The field of 68 Division I NCAA Tournament teams has been whittled down to just four: UConn, Michigan, Arizona, and Illinois. UConn and Illinois will face off first on Saturday, followed by Michigan and Arizona at 8:49 p.m. EDT. Before we give our previews and predictions for these matchups, let's rank the ten best players left in March Madness.
10. Guard, Andrej Stojaković. Illinois.
The son of NBA legend Peja Stojaković has stepped up his game since the NCAA Tournament began. After averaging 13.6 points per game on 50.3% shooting during the season, Stojaković is now putting up 15 points per game while shooting 59.5% from the field. Perhaps what's most interesting is that he hasn't been good from beyond the arc, which is surprising, considering he's Peja Stojaković's son. Either way, he has been a catalyst for the Fighting Illini off the bench, with 51 points in his last three games. He's the best sixth-man/rotational player left in March Madness.
9. Forward, David Mirković. Illinois.
The 20-year-old freshman has improved in every major statistical category since postseason play began. He’s averaging 15.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on 51.7% shooting in the tourney. Mikrović has been a double-double machine during March Madness, averaging 14.8 points and 11 rebounds per game. Even if we remove his ridiculous 29 and 17 outing against Penn, Mikrović has still been good for ten points and nine rebounds per game. Right now, he’s arguably the most consistent rebounder left in the NCAA Tournament.
8. Center, Aday Mara. Michigan.
Standing at 7'3", Mara is the tallest player remaining in the tournament and the best rim protector in the Final Four. His height is a major reason why Michigan has only allowed March Madness opponents to score 25.5 points in the paint per game. On top of that, he’s third in the country in blocks with 100 on the season. His defensive capabilities alone are good, but factor in the 13.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists he has averaged in the tournament, and it's clear Mara is one of the best basketball players on the court.
7. Guard, Jaden Bradley. Arizona.
His stats have taken a slight hit against March Madness competition, but Bradley is still the Big 12 Player of the Year and an incredibly important part of the Wildcats' game plan, so he earns a spot on this list. His numbers are probably down due to a less-than-stellar performance in Arizona's first tournament game against LIU, where he scored only seven points. Since then, though, he has averaged 15.3 points per game. Jaden Bradley isn't higher on the list because his rebounding and assist numbers during March Madness are below his averages for the season. Still, he deserves a spot on our list, since he’s the Wildcats' team leader.
6. Forward, Alex Karaban. UConn.
For as long as Dan Hurley's Huskies have been good, Alex Karaban has been one of the team's most important players, averaging over 28 minutes per game since the start of the 2022-23 season. It's no coincidence that UConn has won two national championships and reached three Final Fours during that stretch. Karaban’s having the best statistical performance of his career this March, averaging 17.8 points per game on 48.1% shooting, which are both NCAA Tournament career-highs for the senior forward. And if that wasn't enough, he made the pass that set up the game-winning shot against Duke. Karaban is a proven winner and always manages to impact games positively for the Huskies.
5. Forward, Koa Peat. Arizona.
As the number-ten recruit on ESPN's Class of 2025 list, it was believed that Koa Peat would be a difference-maker in the desert. But he has exceeded those expectations and has looked like arguably the second-best freshman power forward in the country behind Cameron Boozer, a projected top-three draft pick. Peat has improved his shooting accuracy and rebounding numbers in the tournament while averaging 17.5 points per game, which is well above what he has averaged this season (14.1 points per game). He was named the Most Outstanding Player in the West Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament after putting up 41 combined points against Arkansas and Purdue. If we disregard his poor shooting performance against LIU, Peat has made 58.3% of his shots during March Madness.
4. Guard, Brayden Burries. Arizona.
The Wildcats are stacked with talent, but freshman guard Brayden Burries might be playing the best out of everybody on the team at the moment. He leads Arizona players in March Madness scoring (17.8 points per game). Burries has elevated his play in the most high-pressure moments, averaging 18.4 points per game since the Big 12 Tournament began, which is 2.3 more points per game than what he has averaged during the 2025-26 season. He has also been crashing the glass effectively during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 6.8 rebounds per game, which is up from his season average of 5.5. The young man has also been very efficient, making 57.9% of his March Madness shots.
3. Guard, Keaton Wagler. Illinois.
Wagler was one of the best-kept secrets during the Class of 2025 recruiting cycle. Even as a four-star recruit, not many people expected him to be this good in his first year of college basketball. To give you some perspective, his 17.5 points per game in the tournament are less than what he has averaged during the 2025-26 season. Though he's a guard, he uses his height to crash the boards, with 6.5 rebounds per game during the tourney. Though he struggled against Houston from an efficiency standpoint in the Sweet 16, Wagler still managed to record 13 points and 12 rebounds. His March Madness performance has garnered the attention of NBA scouts and fans alike, who now project the 19-year-old to a lottery pick in the 2026 Draft.
2. Center, Tarris Reed Jr. UConn.
When constructing this list, I didn't base these rankings on who is having the best season or who will be the best pro player. These rankings are about who the best college basketball players are RIGHT NOW. Based on those parameters, Tarris Reed Jr. comes in second place on our list. The guy is averaging 21.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in the tournament. There were points where he singlehandedly kept the Huskies' season alive against the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils. Hell, he was named the Most Outstanding Player in the East Region! Reed has also upped his game defensively while avoiding foul issues, averaging just 2.5 fouls per game despite being on the floor for 80.6% of UConn's four tournament games. If the Huskies win the 2026 National Championship, Tarris Reed Jr. will almost certainly end up being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
1. Forward, Yaxel Lendeborg. Michigan.
Whether you've watched every minute of March Madness or simply browsed the box scores, it's very obvious that Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg has been the best player in the 2026 Division I NCAA Tournament. Before the tourney even began, he was having a stellar season after being named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus First-Team All-American. Since the beginning of the Big Ten Tournament, when the lights shone the brightest, he has averaged 18.6 points per game. In his last three NCAA Tournament games, Lendeborg is averaging 25 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting 61.4% from the field and 52.6% from beyond the arc. He has undoubtedly been the most impressive player during March Madness and is the best player in the 2026 Final Four.
