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.

Ranking the Top 20 5th-Year College Basketball Players Who Could Return for 2026

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UConn, favored by the Big East at 11.5 points against Butler, divides experts on covering the spread in a crucial matchup. James Young joins to break it down.

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LATEST Michael Ajayi NEWS

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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Dan Morgan and Dan Sileo discuss NIL&#039;s role in college sports and how it has supported athletes, boosted brand deals, and pushed for better regulations.

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View the profile of Butler Bulldogs F Michael Ajayi on SportsGrid. Get the latest news, stats, player prop picks, related players, and more on SportsGrid.com.

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Michael Ajayi is a F for the Butler Bulldogs in the NCAAB.

Butler Bulldogs

Other players from the same team as Michael Ajayi on the Butler Bulldogs roster.

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Treyson Anderson

Eduardo Klafke

Yame Butler

Jalen Jackson

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Michael Ajayi

#5 · BUT · F

HT/WT

6’6”, 235 lbs

Birthplace

Kent, WA, USA

Class

GR

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