A New Favorite Emerges in the 2026 Naismith College Player of the Year Race
The race for College Basketball Player of the Year has rarely felt this wide open, and the sheer variety of candidates underscores how unpredictable the season has been. Yaxel Lendeborg has emerged as one of the most complete two-way players in the country, anchoring his team with relentless rebounding and defensive versatility while also providing efficient scoring. Meanwhile, Michigan has been utterly dominant, not just in wins but in every advanced metric; KenPom, Torvik, and Evan Moya’s rankings all have the Wolverines sitting comfortably at the top, a testament to their balance and overwhelming efficiency. That dominance has made it difficult to single out one star from their roster, but it has elevated the conversation around how team success factors into individual awards. Cam Boozer at Duke, however, has been impossible to ignore. The son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer has shown why he’s worth a top-three pick in the upcoming draft, blending power and finesse in ways that make him look like a future franchise cornerstone. His genetics may have given him the foundation, but his skill development and ability to take over games have been the dividends paying off in real time.
Beyond those headline names, Iowa State has quietly built one of the most consistent trios in the nation with Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, and Milan Momcilovic. Each has contributed to the Cyclones’ steady success. Still, Jefferson deserves to be in the Player of the Year conversation thanks to his scoring bursts and ability to impact both ends of the floor. Purdue’s Braden Smith, despite struggling lately, remains a candidate because of his leadership and playmaking, which have kept the Boilermakers in contention. Injuries have slowed Darryn Peterson, but his dominance when healthy has reminded everyone why he’s also considered a top-three draft pick, his scoring instincts and athleticism are simply too strong to ignore. Then there’s AJ Dybantsa, who has been a revelation, scoring at all three levels and carrying his team in crunch time. Ryan Conwell has made his case by being one of the most efficient shooters in the country, stretching defenses and punishing opponents with his perimeter accuracy. JT Toppin, meanwhile, has been a force in the paint, and the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year has been carrying a Texas Tech team that can be scary down the line. Toppin has been combining rim protection with interior scoring to give his team a reliable presence in the toughest moments, and each of these players has carved out a narrative that could easily sway voters depending on how the final stretch of the season unfolds.
What makes this year’s race so compelling is that even names outside the current spotlight could surge into contention. Graham Ike has been a steady interior anchor for Gonzaga, and if his team continues to string together wins, his production could force him into the conversation. Labaron Philon, for Alabama, with his dynamic guard play and ability to take over games, is another candidate who could rise if his squad maintains consistency. The reality is that no single player has separated themselves completely from the pack, and the award feels like it could tilt in multiple directions depending on late-season performances. Michigan’s dominance might suggest a team-driven narrative, but the individual brilliance of Boozer, Jefferson, Peterson, Dybantsa, Conwell, and Toppin keeps the race alive. With so many legitimate cases and the margins between them razor-thin, the Player of the Year battle is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory, a true reflection of a season where every game, every stat line, and every clutch performance could tip the scales.
