Sleeper Teams to Watch Out For 2026-27
1. Kentucky Wildcats
Net Change: Better. Looking to replace NBA-caliber talent and build on their Round of 32 exit.
Biggest Additions:
Alex Wilkins (Furman transfer, 17.8 PPG, 2025-26 All-Southern, strong facilitator averaging 4.7 APG)
Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State transfer, 10.9 PPG, 2025-26 All-Big 12, led all NCAA D-1 shooting 48.7% from three on 7.5 attempts per game)
Zoom Diallo (Washington transfer, 15.7 PPG, well-rounded guard averaging 3.9 RPG and 4.5 APG)
Biggest Losses:
Jayden Quaintance (Drafted 20th overall by the San Antonio Spurs)
Otega Oweh (Drafted 41st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder)
Brandon Garrison (Transferred to Alabama)
Kentucky is still looking to return to the heights that the program reached with John Calipari at the helm. While it has been a rough return to glory, this could be the year that the Wildcats truly have a return to form. They lost a couple of NBA-level players in Jayden Quaintance and Otega Oweh in the 2026 NBA Draft, being selected in the first and second round respectively. However, they have done an incredible job in retooling the roster, picking up Alex Wilkins, an offensive weapon from Furman; Milan Momcilovic, who appeared on the All Big-12 team last season and was the best three point shooter in all of college basketball; and Zoom Diallo, a versatile guard who can plug and play in almost any system. After making the Round of 32 last season, Kentucky already has a strong foundation to build upon in the 2026-27 season. While they missed out on Mark Mitchell in the transfer portal, they were still able to add an immense amount of talent that will make them a team to keep an eye on this year.
2. LSU Tigers
Net Change: Better. Could make the biggest jump from any team on this list due to NBA-caliber talent joining the roster.
Biggest Additions:
Donovan Dent (Transfer from New Mexico, 13.3 PPG, elite volume scorer leading the MWC in the 2024-25 season with 20.4 PPG)
Saliou Niang (Returning from the NBA, 9.0 PPG in Lega Basket Serie A UnipolSai)
RJ Luis (Returning from the NBA, 18.2 PPG, 2024-25 Consensus AA)
Abdi Bashir Jr. (Transfer from Kansas State, 13.2 PPG, elite outside scorer shooting 44.4% from three)
Biggest Losses:
Dedan Thomas Jr. (Transferred to Houston)
Mike Nwoko (Transferred to Xavier)
Jalen Reed (Transferred to Texas A&M)
LSU is one of the most interesting teams in all of college basketball this season. While their 2025-26 campaign left a bit to be desired, they are entering the new year with Will Wade back at the helm and a handful of former professionals on the roster. While time will tell if players like Saliou Niang who has former experience playing on the pro level will be enough to turn the tide in Baton Rouge, other additions like Donnovan Dent and Abdi Bashir Jr. should give the Tigers a huge boost on offense, making them a truly dangerous team that could make some real noise in the SEC this season.
3. NC State Wolfpack
Net Change: Better. Primed for a massive turnaround after a disappointing 12-19 campaign.
Biggest Additions:
Ven-Allen Lubin (Received injunction to return for 5th season, 13.6 PPG,
Preston Edmead (Hostra transfer, 16.1 PPG, CAA Rookie of the Year)
Darius Adams (Maryland transfer, 10.8 PPG, adds scoring depth, primed for massive jump)
Biggest Losses:
Terrance Arceneaux (Transferred to George Washington)
Michael O’Connell (Graduated)
Musa Sagina (Transferred to Virginia Tech)
Heading into the offseason, it was expected that NC State was set to lose their best player in Ven-Allen Lubin to graduation. However, after receiving an injunction, he is making a return for a 5th season and in turn giving the Wolf Pack new found life. They were able to bring in some very promising talent around him in Preston Edmead, a former CAA Rookie of the Year, and Darius Adams, whose best performances on the college level are likely still to come. He had a solid season at Maryland last season, but is projected to play a much bigger role with the Wolfpack and truly come into his own.
4. Oregon Ducks
Net Change: Better. Set to make an NCAA Tournament push after declining a bid to the NIT Tournament in the 2025-26 season.
Biggest Additions:
Fred Payne (Boston College transfer, 15.8 PPG, volume scorer, and talented rebounder for his size averaging 4.2 RPG.
Jasper Johnson (Kentucky transfer, 4.8 PPG, former 5-star recruit who still has very high upside)
Tyrone Riley IV (San Francisco transfer, 12.2 PPG, 2025-26 All-WCC, has the talent to make the jump to the Big Ten)
Biggest Losses:
Jackson Shelstad (Transferred to Louisville)
Kwame Evans Jr. (Transferred to Villanova)
Nate Bittle (Graduated)
There is a good amount of turnover on Oregon’s roster this season between portal transfers like Jackson Shelstad and Kwame Evans Jr. and graduations like Nate Bittle. These were all key contributors for the Ducks last season, but head coach Dana Altman did an incredible job finding some promising talent to replace them in Fred Payne, Jasper Johnson, and Tyrone Riley IV. While there are still some looming question marks surrounding the roster and how they will handle the gauntlet that is the Big Ten, the quality and sheer amount of potential difference makers added to the team, make Oregon a team to keep an eye on this season.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
Net Change: Better. Looking to replace NBA caliber talent with elite recruits and build upon a Round of 64 appearance in the 2025-26 season.
Biggest Additions:
Anthony Thompson (5 star, 7th overall recruit in the 2026 class)
LJ Smith (5-star recruit, elite scorer and ball handler)
Curtis Givens III (Memphis transfer, 9.7 PPG, strong outside scorer, shooting 36% from three last season)
Biggest Losses:
Bruce Thorton (Drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 31st overall pick)
Devin Royal (Transferred to Villanova)
Christoph Tilly (Graduation)
Ohio State is coming into the season in a great spot. While it hurts to lose NBA caiber talent like Bruce Thorton, they were able to retain the vast majority of the core that got them into the NCAA tournament last year. Along with this, they were also able to add into two five star freshman in Anthony Thompson and LJ Smith along with a sniper in the transfer portal in Curtis Givens III. The Buckeyes are looking absolutely loaded heading into the year and with top competitors in the Big Ten like Illinois and Michigan losing a fair amount of their respective cores to the NBA draft, Ohio State may not just be primed to be one of the top seeds in the conference, but to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament as well.
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