ESPN's college basketball writers Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf ranked the 100 best men's players in the country on Oct. 28, and they described the list as unlike any other. "We've never had a top-100 list like this. Ever," they wrote, because it mixes elite freshmen, the best returners, rising stars and several players whose seasons could be blocked by a judge.
The top 10 is Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr., Florida forward Thomas Haugh, Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner, Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes, Arizona center Motiejus Krivas, Illinois forward David Mirkovic, Texas Tech forward JT Toppin, Duke guard John Blackwell, Florida forward Alex Condon and UConn guard Braylon Mullins.
Further down the top 20, ESPN ranks Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey No. 12, Arkansas freshman Jordan Smith Jr. No. 13, Arizona freshman Caleb Holt No. 14, Florida center Rueben Chinyelu No. 15, UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. No. 16 and BYU guard Robert Wright III No. 17. Louisville's Flory Bidunga is No. 11. The writers said Smith was the best guard in the 2026 high school class, and that Holt could compete for the top spot in the 2027 NBA draft.
The list also reflects the sport's new economics. The authors named Fears, Haugh and Milan Momcilovic as players who collected significant NIL fees to return to school, and they said Seth Trimble, Mark Mitchell, Robbie Avila, Tamin Lipsey and others are fighting for a fifth season of eligibility. Hoops HQ's competing list excludes all fifth-year players because of that uncertainty.
The season starts this week, and Raw 100.5 will follow Memphis and Tennessee as the games begin.
Sources: ESPN, Hoops HQ