Wooden Award Announces 2025-26 Men’s Midseason Top 25 Watchlist, Kicking Off Golden Anniversary Celebration
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The Los Angeles Athletic Club’s John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, unveiled its 2025-26 Men’s Midseason Top 25 Watchlist on January 7, 2026, marking the start of the prestigious honor’s fiftieth anniversary season. This selection of 25 student-athletes represents the frontrunners for college basketball’s most coveted individual accolades: the Wooden Award All-American Team™ and the Wooden Award® Most Outstanding Player.
A Refined Group of Elite Performers
Selected through a midseason poll of national college basketball experts, the watchlist showcases a group of players who have already made a significant impact during the current season. The list is highlighted by established leaders like Purdue’s Braden Smith, BYU’s AJ Dybansta, and Gonzaga’s Graham Ike. It also introduces several new faces to the conversation, including Houston’s Kingston Fleming, Iowa State’s Josh Jefferson, and Arizona’s Jaden Bradley.
The presence of multiple players from programs such as Arizona, Houston, Purdue, and Iowa State underscores the depth and consistent excellence across the nation as the Wooden Award embarks on its milestone anniversary.
Road to the 2026 Wooden Award
These 25 players are now considered strong contenders for the 2026 John R. Wooden Award® Men’s Player of the Year. However, the selection process remains open, with players not initially included still eligible for consideration on future lists – the midseason, late-season list, and ultimately, the National Ballot. The National Ballot will ultimately feature 15 players who have demonstrated to their universities that they meet or exceed the stringent qualifications established by Coach Wooden.
A Legacy of Excellence: Celebrating 50 Years
As the Wooden Award celebrates its fiftieth year, a series of special events are planned throughout the season. These will include appearances and insights from the award’s first-ever winner and ambassador, Marques Johnson, culminating in the 2026 John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal. The winners and All-Americans will be formally honored at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 10, 2026.
The John R. Wooden Award: A Tradition of Recognition
Established in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award Program stands as the pinnacle of recognition in college basketball. It honors not only the Most Outstanding Player for both men and women, but also the Wooden Award All-America Teams and the annual Legends of Coaching recipient.
According to program officials, honorees are rigorously vetted by their universities to ensure they meet the standards set by Coach Wooden, emphasizing both academic progress – requiring at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA – and overall character. The award’s illustrious past winners include basketball icons such as Larry Bird (1979), Michael Jordan (1984), Tim Duncan (1997), and Kevin Durant (2007), alongside women’s basketball stars Candace Parker (2007 & 2008), Maya Moore (2009 & 2011), and Chiney Ogwumike (2014). More recently, Juju Watkins of USC and Cooper Flagg of Duke received the honor last year.
Beyond the Court: Impact and Philanthropy
Since its inception, the Wooden Award has contributed nearly $1 million to university scholarship funds and nonprofit organizations in the names of its All-American recipients. Furthermore, the program has provided over 1,000 underprivileged children with opportunities to attend week-long college basketball camps.
The Wooden Award also demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity through its partnership with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC), hosting an annual basketball tournament that brings together Special Olympics athletes, Wooden Award All-Americans, and coaches at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Upholding the Values of Coach Wooden
The John R. Wooden Award Foundation (JRWAF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to promoting the values of teamwork, academic excellence, and character development – principles deeply ingrained in the legacy of John R. Wooden. The Foundation operates independently, guided by a dedicated board of directors, and committed to advancing Wooden’s enduring Pyramid of Success.
The Legends of Coaching Award will be presented alongside the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year awards on April 10, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
For the latest updates and information, visit WoodenAward.com and follow @WoodenAward on X, Instagram, and Threads. Further details about the Los Angeles Athletic Club can be found at LAAC.com.
2025-26 Men’s Midseason Top 25 Watchlist (Alphabetical)
| Full Name | School | Class | Position | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darius Acuff Jr. | Arkansas | Freshman | G | 6-3 |
| Nate Ament | Tennessee | Freshman | F | 6-10 |
| Cameron Boozer | Duke | Freshman | F | 6-9 |
| Jaden Bradley | Arizona | Senior | G | 6-3 |
| Mikel Brown Jr. | Louisville | Freshman | G | 6-5 |
| Tucker DeVries | Indiana | Redshirt Senior | F | 6-7 |
| AJ Dybansta | BYU | Freshman | F | 6-9 |
| Kingston Flemings | Houston | Freshman | G | 6-4 |
| PJ Haggerty | Kansas State | Junior | G | 6-4 |
| Thomas Haugh | Florida | Junior | F | 6-9 |
| Graham Ike | Gonzaga | Degree Student | F | 6-9 |
| Josh Jefferson | Iowa State | Senior | F | 6-9 |
| Alex Karaban | UConn | Redshirt Senior | F | 6-8 |
| Trey Kaufman-Renn | Purdue | Senior | F | 6-9 |
| Yaxel Lendeborg | Michigan | Degree Student | F | 6-9 |
| Tamin Lipsey | Iowa State | Senior | G | 6-1 |
| Koa Pea | Arizona | Junior | F | 6-8 |
| Darryn Peterson | Kansas | Freshman | G | 6-6 |
| Labaron Philon Jr. | Alabama | Sophomore | G | 6-4 |
| Emanuel Sharp | Houston | Redshirt Senior | G | 6-3 |
| Braden Smith | Purdue | Senior | G | 6-0 |
| Bennett Stirtz | Iowa | Senior | G | 6-4 |
| Bruce Thornton | Ohio State | Senior | G | 6-2 |
| JT Toppin | Texas Tech | Junior | F | 6-9 |
| Caleb Wilson | North Carolina | Freshman | F | 6-10 |
