From hidden gem to household name: 10 breakout college hoops stars poised to own 2026-27

Every year in college basketball, a few players take a huge leap forward when they finally get their chance. Some go from coming off the bench to starting, while others simply get the extra playing time they need to show what they can really do.The 2026-27 season is full of guys like this. Most fans might not know their names yet, but their situations make them fun to watch.Rosters change fast in college ball. With players leaving for the NBA, others entering the transfer portal, and new coaches arriving, plenty of spots have opened up. Some of these guys showed flashes of greatness last year, while others finished the season strong or played great in the opening games this fall.MORE:25 best men’s college basketball players of all timeOf course, they still have work to do. To stay on the floor, many will need to knock down shots more consistently, protect the ball and earn their coach’s trust. But the path to a breakout year is right in front of them.Here are 10 college basketball players who have a real shot at becoming household names this season.10. Chase McCarty, F, Houston Cougars Houston Cougars forward Chase McCarty (24) reacts while playing against the La Salle Explorers in the first half at Fertitta Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Chase McCarty could benefit from Houston’s roster changes. The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 12.3 minutes across 35 games last season. He shot 40.9 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from three and 88.9 percent at the free-throw line. His career-high 20 points came against Oklahoma State, where he made six of nine threes.Houston lost Kingston Flemings, Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp. Coach Kelvin Sampson plans to use McCarty at small forward, and he earned his first career start against La Salle. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and one block in a 94-55 win. However, a sprained left knee made him day-to-day and questionable for Sunday’s game against California. His health will decide how quickly he can build on this opportunity.9. Jayden Ross, F, UConn Huskies UConn Huskies forward Jayden Ross (23) drives past Michigan State Spartans guard Jasiah Jervis (25) during the first half at Breslin Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Jayden Ross has a chance to move into a much bigger role at UConn. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 4.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 17.5 minutes across 38 games last season. He shot 50.4 percent overall and 39.1 percent from three on 25-of-64 shooting. He also recorded 30 steals and 15 blocks.Ross started UConn’s season opener and played a team-high 29 minutes. He finished with seven points, two rebounds and one assist in an 86-46 win over Gardner-Webb. During Friday’s 85-77 victory over Michigan, Ross contributed nine points and four rebounds in 30 minutes.UConn reached the national championship game last season before losing 69-63 to the Wolverines. Coach Dan Hurley says Ross can make another jump. His defense and shooting give him a strong foundation, although his scoring must improve.8. Omer Mayer, PG, Purdue BoilermakersPurdue Boilermakers guard Omer Mayer (17) makes a shot during the second half against the Queens University of Charlotte Royals during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Enterprise Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Omer Mayer faces one of the biggest opportunities on this list. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 5.5 points, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 rebounds in 14.3 minutes across 39 games last season. He shot 41.2 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three. His career high is 18 points against Indiana.Braden Smith’s departure has opened the starting point guard position. Purdue’s season preview identifies Mayer as his replacement. He also scored in double figures whenever he played at least 20 minutes last season. However, his first outing was difficult. He shot 2-of-11 but recorded a team-high five assists in a 78-72 loss to Gonzaga. Things didn’t get much better for Mayer on Friday during an 83-80 double-overtime loss to Valparaiso. He shot 1-of-11 from the field and scored two points, though his five assists led the team again. Purdue needs his playmaking, but his shooting and 65.2 percent free-throw mark remain concerns.7. Jordan Scott, F, Michigan State Spartans Michigan State’s Jordan Scott shoots against UConn during the first half on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Jordan Scott could become a reliable scoring option for Michigan State. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 20.8 minutes last season. He also started the final 13 games. After making just one of his first 13 3-point attempts, he hit 27 of 64 over his next 19 games, a 42.2 percent rate.Scott carried that shooting form into the preseason. He continued that progress with 11 points and six rebounds against Quinnipiac, followed by 12 points and nine rebounds against Toledo. His two-game averages stand at 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr will handle major responsibilities, but Scott can become an important option. Freshman Jasiah Jervis, who scored 16 against Toledo, will challenge him for minutes.MORE: Talk of SEC or Big Ten departing college sports is foolish, unrealistic6. Chance Mallory, PG, Virginia Cavaliers Virginia Cavaliers guard Chance Mallory (2) dribbles the ball against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Chance Mallory is moving from the bench to the starting point guard position. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 24.1 minutes across 36 games last season. He also recorded 1.6 steals per game. His 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked second in the ACC, while he finished eighth in steals and 15th in assists.Mallory’s three free throws with 3.6 seconds remaining helped Virginia beat Miami 86-83 last season. He now has more responsibility under head coach Ryan Odom. His opener was mixed, with eight points, three assists and four steals in 22 minutes against Drexel. However, he also committed six turnovers. Virginia won 89-60, recording an arena-record 18 steals. Then on Friday, Mallory notched 20 points along with five assists and four steals as the Cavaliers rolled to a 97-72 win over Northeastern. Cutting down mistakes will be important as he adjusts to starting every night.5. Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky WildcatsKentucky Wildcats center Malachi Moreno (24) handles the ball during the second half against the Little Rock Trojans at Rupp Arena Central Bank Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Malachi Moreno could become one of Kentucky’s most important players this season. The 7-foot center averaged 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 blocks last season while shooting 58.2 percent. He made the SEC All-Freshman team and ranked fifth in the conference with 53 blocks. His three double-doubles also showed his potential.Moreno tested the NBA draft process before returning to Kentucky. He is now the lone returning starter under head coach Mark Pope. ESPN placed him at No. 75 in its preseason top 100 and noted his improved strength. Against Manhattan, he had eight points, 10 rebounds and two assists in a 20-minute appearance. Then, on Friday, Moreno had eight points and seven rebounds during an 89-80 triumph over James Madison. His defensive presence gives Kentucky a strong starting point.4. Amare Bynum, F, Ohio State BuckeyesOhio State Buckeyes forward Amare Bynum (1) reacts after the game ends Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Amare Bynum already has experience playing an important role in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward averaged 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 28.5 minutes across 34 games last season. He started 24 times and shot 50.6 percent from the field. His 37 dunks led Ohio State.Bynum finished last season playing well, averaging 12.3 points over his final six games while shooting close to 60 percent. He has carried that momentum into the new campaign. Against No. 25 BYU, he scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and added four assists. He tied his career highs in all three categories despite rolling an ankle before halftime. His 30.8 percent 3-point mark last season makes his perimeter shooting worth watching. On Friday, Bynum contributed to an 89-65 win over Youngstown State with 15 points and eight boards.3. Alex Wilkins, G, Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky Wildcats guard Alex Wilkins (10) looks on during the second half against the Manhattan Jaspers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Alex Wilkins is one of the most interesting newcomers to watch after his impressive season at Furman. He averaged 17.8 points and 4.7 assists in 29.7 minutes across 35 starts. He also recorded 14 games with at least 20 points. Wilkins made the All-Southern Conference second team and won the conference tournament MVP award after averaging 21.7 points.He also scored 21 points against UConn in the NCAA Tournament. Despite being unranked out of high school, he attracted offers from Miami (Ohio), Davidson and Hofstra. Kentucky eventually won his commitment over UConn and Alabama. His debut brought 11 points, five assists and seven steals against Manhattan. Those seven steals reportedly set a record for the most by a player in his Kentucky debut. On Friday, Wilkins poured in 16 points during the win over James Madison. His 3-point shooting must improve from 32.8 percent, but Kentucky needs his ability to create opportunities.2. Davis Fogle, G/W, Gonzaga Bulldogs Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Davis Fogle (4) reacts at the end of the game against the Kennesaw State Owls during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Davis Fogle showed why he deserves a bigger role during the second half of last season. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 16.7 minutes across 30 games. After Braden Huff suffered a knee injury in January, Fogle averaged 10.9 points, four rebounds and 1.5 assists over the next 11 games.His performances continued in important games. He recorded 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the West Coast Conference championship game against Santa Clara. He also scored 17 points against Kennesaw State in the NCAA Tournament. His improved performances even earned him first-round consideration in a 2027 mock draft. Fogle opened this season with a career-high 22 points against Purdue, helping Gonzaga secure a 78-72 win. However, his 6-of-18 shooting showed that efficiency remains a concern.MORE: College football & basketball are expanding, but is more really better for college sports?1. Trey McKenney, G, Michigan Wolverines Michigan guard Trey McKenney (1) dribbles against Oakland guard Ryder Bradley (3) during the first half at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Trey McKenney has one of the clearest paths to a breakout season. The sophomore averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 22.1 minutes across 40 games last season. He shot 46.2 percent overall, 39.1 percent from three and 89.5 percent at the free-throw line. He also made the All-Big Ten Freshman team and hit 12 3-pointers during the NCAA Tournament on the way to a championship.McKenney averaged 12 points in the tournament and shot 48 percent from deep. He also scored nine points with eight rebounds in Michigan’s 69-63 title-game win over UConn. His late three helped secure the title.Michigan lost Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson and Aday Mara to the NBA, creating more room for McKenney. He also has returning point guard Elliot Cadeau to help create opportunities. Head coach Dusty May’s departure for the Dallas Mavericks brings another change, with Mike Boynton taking over. McKenney started the new season with 17 points and three threes against Oakland. He added a team-high 22 points on Friday night in the loss to UConn.His five-star background means he is not an unknown prospect, but this could be the season when his name reaches a much wider audience.—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —