The Most Popular 2026 NCAA Tournament Players, According to PrizePicks

As college basketball fans fill out their NCAA Tournament brackets every year, they search for the next breakout player in college basketball.

Last year, it was Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. powering the Gators to a national championship. Before that, UConn’s Kemba Walker ripped through the field in 2011. And it doesn’t apply to just national title contenders: Davidson’s Stephen Curry led a memorable Cinderella run in 2008.

So what player could be the next breakout star to carry their team through the NCAA tournament?

PrizePicks analyzed millions of college basketball picks from the 2025-26 college basketball season to find the most popular players for users — and compared early- and late-season trends to spotlight this year’s biggest risers who could make their name known

Here’s what data tells us about the standout college basketball players that could define the 2026 NCAA Tournament. 

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Most Popular College Basketball Players in 2026 NCAA Tournament

Duke power forward Cameron Boozer leads one of college basketball’s best squads as the favorite to win Naismith Player of the Year, earning Boozer a top spot in 2026 NBA mock drafts. The true freshman’s long list of accomplishments has certainly secured one thing: popularity.

PrizePicks users picked Cameron Boozer more than any other player 2025-26 college basketball season — they also backed him with more entry fees, too. Among PrizePicks college basketball picks, Boozer’s points projection was the most popular choice by total entry fees, across all stat types and players.

Another freshman phenom, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, was the second-most popular player in total picks; Dybantsa’s points projection was the second-highest entry fees for picks by stat type on PrizePicks.

If there’s one theme this season, it’s all about freshmen. Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, and Houston point guard Kingston Flemings are more first-year players on this list. That’s an incredible five freshmen who make up the players with the most picks across this season.

Here’s a full list of the top 10 most popular college basketball players by total picks from the 2025-26 regular season, via PrizePicks data.

1. Duke F Cameron Boozer
2. BYU F AJ Dybantsa
3. Michigan State PG Jeremy Fears Jr.
4. Wisconsin SG John Blackwell
5. Alabama G Labaron Philon
6. Gonzaga F Graham Ike
7. Arkansas PG Darius Acuff
8. Kansas G Darryn Peterson
9. Houston PG Kingston Flemings
10. Iowa State F Joshua Jefferson

Guards often rule the NCAA Tournament, and seven of the 10 most popular college basketball players are in the backcourt. 

Acuff draws the eye, as he finished 28th among players for the highest hit rates — or correct picks — on PrizePicks while averaging 22.2 points this year.

Gonzaga F Graham Ike joins Acuff as a top-10 player in total picks to also finish in the top 30 of hit rate (19th). The senior big man brings experience to the NCAA Tournament as one of the nation’s best frontcourt players.

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Will These College Basketball Players Stay Hot in the NCAA Tournament?

In the NCAA Tournament, it’s not about what you did to start the year — it’s what you do to finish it. So what about the players that are at the right time?

We’ve got you covered with the highest change in total picks from the first half of the season (Nov. 1-Jan. 11) to the second half of the season (Jan. 12-March 5).

Frankly, not many star players appear on the PrizePicks list, as many stars have made themselves known all year.

Tennessee guard Bishop Boswell, Texas A&M guard Marcus Hill, and Nebraska guard Sam Hoiberg are all within the five highest mid-season shifts; however, each player logs under 11.0 points per game (PPG). 

Perhaps this hints at unlikely players rising to the occasion in the tournament.

The Houston Cougars — who are among the national title favorites — feature two players who have seen more picks in the second half of the season: Joseph Tugler and Emanuel Sharp. 

Could this highlight a run from the Cougars with some of their best players peaking for the postseason?

Here’s a full list of the top 10 college basketball players with the highest change in total picks since the mid-season point of the 2025-26 regular season, according to PrizePicks.

1. Tennessee G Bishop Boswell
2. Texas A&M G Marcus Hill
3. TCU F Xavier Edmonds
4. Saint Louis C Robbie Avila
5. Nebraska G Sam Hoiberg
6. Houston F Joseph Tugler
7. Texas Tech G Donovan Atwell
8. Houston G Emanuel Sharp
9. Arizona G Brayden Burries
10. Wisconsin G John Blackwell

Leading one of the nation’s best mid-major teams, Saint Louis C Robbie Avila could have the makings of a postseason darling as a key piece for the 9-seed Billikens.

Avila had the fourth-highest spike in pick volume in the back half of the season. He also generated real-money wins on PrizePicks, with the second-highest hit rate among players since January 12.

TCU F Xavier Edmonds boasts the highest season-long overall hit rate among the top 10 on this list, finishing second for the 2025-26 regular season on PrizePicks. If the Horned Frogs sneak into the NCAA Tournament, they could have their star to lean on.

Shifting our focus to national championship contenders, the secret could be out on Arizona G Brayden Burries, as he finished ninth for the highest change in total picks since the mid-season. Since Jan. 12, Burries has five 20+ point games, including 31 points vs. Colorado to finish the regular season.

Once again, Burries fits the stellar freshman narrative for the 2026 NCAA Tournament on a team that looks poised to make a run.

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Make NCAA Tournament Picks on PrizePicks

From upset predictions to national championship picks for the NCAA Tournament, PrizePicks has it all in one spot, giving you the chance to earn real money with your tournament predictions.

For Player Picks, simply pick More or Less on two or more players’ projection stats across the sports board, and earn money if you’re right. Will some of the most popular college basketball players from the regular season yield results in the NCAA Tournament?

Keep tabs on the Playbook for continued college basketball predictions, picks, and news all the way through the NCAA Tournament.

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