There are a lot of questions approaching the Big 12, but the biggest is for Houston. Can they complete a three-peat? If the latest Preseason poll is to be believed, the answer is a resounding yes. Houston made history as the coaches’ top preseason pick to win the Big 12, seizing 14 of 16 first-place votes and sending a clear message: the Cougars are the team to beat in their quest for another title. 

BYU came in second with 204 points and one first-place vote, marking the first time since the 2021-22 season that an opposing coach picked the Cougars to finish first. Along with the teams, the coaches also picked the best players in the conference going into the season. Here is the list of players named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team for 2025:

JT Toppin (Texas Tech) – Preseason Player of the Year​

Toppin is the second Texas Tech player to be named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year since 2003-04. He was named last season’s Big 12 player and newcomer of the year. Toppin also earned consensus all-America, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and All-Big 12 First Team honors.

He led the Red Raiders with 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 19 double-doubles – recording a double-double in all four NCAA Tournament games last season, and had a double-double in eight of the last 10 games of the season.

AJ Dybantsa (BYU)​

Dybantsa is coming off a summer that warrants his No.2. He was named the MVP  at the FIBA U19 World Cup, leading Team USA to a gold medal. The 6-foot-9 forward has potentially generational skill and talent along with his elite athleticism and physicality.

He finished his high school career as the No. 1 recruit in the country (ESPN), McDonald’s All-American, and two-time participant in the Nike Hoop Summit, highlighted by a 24-point performance in Team USA’s overtime victory in 2025. AJ has a legitimate shot at scoring the No.1 pick at next year’s draft. 

Emanuel Sharp (Houston)​

Sharp was a key part of the puzzle for the Cougars during their run to the NCAA finals. He finished as the second-best scorer on the team with 12.6 points and 2.4 3-point field goals per game, leading to being named 2024-25 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

As impressive as his regular season was, his postseason was even better. After averaging 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds per game while leading Houston to the Big 12 Championship crown, Sharp was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, a first for the Cougars in school history.

Joseph Tugler (Houston)​

Joseph Tugler exploded onto the national scene in 2024-25 as one of college basketball’s elite defenders. He played every one of Houston’s school-record 40 games and earned the prestigious Lefty Driesell Award as the nation’s top defender.

Tugler was a force with 1.9 blocks per game, putting him among the Big 12 and national leaders, and he grabbed 5.9 rebounds per contest, second-best on his team. His relentless rim protection anchored Houston’s No. 1 defensive efficiency rating, making him a dominant presence on both ends of the court.

Milos Uzan (Houston)​

After transferring from Oklahoma in the summer of 2024, Milos Uzan emerged as an offensive leader for the Cougars during the 2024-25 season. Uzan was the third wheel in the Houston scoring 11.4 points per game while leading the Cougars with 4.3 assists per game (8th in the conference).

He was supposed to take the step up to the NBA this season but decided against it, returning to Houston to exact revenge for the 2024 title game. 

Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State)​

Injuries are the only thing stopping Tamin Lipsey. Last season, he dealt with a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. He also had a hairline fracture in his hand. This year, he is already rehabbing from a sprained knee suffered in practice a few weeks ago. Last season, he finished with 10.6 points, 2.0 steals, and 4.6 assists per game.

Darryn Peterson (Kansas Jayhawks)​

Coming out of high school, Peterson was rated as the No. 1 recruit in the country in the 2025 class by 247Sports and On3.com after averaging 30.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game during his senior season at Prolific Prep in Napa, California. He was named Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American following his remarkable 2024-25 season.

PJ Haggerty (Kansas State)

PJ Haggerty delivered a massive breakout for Memphis in 2024-25, becoming the first D-I player since Ja Morant to average 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.8 steals, and 6.4 free throws per game. He finished third nationally in scoring, shredded the AAC single-season scoring record with 759 points, and became the school’s first AP All-American since 2008 while sweeping AAC Player of the Year and tournament MVP honors.

Christian Anderson (Texas Tech)​

Christian Anderson had an above-par freshman season with Texas Tech. Anderson earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors after averaging 10.6 points, 2.2 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. While he largely came off the bench, Anderson showed a glimpse of his potential.

His offseason was arguably even better. Anderson led Germany to a silver medal in the FIBA U19 World Cup, where he averaged 17.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in Switzerland. Anderson would be a vital cog for Texas with TJ Toppin. 

Richie Saunders (BYU)

Saunders is coming off First Team All-Big 12 accolades last season, after leading the Cougars to their first Sweet 16 appearance in what seems like a lifetime. He had a team-high 16.5 points per game in 2024-25 while shooting 51.8% from the field and 43.2 % from downtown. Saunders also chipped in with 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists.