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20 under-the-radar breakout players for the 2025-26 college basketball season

It’s never too early to start looking ahead!

Check below for our list of 20 under-the-radar breakout players for the 2025-26 college basketball season.

*A breakout player cannot average double figure points in the previous season.

In no particular order:

KJ Windham, Northwestern: Chris Collins threw Windham into the fire last season as a freshman and he’ll be even better as a sophomore. Armed with good perimeter size at 6-3, Windham should play a major role for the Wildcats in 2025-26. He averaged 11.6 points in Northwestern’s final nine games last season. 

Somto Cyril, Georgia: Asa Newell’s departure to the NBA means there’s a major void in the Bulldogs’ front court. Cyril is in position to fill it. After showing moments of promise as a freshman, the 6-11 Cyril should be much more comfortable in his own skin as a sophomore. He tallied a promising 10 points in 16 minutes in the Bulldogs’ NCAA Tournament loss to Gonzaga last March. 

Mohamed Wague, Oklahoma: Porter Moser is bullish on the 6-10 Wague, who averaged 10.0 points and nine rebounds in three postseason games last March. Now fully settled in the Sooners’ program, Wague’s numbers should spike as Oklahoma chases a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. 

Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt: Well embedded moles in Nashville have sent word that Tanner has vastly improved during the offseason after he averaged 20.5 minutes as a freshman. The 6-foot point guard knows what he’s good at and is good at what he knows. His steadying influence should be a major part of the Commodores in Year Two under Mark Byington. 

Zaide Lowery, Marquette: Can a player who only reached double figures three times last season become a consistent, double-figure scorer in 2025-26? Don’t rule it out of the realm of possibility. The 6-5 Lowery was a reserve last season for the Golden Eagles, but Stevie Mitchell, Kam Jones, and David Joplin have all since departed Marquette’s program. It says here Lowery could pick up some of the slack offensively. 

Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence: The jump is coming. Repeat: The jump is coming. The 6-10 Erhunmwunse averaged 8.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over the Friars’ final nine games of last season and a sophomore spike feels inevitable. The jump is coming. 

Jamie Kaiser, Butler: A former top-50 recruit, Kaiser didn’t play during all of last season due to injury. With Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort no longer in the Bulldogs’ program, production from the 6-6 Kaiser is paramount if Butler is going to be competitive in the Big East. Thad Matta needs mileage out of this guy. 

NJ Benson, DePaul: The Blue Demons’ staff knocked it out of the park with their evaluation of Benson two years ago out of the transfer portal. After solid production at Missouri State, the 6-8 Benson performed last season like a legitimate Big East big man, averaging 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in 21.9 minutes. Much more feels well within Benson’s reach. Remember the name. 

Brandin Cummings, Pitt: Like a volcano just waiting to erupt, Cummings is primed to emerge into one of the top scorers in the ACC this season. The 6-3 guard averaged 15.3 points last season in games where he logged 30 minutes or more, highlighted by a 30-point performance against Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 11th. This is the next great guard in the Panthers’ program under Jeff Capel. 

Dillon Hunter, Clemson: Veteran perimeter experience has been a major part of the Tigers’ success over the past few years. This team doesn’t seem to have it, which is why Hunter’s presence is so critical. While he’s never been more than an ancillary piece during his college career, Hunter now has an opportunity to step into a major role for Clemson. He’s averaged double figure minutes in all three years of his college career. 

Paul McNeil, NC State: Will Wade’s ability to retain McNeil could wind up paying dividends for the Wolfpack. A capable offensive player, McNeil has the makings of a quality piece in an ACC rotation. The 6-5 guard scored in double figures four times in NC State’s final eight games of last season. 

Juke Harris, Wake Forest: Harris had flashes as a freshman and he’s got the makings of a really good offensive player as a sophomore. Super wiry at 6-7, Harris should emerge for the Demon Deacons on the perimeter post-Hunter Sallis and Cam Hildreth. 

Ramon Walker, Houston: A potential Glue Guy to monitor? You better believe it. Injuries have always cut short Walker’s role in the Cougars’ rotation, but if healthy, he could add major intangibles. 6-5 and seasoned, keep an eye on this guy as a valuable piece for Houston this season. 

Nate Heise, Iowa State: A sixth-year senior with three potential All-Big 12 players around him in Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson, and Milan Momcilovic? Buy stock now! I love older players in this climate and I love Heise’s upside to play his best basketball yet in Ames in 2025-26. After averaging 5.1 points in 20.7 minutes last season, the 6-5 Heise could flirt with averaging double figures this season. 

David Castillo, Kansas State: After arriving with massive expectations as a freshman, Castillo struggled in his first season of college basketball. A bounce back effort feels in the cards for this former top-100 recruit. He’ll be part of a recalibrated perimeter for the Wildcats that also features PJ Haggerty (Memphis), Nate Johnson (Akron), Abdi Bashir (Monmouth), and international prospect Andrej Kostic. 

Keanu Dawes, Utah: There weren’t many holdovers for Alex Jensen in Salt Lake City, but Dawes was a critical one. He saved his best for last a year ago, tallying a combined 40 points and 24 rebounds in the Utes’ final two games of the 2024-25 season. Jensen would settle for a third of that on a nightly basis as he aims to lead his alma mater out of the Big 12’s basement. 

Bangot Dak, Colorado: The 6-11 Dak made a major jump a year ago, going from averaging 1.7 points as a freshman to 8.2 points as a sophomore. Emerging as a consistent double-figure scorer now feels imminent. Dak looks the part physically, but he’s just got to add consistency to become an All-Big 12 player as a junior. 

David Punch, TCU: The highest compliment that I can give Punch is his collegiate progression feels eerily similar to some of the big men that Jamie Dixon nurtured when he was at Pitt. This guy is going to be an All-Big 12 player at some point in his career. Don’t be shocked if he flirts with averaging a double-double around in 2025-26 after tallying averages of 6.5 points and 4.4 rebounds a year ago. 

Brandon Williams, UCLA: Many people forgot about the 6-9 Williams, but they’ll soon remember. The 6-9 forward started multiple games for the Bruins two years ago before redshirting last season. He’ll be an important piece up front for Mick Cronin and the Bruins this season. 

Godswill Erheriene, Seton Hall: There weren’t many moments of promise during the Pirates’ seven-win campaign a year ago, but retaining the 6-9 Erheriene was a positive. He gained valuable Big East experience last season as a freshman and will be even better as a sophomore. Remember: Erheriene tallied a double-double — 12 points and 10 rebounds — in Seton Hall’s upset win over UConn in February. 

Leftovers