Who Are the Best Shooters Heading into the 2025-26 College Basketball Season?
Every college basketball season, a new wave of scorers emerges, but pure shooters are a different breed. They don’t just score; they change the geometry of the floor. As defenses stretch to contain them, spacing opens up, and offenses thrive. Heading into the 2025–26 season, a handful of players have already proven they can bury shots from deep at elite clips. From big-program stars to mid-major marksmen, these shooters all have one thing in common: the potential to clear 40% from three on real volume and show the world they can light it up from deep.
At Kansas State, Abdi Bashir Jr. might be the most prolific pure shooter in the country. After transferring from Monmouth, Bashir brings an elite resume. He led the nation with 127 made threes on 332 attempts last season. His quick release and confidence in transition make him one of the Big 12’s most dangerous weapons, and if his accuracy translates, he could challenge the 40% mark again, even against stronger defenses. Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan both have proven at Houston what consistency looks like. Two returning starters for the Cougars, Sharp hit 87 triples last season while shooting just over 40% from deep, and Uzan shot above 40% as well. Their fluid mechanics and balance off the catch make them all a model of efficiency in Kelvin Sampson’s disciplined system. Few guards in the nation combine volume and precision like these two. Fletcher Loyer has quietly become Purdue’s most dependable perimeter threat. The senior guard shot 44.4% from beyond the arc on 169 attempts last season, ranking among national leaders. With defenders keying in on Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith, Loyer’s catch-and-shoot ability opens everything up, and he’s the definition of a shooter who thrives within a structured offense. For Milan Momcilovic at Iowa State, efficiency comes naturally. He hit 39.6% of his threes as a sophomore while ranking among the Cyclones’ leading scorers. His high release and smooth stroke make him nearly automatic from the corners, and he’s poised for another leap as Iowa State continues to space the floor around his shot. A pair of Iowa guards, Brendan Hausen and Bennett Stirtz, headline a new wave of Big Ten shooters. Hausen, a Kansas State transfer known for his movement shooting, has shown the ability to get hot quickly, while Stirtz knocked down around 40% of his threes last season and should get even more looks in Ben McCollum’s up-tempo system. Both fit the Hawkeyes’ tradition of spacing the floor and hunting open looks. These two guards will be pivotal for McCollum’s and Iowa’s success.
Mid-majors are represented well, too. Sharron Young of Akron earned All-MAC Freshman honors after shooting roughly 40% from three in his debut season. His confidence and shot preparation already mirror veteran shooters, and his role as a lead guard gives him the green light to take even more this year. Stephan Swenson at UC Santa Barbara is another steady hand, known for his quick release and off-ball movement that keeps defenses honest in the Big West. Swenson is poised for another year of being at the top in every perimeter shooting statistic. Honor Huff at West Virginia and Lamar Wilkerson at Indiana also project as breakout threats, and both have the mechanics and shot profiles to climb past 40% if they maintain rhythm and confidence through conference play. Wilkerson will likely lead the Hoosiers in all-around scoring, while Huff may lead the nation in three-point percentage again. Ryan Conwell at Louisville has quietly developed into one of the ACC’s most reliable shooters, and he will be joined by other top perimeter guards, which will free up space for Conwell to dominate. Solo Ball at UConn, though not yet a household name, has drawn buzz as a natural shooter in Dan Hurley’s system. His ability to stretch the floor could make him an unexpected factor in UConn’s bid back to the top.
Conclusion
The common thread among all these players — from Houston’s Sharp to Akron’s Young — is that shooting travels. No matter the conference, the system, or the defensive pressure, great shooters find ways to score efficiently. College basketball has always celebrated explosive athletes and elite defenders, but the modern game belongs to players who can hit threes in volume and under pressure. If these names perform as expected, the 2025–26 season could be remembered as one of the most accurate shooting years in recent college basketball history.
