Top 20 Players in College Basketball Entering the 2026-27 Season

Roster continuity and veteran leadership are the most valuable commodities in college basketball. As coaching staff and front offices evaluate roster math for the upcoming season, several high-impact stars have the option to run it back for a fifth year. We expanded our master index to power rank the top 20 fifth-year college basketball players who could return. From Missouri forward Mark Mitchell Jr., Auburn star Keyshawn Hall, Ole Miss wing AJ Storr, and UCLA assist-maestro Donovan Dent leading the top tier, to fresh additions like UCF's Riley Kugel, Stanford's Chisom Okpara, Villanova double-double machine Duke Brennan, and Arkansas big man Malique Ewin, we break down every player's stats and postseason impact. Check out our expanded 20-player big board to see which returning veterans could shape the national championship chase.

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Dan Morgan breaks down how sports agents have now begun to impact high schools through NIL deals and brand sponsorships for teen athletes, ahead of their time.

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View the profile of DePaul Blue Demons G Layden Blocker on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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Layden Blocker is a G for the DePaul Blue Demons in the NCAAB.

DePaul Blue Demons

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Layden Blocker

#2 · DEP · G

HT/WT

6’2”, 195 lbs

Birthplace

Little Rock, AR, USA

Class

Junior

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