Overview
- USA TODAY’s first team features Purdue’s Braden Smith, Kentucky’s Otega Oweh, Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, and Florida’s Alex Condon.
- Braden Smith’s case is backed by 313 assists and 15.8 points per game last season, underscoring his status as a senior headliner.
- JT Toppin returns after averaging 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds in 2024-25, reinforcing his place among the top forwards.
- SBNation released its own preseason All-America teams and named Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg Preseason Player of the Year.
- SBNation tabbed Kansas guard Darryn Peterson as Preseason Freshman of the Year, with Peterson, Dybantsa, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer highlighted as immediate-impact freshmen.