Jeremy Fears Jr. is our pick for Big Ten player of the year. Who else gets the nod? AP Photo/Al GoldisMyron MedcalfOct 20, 2026, 07:40 AM ETClose Covers college basketball Joined ESPN.com in 2011 Graduate of Minnesota State University, MankatoMultiple AuthorsOpen 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 appeara
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