Top Men’s College Basketball Preseason All-Americans: Braden Smith, JT Toppin
It’s been a wild year for college basketball. The Athletic’s preseason All-America teams really highlight how much parity there is now.
This season, 26 players from five different conferences got votes from the staff panel. That’s a ton of talent spread all over the country.
But let’s be real—Purdue guard Braden Smith and Texas Tech forward JT Toppin stole the show as unanimous picks. These guys are the ones everyone’s watching.
This post takes a closer look at the top players, their backgrounds, and what sets them apart.
Braden Smith: Purdue’s Leading Star
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Braden Smith, a 6-foot guard from Purdue, is chasing Bobby Hurley’s NCAA assists record. After sharing the spotlight with Zach Edey, Smith stepped up last season.
He averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. That kind of stat line earned him Big Ten Player of the Year, the Bob Cousy Award, and a first-team All-American nod.
Purdue’s hopes for another Final Four trip rest on Smith’s shoulders. He needs to keep improving as a pick-and-roll handler—last year, he ranked in the 53rd percentile there.
Smith’s Areas for Improvement
Smith’s got a real shot at the Wooden Award, but his pick-and-roll scoring still needs work. He turned over 19.2 percent of those possessions last season and hit just 33.3 percent from deep in those spots.
If he sharpens up those skills, he’ll be even tougher to stop.
JT Toppin: Texas Tech’s Offensive Powerhouse
JT Toppin, a 6-foot-9 forward at Texas Tech, is hard to miss. Over his last 15 games, Toppin averaged 19 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks.
Texas Tech just missed the Final Four, but Toppin still finished with the nation’s second-best player efficiency rating (PER). He even dropped 41 points on Arizona State—pretty wild, right?
Toppin’s Role in Texas Tech
With Darrion Williams gone, Toppin’s role is even bigger. Now in his second year in Lubbock after transferring from New Mexico, he’s the centerpiece of their offense.
Other Notable Players
Smith and Toppin aren’t the only names making waves on The Athletic’s preseason All-America teams. Here are a few others worth mentioning:
- Yaxel Lendeborg: At 23, the Puerto Rican guard transferred to Michigan after leading UAB in pretty much everything. He seems like a perfect fit for coach Dusty May’s system.
- Cameron Boozer: Duke’s 6-foot-9, 250-pound freshman is expected to make an immediate impact. He’s got an all-around game and a knack for winning.
- Darryn Peterson: Kansas’ top recruit has people talking—some even compare him to Donovan Mitchell or Kobe Bryant. His athleticism and scoring ability stand out.
- Bennett Stirtz: After moving from Drake to Iowa, Stirtz is ready to make waves. He led Division I in win shares last season and plays with a cool, efficient style.
Emerging Talents
There’s a handful of other guys who could break out, too:
- Devin Williams: Now at NC State, Williams is expected to play a big role for coach Will Wade.
- Isaiah Dent: The Mountain West Player of the Year has landed at UCLA. He’s got a reputation for running the pick-and-roll.
- Trey Kaufman-Renn: Purdue’s interior big man should take another step forward, especially with South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff joining the squad.
- Riley Condon: Florida’s junior center emerged late last season and could be key for the national champs.
Conclusion
The 2025 college basketball season looks like it could be one of the most exciting we’ve seen in a while. There’s this electric mix of seasoned upperclassmen and hungry freshmen itching to prove themselves.
Braden Smith and JT Toppin are grabbing a lot of the early attention. Still, plenty of other players might surprise us and shake up the landscape.
Honestly, it’s hard not to get a little hyped about what’s coming. If you want to dig deeper, you might want to check out the full article on The Athletic.