March Madness is a college sports tradition unlike any other as 68 teams compete for the National Championship. Whether your team is large or small, rich or poor, notorious or unknown, this tournament crowns only the toughest competitors.
Blue-blood programs like Duke, Kansas, and UConn will seek to add another trophy to their case. Low-major programs Long Island, Tennessee State, and Kennesaw State will compete for their first tournament wins. That being said, one commonality continues to be a distinguishing factor between the winners and losers of this tournament: standout players.
This year’s tournament will have some of the best we’ve seen in recent memory. The likes of AJ Dybantsa and Darius Acuff Jr. highlight an especially talented freshman class. Meanwhile returners Zuby Ejiofor and Braden Smith will head a strong group of upperclassmen.
Here are four must-watch players in 2026’s NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship, each bringing a distinct skillset that propels their program toward winning it all.
Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas) – 22.9 PPG – 6.5 APG – 48.6 FG%
SEC POY, SEC ROY, SEC Tournament MVP
Last four games: (Points & Assists) → 28 points & 13 assists, 37 & 5, 24 & 7, 30 & 11
- Game @ 4:25 PM EST Thursday vs. Hawaii
Darius Acuff’s ability to make shots, create them for his teammates and lead differentiates him as one of the best college prospects in recent memory. Hawaii’s defensive prowess will present Acuff with a challenge but nothing he hasn’t yet seen. This matchup should make for a must-watch first round contest.
AJ Dybantsa (BYU) – 25.3 PPG – 6.7 RPG – 51.3 FG%
Big 12 ROY, All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 Tournament First Team
L4: (Points & Rebounds) → 21 points & 6 rebounds, 40 & 9, 27 & 7, 26 & 5
- Game @ 7:25 PM EST Thursday vs. winner of NC State vs. Texas
Regardless of the opponent, Dybantsa will come to compete. Since Feb. 7, Dybantsa has not played less than 35 minutes — in that stretch, he has played 40+ minutes five times. Multiple 40 point games, an unmistakable feel for the game and BYU’s lack of depth all set the stage for yet another Dybantsa masterclass.
Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s) – 16.3 PPG – 2.1 BPG – 1.2 SPG
Big East POY, Big East DPOY, Big East Tournament MVP
L4: (Steals + Blocks); (Points) → 4 steals + blocks, 3, 3, 10; 21 points, 21, 20, 18.
- Game @ 7:10 PM EST Friday vs. Northern Iowa
This year Zuby Ejiofor averaged an NCAA-high 6.1 win shares per game and a 14.4 box plus-minus, yet his impact transcends the statsheet. There is a palpable aura in the way Ejiofor plays, commanding both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. A stacked eastern region of Duke, Kansas, and Michigan State will test Ejiofor and St. John’s poise.
Braden Smith (Purdue) – 14.0 PPG – 9.1 APG – 36.4 3P%
All-Big Ten Tournament First Team, Big Ten Tournament MVP, 3x All Big Ten First Team
L4 (Assists) → 16, 10, 9, 11
- Game @ 7:35 PM EST Friday vs. Queens University
The posterboy of college basketball, a leader and a man amongst boys: Braden Smith. A true floor general in an era of pure shot creators and makers, Smith’s passing abilities are unrivaled. Two assists away from breaking Bobby Hurley’s NCAA all-time assist record, Smith will attempt to enshrine Purdue once and for all as champions.
