INDIANAPOLIS (USBWA) – Fifty standout returning players have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2025-26 Oscar Robertson Trophy by the board of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Since the 1958-59 season, the USBWA has named a men's national player of the year and, since the 1997-98 season the award has been named for the "Big O," the legendary hall of famer and two-time USBWA Player of the Year. It is the nation's oldest award and the only one named after a former player.
"The USBWA is excited to reveal its first Watch List for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which honors the nation's top men's college basketball player at the conclusion of every season," said 2025-26 USBWA President Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. "Our list is stacked with proven talent, returning All-Americans and glitzy freshmen. On the whole, this could be as talented a group of players as we've seen in the past five-plus years in college hoops. The voting was done by the USBWA's 2025-26 board, and our next Watch List will publish in January."
The list is headed up by a returning first-team All-American, Purdue's Braden Smith, and two returning second-team USBWA All-Americans, PJ Haggerty, who has transferred from Memphis to Kansas State, and JT Toppin of Texas Tech. Following is the complete preseason watch list.
2025-26 OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST (50) | |
| Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas | Graham Ike, Gonzaga |
| Nate Ament, Tennessee | Tomislac Ivišić, Illinois |
| Christian Anderson, Texas Tech | Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State |
| Robbie Avila, Saint Louis | Alex Karaban, UConn |
| Solo Ball, UConn | Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue |
| Myles Bird, San Diego State | Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan |
| Nate Bittle, Oregon | Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State |
| John Blackwell, Wisconsin | Nick Martinelli, Northwestern |
| Jaden Bradley, Arizona | Mark Mitchell, Missouri |
| Markus Burton, Notre Dame | Otega Oweh, Kentucky |
| Cameron Boozer, Duke | Darryn Peterson, Kansas |
| Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville | Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn |
| Alex Condon, Florida | Labaron Philon, Alabama |
| Ryan Conwell, Louisville | Tarris Reed Jr., UConn |
| Donovan Dent, UCLA | Richie Saunders BYU |
| Tucker DeVries, Indiana | Emanuel Sharp, Houston |
| AJ Dybantsa, BYU | Jackson Shelstad, Oregon |
| Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's | Braden Smith, Purdue |
| Mason Falslev, Utah State | Bennett Stirtz, Iowa |
| Boogie Fland, Florida | Bruce Thornton, Ohio State |
| Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tenneseee | JT Toppin, Texas Tech |
| PJ Haggerty, Kansas State | Joseph Tugler, Houston |
| Thomas Haugh, Florida | Milos Uzan, Houston |
| Bryce Hopkins, St. John's | Darrion Williams, NC State |
| Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State | Caleb Wilson, North Carolina |
At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 Men's Final Four in Indianapolis, with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 800 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and the Oscar Robertson Trophy, contact executive director Malcolm Moran at 814-574-1485.