Top Mid-Major Players In The 2026 NCAA Tournament

Basketball teams around the country are gearing up for March Madness.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 mid-major players to keep an eye on in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The action begins Tuesday with a showdown between No. 16 seeds UMBC and Howard. 

Graham Ike, Gonzaga

The 6-foot-9 fifth-year senior led the Zags to their 23rd West Coast Conference Tournament title since 1999. He leads the WCC with 19.7 points a game, posted a conference-best 14 double-doubles, and averages 8.5 rebounds a night. Ike scored at least 20 points in a game 16 times this season, including in a streak of nine-straight games. That span included a season-high 35 against Oregon State and 34 against NCAA Tournament qualifier Saint Mary’s. 

Dominique Daniels Jr., California Baptist

Daniels, who began his career at San Bernardino Valley College, may be the most talented mid-major scorer in the country. The 5-foot-10 fifth-year senior ranks No. 5 in the country with 23.2 points a game. He has scored at least 20 points in six straight games and in nine of the Lancers’ past 10 contests, including 41 in the semifinals of the WAC Tournament and 23 in the championship game against Utah Valley. Daniels scored a career-high 47 points against Utah Valley in January. 

Izaiyah Nelson, USF 

Nelson cleaned up in the American Athletic Conference awards, earning Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year. The 6-foot-10 transfer from Arkansas State has 18 double-doubles on his resume this season. He’s averaging 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds a game, leads the Bulls with 45 blocks, and ranks No. 2 on the team with 54 steals. He’s also shooting 56 percent from the floor. 

Tavari Johnson, Akron

Johnson earned MAC Tournament MVP after leading Akron to its third-straight conference tournament title and its fourth in the past five years. He averages 20.1 points a game. The 5-foot-11 fifth-year senior scored a season-high 35 points against Yale. He leads the Zips with 170 assists. 

Nasir Whitlock, Lehigh

Whitlock led the Mountain Hawks to the Patriot League Tournament title after averaging 21 points a game. He also leads the team with 77 3-pointers and is shooting a league-best 44.5 percent from 3-point range. 

Cruz Davis, Hofstra

The 6-foot-3 guard led Hofstra to its second CAA Tournament title since 2020 with a conference-best 20.2 points a game. Davis has scored more than 30 points in a game five times this season, including a season-high 36 against Pittsburgh. He also leads The Pride with 157 assists and 37 steals. 

Thomas Dowd, Troy

The 6-foot-8 junior has 17 double-doubles on his resume this season, including season-highs in points (25) and rebounds (19) in Troy’s overtime win at San Diego State. He put up 23 points and 13 rebounds in the Sun Belt Tournament championship game. Dowd is averaging 14.8 points a game, and he’s pulling down 10.1 rebounds a night, which ranks in the Top 15 nationally. He leads the team with 44 blocked shots, and he’s shooting 45% from the floor and 34% from 3-point range. 

Dontae Horne, Prairie View A&M

The 6-foot-4 guard led Prairie View A&M to its first SWAC Tournament title since 2019 after averaging 20.2 points a game. He’s also averaging 4.5 rebounds a game, leads the team with 67 steals, and has 107 assists on his resume. 

Alex Wilkins, Furman

Wilkins may be the best mid-major freshman in the country. He scored a career-high 34 points in the semifinals of the Southern Conference Tournament. He has started all 34 games this season and averages 17.7 points a night. He also ranks No. 2 in the conference with 161 assists.

Mason Falslev, Utah State

Falslev is far from the flashiest scorer on this list, but he was named Mountain West Player of the Year because he’s one of the most complete players in the country. The 6-foot-4 guard ranks No. 7 in the conference with 16.1 points a night, and he leads the Aggies with 5.8 rebounds a game and 67 steals. He’s shooting 52% from the floor and has 105 assists on his resume.  

Also considered: Robbie Avila, Saint Louis; Peter Suder, Miami (OH); TJ Power, Penn; Isaac Johnson, Hawaii; Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s; Damari Wheeler-Thomas, NDSU.