College basketball is almost back. The 2025–26 season tips off Monday, ushering in another year of intrigue, talent and high expectations.
Can Florida defend its national title? Will Houston or Purdue finally break through? And who will claim national player of the year honors — a seasoned star like Purdue’s Braden Smith or Texas Tech’s JT Toppin or a dynamic freshman ready to take over?
Beyond the headlines, plenty of players and storylines deserve attention. Here are 10 names to know — in alphabetical order — as a new season begins.
The Boozer Twins, Duke Blue Devils
OK, these are two names here, but you must know them. Power forward Cameron Boozer (6-foot-9) and point guard Cayden Boozer (6-foot-4), both five-star prospects, won a state title last season at Miami’s Columbus High and are expected to play key roles as freshmen at Duke, which eyes a return trip to the Final Four. Cameron Boozer is a preseason All-American candidate.
Trilly Donovan, Burner Account
In recent years, Donovan has built up almost a cult-like following. He’s also associated with an excellent media outlet called Basket Under Review. Consider following him on X, where he provides plenty of scoops.
Noah Eagle, Broadcaster
The 28-year-old is a rising star in the sports broadcasting world. He will serve as one of NBC Sports’ lead play-by-play announcers for men’s college basketball games. He is also a broadcaster for the NBA and Big Ten Conference football. Eagle’s dad, Ian Eagle, is the voice of the men’s Final Four.
Boogie Fland, Florida Gators
Fland had a solid freshman season at Arkansas (13.5 PPG), helping lead the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16. Then the 6-foot-3 guard transferred to defending national champ Florida, where he is expected to be starting point guard. He has big shoes to fill in trying to replace former first-team All-American Walter Clayton Jr. Florida is ranked third in the preseason AP poll.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan Wolverines
The 6-foot-9 forward, a graduate student, was a two-time All-American Conference first-team performer at Alabama-Birmingham before transferring to Michigan. The Wolverines, ranked third in the preseason Associated Press top 10, and Purdue likely will give the Big Ten its best shot to win a national title since Michigan State in 2000. Lendeborg is on the preseason AP All-America first team.
Tyler Lundblade, Belmont Bruins
The graduate student last season led the nation in three-point shooting (48.1 percent) and on a high volume of attempts (216). Could the former TCU/SMU player lead the country in three-point shooting again? Don’t bet against this 6-foot-5 guard. Fun fact: His brother brother Brad played in the NFL as a center.
Steven Pearl, Auburn head coach
Pearl has big shoes to fill, as in September he replaced his dad, Bruce Pearl, as head coach. Bruce Pearl won 246 games at Auburn and took the Tigers to the Final Four in 2025 and 2019. Auburn is the No. 20 team in the preseason AP Top 25.
Darryn Peterson, Kansas Jayhawks
Since winning the national championship in 2022, Kansas (No. 19 in AP poll) hasn’t advanced past the Big Dance’s second round. If the Jayhawks go on a deep run this season, Peterson will be a big reason why. The guard was the No. 1 national prospect in the 2025 class, and analysts think the 6-foot-5 guard has a good shot at being an All-American and the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Jim Phillips, ACC commissioner
In recent seasons, Atlantic Coast Conference teams have advanced far in the NCAA Tournament, but the number of ACC squads getting invited to the Big Dance has lagged way behind other power leagues. (Only four — Duke, Clemson, Louisville, and North Carolina — got invites last season; the SEC had a record 14 invites.) The pressure is on Phillips and his conference to get back to its historical excellence. The ACC made the decision this season to add two more non-conference games to improve member schools’ postseason resumes. Will it pay off?
Kelvin Sampson, Houston head coach
Sampson is on an incredible run with the Cougars, having won at least 30 games in the past four seasons (32, 33, 32, 35). Under his guidance, Houston went to the 2021 Final Four, and the Cougars lost a heartbreaker to Florida this past spring in the national title game. Houston is No. 2 in the preseason AP top 25. This might be Sampson’s best chance to win it all.
