Basketball fans are lucky. You start the year with the NBA and college basketball at their peak, then a smooth transition to the playoffs and the WNBA. And after 5 or more months of W grind, we are again back to CB. After last season’s Cooper Flagg and Paige Bueckers bravery, the NCAA is set for another year of passionate college rivalries where stars of the new age take center stage. The excitement is at its tipping point, with the college league having already released a list of the players to watch out for in the coming months.

In less than 3 weeks, the 2025–26 NCAA Division I men’s basketball season will get underway. With the 2025-26 preseason men’s college basketball AP Top 25 poll results out, we know that Purdue will tip off the season at No. 1 for the first time. The Boilmakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes to top Monday’s poll. Reigning national champion Florida (No. 3) and national runner-up Houston (No. 2) will also be in the mix. Therefore, without any ado, let us find out more about what’s in store.

Who are the top 10 breakout stars to watch out for?

Christian Anderson

Christian Anderson from the Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team ranks at the top according to Katz’s Top 10 list of Breakout Players. This was highlighted on the official Instagram account of NCAA March Madness. Anderson’s breakout came while playing for Germany in the FIBA U19 World Championships.

The point guard will be playing in his 2nd NCAA season, after having made his first career start with Texas Tech back on February 22nd, 2025. Over the course of 35 games in his debut season, Anderson started in 7 of them and averaged 10.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.

Anderson’s contribution during his rookie season earned him a spot on the Big 12 Conference all-freshman team. NBA star Dennis Schroder, another player of German origin, sent his praise to the young star after he received this honor, saying, “He is sooo nice”. Anderston, on the shooting front, recorded 3.4-7.9 (42.9%) field goals, 2.0-5.3 (38.0%) 3-pointers, and 1.9-2.3 (80.2%) free throws, which highlights his dynamic scoring with advanced feel and impressive polish.

Tahaad Pettiford

Tahaad Pettiford was reportedly a consensus four-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class. A lefty combo-guard, he plays in attack mode always! At 5-foot-11 and weighing 160 pounds, he ranked 22nd on the 247Sports Composite and No. 2 point guard in his class. Though he committed to playing college basketball for Auburn in early February 2023, he didn’t play his first game until early November 2024.

Over the course of 38 games, Pettiford started in only 1 of them and averaged 11.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. On the shooting front, he recorded 3.8-9.1 (42.1%) field goals, 1.8-5.0 (36.6%) 3-pointers, and 2.1-2.6 (80.4%) free throws. Tahaad Pettiford has been credited for being an explosive, shifty guard with an advanced scoring skill set and a strong outside shot.

Tahaad has shown himself to possess a quick first step, a tight handle, and the ability to create space off the dribble, making him a dangerous offensive weapon. His transition skills, combined with vertical athleticism and pace, help put pressure on opposing defenses.

Melvin Council Jr

Former St. Bonaventure guard Council Jr transferred from his previous team and joined the Kansas Jayhawks Men’s Basketball team earlier this year. In his two seasons at the Division I level, he had struggled from the perimeter. He shot just 26.5% from three at Wagner and 29.9% at St. Bonaventure.

Council averaged just 5.7 and 5.4 rebounds a game over the course of two seasons, respectively. However, that stat is made more interesting because he accumulated 72 steals last season, leading his conference with 2.1 a game.

Andrej Stojaković

Andrej Stojakovic will be representing the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball this season after dividing his first 2 college seasons between the Stanford Cardinal and the California Golden Bears. He has played in 61 games till now, started in 38, and averaged 12.6 points through 4.4-10.6 (42.0%) field goals, 1.2-3.8 (32.2%) 3-pointers, and 2.5-3.3 (76.6%) free throws.

Being the son of three-time NBA All-Star and 2011 champion Peja Stojakovic, Andrej carries expectations. He has been described as someone with a clunky jumper, but a player with fluid, patient ball-handling. Andrej also reportedly shows some ability on midrange pull-ups.

Jaland Lowe

A player for the Kentucky Wildcats, Jaland Lowe is a left-handed guard who reportedly shines with his ability to keep his dribble alive, finish with both hands, and operate effectively in pick-and-roll situations. His good instincts in passing lanes make him a capable off-ball defender, and the 13.1 points he averaged through 4.4-11.5 (38.1%) field goals,  1.1-3.8 (29.8%) 3-pointers, and 3.2-3.7 (87.7%) free throws show his capability to be a good scorer.

Xaivian Lee

Xaivian Lee reportedly thrives in pick-and-roll situations. On the offense, he adjusts to defensive coverages and is equally comfortable attacking the rim, pulling up from midrange, and/or knocking down threes off the dribble. This was seen during the 2024-25 season, when he averaged 43.9% field goals (more than his career average of 43.5%), 36.6% 3-pointers, and 78.9% free throws.

Flory Bidunga

‘Babcock Hoops’ describes Flory Bidunga as “one of the most athletic big men in the country”. He earns this praise thanks to his reported elite reaction quickness, defensive instincts, and physicality that work well in the paint. But in 2021-22, Flory Bidunga’s name did not appear in any of the major national recruiting rankings for the Class of 2024, but he has taken a major leap.

The same has been proven by the jaw-dropping (2.6-3.7) 69.8% field goal percentage he averaged over the course of 34 games (starting 6) in his debut season with the Kansas Jayhawks.

Anthony Robinson II

Anthony Robinson II isn’t a super high-volume shooter, but he takes good shots and hits a high percentage. His stats: 2.6-5.3 (48.3%) field goals, 0.6-1.5 (40.0%) 3-pointers, and 3.3-4.2 (77.1%) free throws, he averaged in the 2024-25 season. Additionally, he has been praised for possessing good quickness and decent length.

Houston Mallette

Of all the players you see, Houston Mallette is probably the most veteran player on this list. He has played 100 games over the course of 4 seasons for the Pepperdine Waves (3) and 1 year at Alabama Crimson Tide. His prowess in the last season took a hit, as he only played in 6 games, while starting in none, due to issues with his knee. Despite that, he has averaged 13.1 points through 4.6-10.7 (43.1%) field goals, 2.0-5.2 (37.7%) 3-pointers, and 2.0-2.5 (80.6%) free throws in his 100 college games.

Joson Sanon

Joson Sanon, born in Fall River, MA, is known for his ability to generate separation and finish effectively at the rim. He thrives in creating his own shot and capitalizing on catch-and-shoot opportunities. He has averaged 11.9 points by averaging 4.3-10.2 (42.2%) field goals, 1.7-4.5 (36.9%) 3-pointers, and 1.7-2.3 (71.4%) free throws.

These stars will have the attention of college basketball fans, along with the star players. Whether they live up to the hype is something that remains to be seen.