConferenceTyran Stokes, KansasWe understand that Tamin Lipsey, Darrion Williams, Melvin Council Jr. and other fifth-year players could land in this spot by season's end, but we're going with players who don't have asterisks right now. Stokes dominated the fourth quarter of the McDonald's All American game with a strength, finesse and IQ no player in his class has matched. Those qualities are also why he has been discussed as a potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA draft and the potential ticket to another Final Four appearance for Bill Self. Top competition: Motiejus Krivas, Arizona (10.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.9 BPG)Big Ten ConferenceJeremy Fears Jr., Michigan StateMichigan State has produced some of the greatest point guards in college basketball history. Yet last season's national leader in assists with 9.4 per game has a chance to duplicate a feat that hasn't been matched in more than 40 years. Fears, who has been the preseason favorite to win the Wooden Award, has the opportunity to become the first Michigan State player since Magic Johnson to earn Associated Press All-American first-team honors (he was second team last season) while also leading the Spartans to a national title. Top competition: Elliot Cadeau, Michigan (10.5 PPG, 5.9 APG, 38% from the 3-point line)Big West ConferenceHamad Mousa, Cal PolyLast season, Mike DeGeorge's Cal Poly squad played the fastest tempo in America, according to KenPom. But a 10-10 record in Big West action and a finish in the bottom half of the standings overshadowed one of the best individual seasons in America. Few Division I players matched the production of Mousa, a 6-foot-8 wing who averaged 20.4 points and 6.3 rebounds and also made 37% of his shots from beyond the arc. With Cal Poly returning multiple starters, another big season from Mousa should warrant more attention. Top competition: Mikey Williams, Sacramento State (17.1 PPG, 4.5 APG)Coastal Athletic AssociationPatrick Wessler, UNC WilmingtonMarch is unkind to mid-majors who miss their opportunity to earn an automatic berth after a successful season. That happened to UNC-Wilmington, which won the CAA's regular-season championship before losing in the conference tournament's first round to Campbell (8-10 in league play). Wessler, an All-CAA first-team selection last season who averaged 13.6 points and 9.5 rebounds after transferring from Virginia Tech, is back to avenge that finish. The 7-footer's presence will again give UNC-Wilmington the chance to earn its second NCAA tournament berth in three seasons. Top competition: Zion Stanford, Towson (13.1 PPG at Temple in 2024-25)Conference USATeagan Moore, Western KentuckyThere is a strong case that no returning player was as dominant in their conference last season as the 6-foot-5 Western Kentucky star was a season ago. In Conference USA action, Moore finished third in offensive rating, top-25 in offensive rebounding, 17th in turnover rate and 23rd in free throw percentage (76%). He also made 55% of his 42 3-point attempts in conference action. The diversity of his stat line is unmatched in this league -- and that's before you remember that he averaged 18.7 points. Top competition: Trey Simpson, Kennesaw State (9.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 BPG)Horizon LeagueDeAndre Craig Jr., Purdue Fort WayneOn Nov. 7, 2025, Purdue Fort Wayne lost at Ohio State 94-68. That night, Craig scored 18 points and made all seven of his free throw attempts. As the season progressed, his game also matured. By the end of the season, he'd scored 16 points in 13 games. Overall, he averaged 14.0 points and 1.3 steals. He also connected on 39% of his 3-point attempts last season. With Corey Hadnot II and his 20.4 points average gone, Craig is now the No. 1 scoring option for a team that's chasing the program's first NCAA tournament berth as a Division I team. Top competition: C.J. O'Hara, Wright State (14.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 59% clip inside the arc last season at Green Bay)Ivy LeagueTJ Power, PennsylvaniaIn the Ivy League title game last season, Power scored 44 points to lead Penn to an 88-84 overtime victory against Yale to capture the program's first NCAA tournament berth since 2018 and only its second in nearly two decades. Penn was the third stop of Power's career after stints with Duke and Virginia. But the former four-star recruit proved that the third time was a charm (Powers averaged 16.4 points and shot 43% from beyond the arc) for the All-Ivy League first-team selection last season. Top competition: Robert Hinton, Harvard (16.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.4 SPG)Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceDeclan Wucherpfennig, FairfieldThe 6-foot-7 star had a strong start to his freshman season, just months after he'd led his high school team in New Jersey to a state championship. He built momentum over the course of his first season in college and hit his stride by the end: In the final six weeks, he made 61% of his shots in transition and 52% of his shots overall. He averaged 12.1 points and will enter this season as the top returning scorer in the MAAC. Top competition: Keith McKnight, Quinnipiac (11.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG)Mid-American ConferenceLuke Skaljac, Miami (Ohio)The junior was the starting point guard for a Miami team that made history with an undefeated 2025-26 regular season. For 124 days, Skaljac's squad did not suffer defeat. Skaljac, one of the few key players returning from that historic group, averaged 10.3 points and 4.7 assists last season, production that should increase now that he will be the catalyst for Travis Steele's program after losing star Pete Suder and four other starters. Top competition: Sean Jones, Toledo (6.3 PPG, 3.9 APG last season at Marquette)Mid-Eastern Athletic ConferenceCedric Taylor III, HowardTaylor, a 6-foot-7 guard who transferred to Howard from Division II Morehouse College, proved that he could compete at the next level during the 2025-26 season. In his first season at Howard, he averaged 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks. He was an All-MEAC first-team selection and the league's defensive player of the year. He also scored 19 points in his team's loss to Michigan in the first round of the NCAA tournament after scoring 16 points in the team's First Four victory over UMBC. Top competition: Brandon Gardner, Norfolk State (4.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG at Sacramento State)Missouri Valley ConferenceChase Walker, Illinois StateWalker, a 6-foot-9, 290-pound forward, has lost over 100 pounds since high school, and he has blossomed in his first three years at Illinois State. Last season, he earned All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team honors last season and averaged 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds. He also made 58% of his shots inside the arc for a team that's in pursuit of its first NCAA tournament berth since 1998. Top competition: Roman Domon, Murray State (14.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 37% from beyond the arc)Mountain West ConferenceJake Hall, New MexicoThe last time an elite guard at New Mexico had one of the best seasons in the country and entered the portal, it was Donovan Dent, who left the Lobos to join UCLA last summer. Hall, a 6-foot-4 guard who was an All-Mountain West Conference first-team selection last season, was reportedly considering seven-figure offers from high-majors after he set the school record for 3-pointers in 2025-26. Instead, he came back to New Mexico, where he could warrant All-America consideration if he can put together another stellar season in Albuquerque. Top competition: Makaih Williams, Grand Canyon (14.0 PPG, 2.5 APG)Northeast ConferenceJake Lemelman, MercyhurstThe 6-foot-2 guard stands out in a league that lost most of the first-, second- and third-team selections from last season's all-conference teams (Lemelman earned an All-NEC third-team nod). He was also one of America's top 3-point shooters, who made 39% of his attempts overall and 41% of his shots from beyond the arc in league play. Lemelman (13.9 PPG, 3.2 APG) was also a cautious ball handler who committed turnovers on only one out of 10 possessions in NEC games last season. Top competition: Raphel Laurent, Central Connecticut (22.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG at Division III UMass-Boston)Ohio Valley ConferenceAaron Bradshaw, Tennessee StateIn his first year as head coach at Tennessee State, former Duke star Nolan Smith led the Tigers to their first NCAA appearance since 1994 -- the same year Ace of Base's "The Sign" was the No. 1 song on the billboard charts. That immediate success has also allowed Smith to upgrade the team's talent pool. Bradshaw, the seven-footer who averaged 4.9 PPG for Memphis last season, was ranked sixth in the 2023 recruiting class by ESPN. While he hasn't lived up to that hype after stints at three schools, Smith will attempt to mold Bradshaw into the star many assumed he'd be after high school. Top competition: Arterio Morris, Tennessee State (11.5 PPG at Bethune-Cookman)Patriot LeagueHank Alvey, LehighThe 6-foot-9 center averaged 19.3 points in three Patriot League tournament games to lead his team to the championship and the school's first NCAA tournament bid in 14 years. Although Lehigh lost in the First Four to Prairie View A&M, Alvey had 23 points and 15 rebounds in that game. He's the most impactful returnee in the league, especially on defense. In Patriot League action, opposing players made only 40% of their attempts around the rim against Alvey, who averaged 15.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. Top competition: Andrew Alekseyenko, Colgate (14.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 38% from beyond the arc)Pac-12 ConferenceMason Falslev, Utah StateFalslev is 3-for-3 in NCAA tournament appearances during his run at Utah State, a stretch that concluded last season with the 6-foot-3 wing earning Mountain West Player of the Year honors. He averaged 16.0 points and connected on 39% of his 3-point attempts. He's also one of the top returning players in the country and certainly one of the best non-Power 4 players who didn't enter the portal, even after scoring 22 points in a win over Villanova in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Top competition: Braden Huff, Gonzaga (17.8 PPG, 5.6 APG)Southeastern ConferenceThomas Haugh, FloridaDuring SEC media days, Haugh acknowledged that if his team's season hadn't ended in the second round of last season's NCAA tournament following an upset loss to Iowa, he might not have returned. But Haugh, an Associated Press third-team All-American last year, is back as the leader of a Florida squad that's favored to win its second national championship in three seasons. If Haugh reaches all of his goals, he could win national player of the year plus a national title and earn a spot in the top 10 of the 2027 NBA draft. Top competition: Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt (19.5 PPG, 5.1 APG, 37% from beyond the arc)Southern ConferenceRickey Bradley Jr., VMILast season, Bradley returned to VMI for a second stint following a one-year stay at Georgia State. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 16.3 points and made 37% of his 3-point attempts during the 2024-25 season. He entered last season as one of the most promising players in the conference. But an undisclosed injury cost him the entire season. He's back now and ready to help the program, which was picked to finish ninth out of 11 teams in the conference's preseason poll, exceed expectations. Top competition: TJ Johnson, VMI (18.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG)Southland ConferenceLarry Johnson, McNeeseIn his first season at McNeese after Will Wade left for NC State, Bill Armstrong not only matched Wade's 28 wins from the previous season, he also guided a squad that forced more turnovers per possession than any team in the nation. Johnson, a 6-foot-4 guard who averaged 17.4 points, was the most important player in that first-year success for Armstrong and the program's return to the NCAA tournament. Johnson, a freshman last season, entered the portal after the season but announced his return five days later, setting up a season that could end with national honors. Top competition: MJ Russell, Stephen F. Austin (15.3 PPG, 1.1 BPG, 1.3 SPG at UL-Monroe)Summit LeagueCarter Bjerke, St. ThomasLast season, Bjerke helped St. Thomas win 24 games, the highest mark for a program that has been a Division I team for only five years and eligible for the NCAA tournament for only two. He's one of the top returners for a team with legitimate postseason aspirations. Last season, the 6-foot-9 sharpshooter stood out among his peers as one of only 12 players in Division I basketball who took at least 160 3-pointers last season and made at least 44% of them. Top competition: Andy Stefonowicz, North Dakota State (9.1 PPG, 4.8 APG, 1.7 SPG, 38% from beyond the arc)Sun Belt ConferenceIsaac Taveras, Southern MissThe transfer portal has changed college basketball and turned the mid-major ranks into a G League system for high-major programs. Few leagues in the country have felt the weight of that shift more than the Sun Belt Conference, which returns only three starters from last season -- in the entire league. Taveras is the leading scorer within that group and a front-runner to end the season as the player of the year in a conference full of new faces and unknowns. Top competition: Jamyron Keller, Louisiana (17.0 PPG through two games before season-ending injury last season)Southwestern Athletic ConferenceDaeshun Ruffin, Jackson StateEarlier this month, the reigning SWAC Player of the Year announced his return. Ruffin, who was fifth in the nation last season at 23.3 PPG, announced on X that the NCAA had cleared him to play a fifth season: "This is not a fifth-year extension or court ruling," he said. His return changed the race in the SWAC, putting one of the country's most productive offensive players back in the mix during the 2026-27 season. Top competition: Mike James, Alabama State (21.4 PPG at Mississippi Valley State)United Athletic ConferenceRashaud Marshall, Austin PeayAfter earning All-Atlantic Sun second-team honors last season, Marshall could go down in history as the first conference player of the year in the newly formed United Athletic Conference, formerly known as the WAC. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 16.3 points and 6.8 rebounds last season. He also made 70% of his shots inside the arc. He also averaged 27.5 points in the last six games of the 2025-26 season, one of the most impressive finishes in the nation. Top competition: Jah'Likai King, Little Rock (14.0 PPG, 82% from the free throw line at UMBC)West Coast ConferenceCarson Johnson, DenverBetween Gonzaga's move to the new Pac-12 and longtime Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett's departure to Arizona State, the West Coast Conference is entering a new chapter. New conference member Denver could leave its mark on its new home if Johnson (20.1 PPG, 41% from beyond the arc), a 6-foot guard and the reigning Summit League Player of the Year, can replicate the results from his 2025-26 season.Top competition: Joshua Dent, Saint Mary's (13.3 PPG, 5.6 APG, 40% from beyond the arc)
