Duke freshman Cameron Boozer stands alone at number one in the midseason ranking of the top 50 men's college basketball players for the 2025-26 season. ESPN released the list on January 28, 2026, placing Boozer ahead of everyone based on his play so far, while ranking the rest from strong showings in games across the country.
Background
Men's college basketball entered the 2025-26 season with high expectations for a group of freshmen who scouts and coaches had watched for years. This class showed up big in preseason top 100 lists, with three freshmen in the top six spots and 12 in the top 100 overall. Experts adjusted those early rankings to account for the talent coming in, but the actual play has gone beyond what most predicted.
Duke's Cameron Boozer arrived with a record as a winner from high school and international play. At the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, he averaged 20.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. In the FIBA U16 Americas Championship, those numbers sat at 16.8 points and 9.8 rebounds. Now in college, he has kept that pace while helping Duke stay near the top of the polls.
The season started with nonconference games, where many of these young players faced weaker teams. As conference play began, the real tests came. Duke lost its first game to Texas Tech before Christmas, ending an undefeated run. Other top teams like Kansas and BYU saw their freshmen step up in tougher matchups. By midseason, the rankings shifted to match what players had done on the court.
Key Details
Cameron Boozer leads the nation in scoring at 23.7 points per game. He ranks in the top 20 for rebounds with 9.9 per game and hands out 4.1 assists. His field goal percentage sits above 58 percent, all while playing for a top-five team. In one game against rival Utah, a player scored a career-high 43 points in a win, showing growth across the board.
Freshmen Dominating the List
The top spots feature freshmen heavily. AJ Dybantsa of BYU comes in strong with 23.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. In December, he averaged 27 points, eight rebounds, and five assists over seven games on 64 percent shooting. Darryn Peterson at Kansas scores at a high clip despite some hamstring problems.
Kingston Flemings of Houston puts up 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. He scored 19 against Cincinnati and 23 against Texas Tech, including nine points in the last two minutes of a comeback win. Darius Acuff at Arkansas averages 19.5 points and 6.0 assists. Keaton Wagler of Illinois has jumped into the mix with 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, shooting 46 percent from three since December.
Ebuka Okorie at Stanford scores 22.0 points per game and hit 28-plus in three of his last four, including 28 in a win over Louisville. Brayden Burries of Arizona has 14.2 points and shot 71 percent from two-point range in his last seven games, with a 28-point game against Alabama. Cayden Boozer, Cameron's brother at Duke, lands at number 40.
Upperclassmen Holding Steady
Veterans fill out the middle and lower parts of the top 50. Tamin Lipsey of Iowa State sits at 32. Blue Cain from Georgia is 33. Henri Veesaar of North Carolina ranks 34. Paul McNeil Jr. at North Carolina State is 36, and Tarris Reed Jr. of Connecticut is 37. Names like Tounde Yessoufou of Baylor, Meleek Thomas of Arkansas, and Darrion Williams of North Carolina State round out the 30s and 40s. The list goes down to Dash Daniels at 50, with others like Bruce Thornton of Ohio State and Zuby Ejiofor of St. John's just outside.
Duke's success ties to Boozer and teammate Isaiah Evans. The Blue Devils sit at 19-1 and ranked fourth nationally. Boozer averages 23.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He sets up strong in the post, hard to stop on fades or finishes through contact.
"Boozer brought a reputation as a high-level winner and producer into college, and he has been exactly that since the season began." – ESPN analyst
What This Means
These rankings set the stage for the rest of the season and awards talk. Boozer looks like the favorite for National Player of the Year, leading in key stats for a top team. If the season ended now, he would be the first player in over 20 years to average 23 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
Freshmen like Dybantsa and Peterson push for top spots in 2026 NBA draft talk. Dybantsa makes a case for number one pick with his December run. Peterson scores despite injuries, and AJ Dybantsa reminds everyone of his 6-foot-9 frame, dexterity, and shooting.
Conference play will test these rankings. Duke faces more ACC games, BYU pushes in its league, and Houston looks to build on wins over Texas Tech. Players like Flemings and Okorie could climb with consistent play against big opponents. Upperclassmen like Lipsey and Reed hold value for teams in tournament hunts.
The list shows how this freshman class has changed college basketball faster than expected. Teams with these players sit high in rankings, and individual stats drive national conversations. As games continue, shifts will happen based on wins, losses, and big performances. NBA scouts watch closely, with Boozer already called the best player in college as an 18-year-old. His size at 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds, plus skills in the post, from three, and passing, set him apart. Adjustments against bigger defenders come with time, but his early impact stands clear.
