College Basketball’s Best Player: Coaches Weigh In

Welcome back to CBS Sports’ Candid Coaches feature, where we survey men’s Division I coaches to get their honest opinions on the latest trends and storylines in college basketball. This year, nearly 100 coaches shared their insights on a range of topics, including who they think will be the best college basketball player in the 2026-27 season.

As we’ve discussed in previous years, the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, revenue-sharing, and unlimited transfers has dramatically changed the college basketball landscape. Gone are the days when top players would leave for the pros as soon as they became eligible. Today, with the potential for lucrative NIL deals and the ability to earn more money in college, many players are opting to return for their senior seasons.

According to our poll, Thomas Haugh, a 6-foot-9 forward from Florida, is the clear favorite to be the national player of the year. Haugh received over 40% of the vote, a higher percentage than Cooper Flagg received two preseasons ago. Haugh’s decision to return to Florida for a fourth season was a surprise to many, considering he could have easily been a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Instead, he opted for a reported payday worth between $8 to $10 million, a financially sensible move considering he’ll be playing in fewer games than his NBA counterparts.

Coaches were impressed by Haugh’s all-around game, citing his ability to score, rebound, defend multiple positions, and make plays for his teammates. ‘He’s proven he can perform at the highest level, and what separates him is how complete his game is,’ said one coach. Another coach noted, ‘Not only is he NBA-ready right now, he’s back and playing against younger guys in most cases. But, his biggest advantage is that he will be running it back with a special group. Florida doesn’t have to start over with a new roster.’

Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears finished second in our poll, with coaches praising his leadership and ability to make others around him better. ‘He is an elite leader and he makes others around him better,’ said one coach. ‘Also, the respect I have for [Michigan State coach Tom] Izzo and how they do things speaks for itself.’

Other notable players who received votes include Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner, who finished third in our poll, and Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, who was tied for sixth despite being unavailable to start the season due to a torn ACL. Coaches were impressed by Toppin’s talent, with one saying, ‘JT Toppin would be going for three straight Big 12 Player of the Year [awards] if he doesn’t get hurt at the end of last season. Not a harder player to prepare for in college basketball.’

While freshmen have won national player of the year each of the past two years, our poll suggests that this season may be different. Kansas’ Tyran Stokes, a 6-8 wing and the top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2026, received the most votes among freshmen. However, to win NPOY, Stokes will have to out-perform more-experienced projected first-round picks like Haugh, UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Duke’s Dame Sarr.

Our poll results suggest that Thomas Haugh is the favorite to be the national player of the year, with many coaches praising his all-around game and decision to return to Florida for a fourth season. However, with the rise of NIL deals and revenue-sharing, it’s clear that the college basketball landscape has changed dramatically, and players like Haugh are reaping the benefits.

Quotes from Coaches

Here are some quotes from coaches on Thomas Haugh:

• ‘Not only is he NBA-ready right now, he’s back and playing against younger guys in most cases. But, his biggest advantage is that he will be running it back with a special group.’
• ‘He’s proven he can perform at the highest level, and what separates him is how complete his game is.’
• ‘Throwback guy who is a proven winner. Oozing with intangibles. He has gotten better each year in Gainesville.’

And here are some quotes from coaches on Jeremy Fears:

• ‘Thomas Haugh will likely be the best statistically of all the stars, but I think Jeremy Fears will be the best player. I would be surprised if he wasn’t the most important player on a top-10 team.’
• ‘He is an elite leader and he makes others around him better. Also, the respect I have for [Michigan State coach Tom] Izzo and how they do things speaks for itself.’

And finally, here are some quotes from coaches on Tyler Tanner:

• ‘Ball-in-hand, high-usage guard who had a terrific season last year. I expect him to have another big-time year and take Vandy to new heights. He should have an edge to him to become a lottery pick next year.’
• ‘Not going to lie, I had to do some research here, but I was surprised to see that he was first team all-defense in the SEC along with averaging 19.5 ppg and 5.5 assists.’