The 2025-26 college basketball season is less than two weeks away, so it’s time to take a look at some of the Big Ten’s possible breakout players. Obviously, this conference is stacked top to bottom with talent. Not to mention, most of the league’s focus will be on players like Purdue’s Braden Smith, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, or even Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz. However, there are plenty of intriguing players to keep an eye on all season.
Who Are The 2025-26 Breakout Candidates For Each Big Ten Team?
Let’s take a look at the potential breakout players for each of the 18 teams in the Big Ten.
David Mirkovic, Illinois
The Illini will have a lot of talent in Champaign next season, but one that could quickly make noise is one of their newest players. Joining Illinois from his home country of Montenegro, David Mirkovic is a 6-foot-9 freshman who looks the part of a Big Ten forward. Coming off a season with SC Derby of the ABA, where he averaged 8.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, he can become a great all-around player. The 19-year-old has a bright future.
Reed Bailey, Indiana
As the Indiana Hoosiers begin a new era under head coach Darian DeVries, there’s going to be a lot of attention on senior guard Tucker DeVries. Even so, 6-foot-11 senior Reed Bailey has an opportunity to stand out in the post for the Hoosiers. He was the A-10’s Most Improved Player in 2024-25, averaging 18.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for Davidson. With so many eyes on DeVries, expect Bailey to have a massive impact.
Brendan Hausen, Iowa
The new era in Iowa City is certainly going to be highlighted by Stirtz, their star transfer from Drake. However, the Hawkeyes have some other players that could easily grow into exceptional playmakers. Cue senior guard Brendan Hausen, who played in the Big East and the Big 12 previously. Hausen has a chance to showcase his outside shooting in the Big Ten, where 3-balls are particularly important.
Darius Adams, Maryland
Maryland head coach Buzz Williams had a heck of a haul for the Terrapins. 6-foot-5 guard Darius Adams looked like he was bound for UConn, but a late flip saw him end up in College Park. Adams looks ready to go after playing 40 minutes in Maryland’s recent exhibition game. Despite a poor 3-13 shooting night, he finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. He looks like he could quickly become a go-to scorer on the wing.
Aday Mara, Michigan
Transfer bigs are the name of the game for Michigan head coach Dusty May. He did it once again with former UCLA Bruins center Aday Mara, who has a chance to perform at a high level alongside fellow bigs Lendeborg and Morez Johnson. Really showcasing a possible all-around game at 7-foot-3 center, the Spaniard padded the stat book in the Wolverines exhibition against St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. He could be right on pace to show out like Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin did for Michigan in 2024-25.
Kur Teng, Michigan State
There are plenty of players on Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo’s team who could be set for a huge season. That includes junior forward Coen Carr. However, the player that seems destined to really take things to a new level is sophomore guard Kur Teng. Izzo is high on what Teng, a consensus top-75 high school recruit in 2025, can bring to the table. He has all the skills to become a really good shooter and being able to defend. He already appears to have cracked the starting line-up.
Chansey Willis Jr., Minnesota
The Golden Gophers may have found a gem via the transfer portal, as former Western Michigan Broncos guard Chansey Willis Jr. can make a name for himself at Minnesota. After averaging 16.8 points and 5.7 assists per game in 2024-25 and being named an All-MAC player, Willis was ready for a bigger challenge. He’s the type of boost the Gophers needed at point guard.
Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
After playing 65 career games in two years at Iowa, junior forward Pryce Sandfort is looking to let it fly in Lincoln. To that point, Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg has been able to get the best out of transfer wings lately. Sandfort might not be as much of a scoring threat as Brice Williams was, but a breakout year seems destined for the Waukee native.
KJ Windham, Northwestern
Growth in the second year has been a major story for recent Northwestern Wildcats players. That also looks to be the future for KJ Windham. He boosted his scoring average in Big Ten play during the end of the 2024-25 season, as the Cats lost the services of Brooks Barnhizer (who’s now in the NBA) due to injury. His biggest game came in a loss against Oregon when he scored 20 points. Windham has breakout player potential.
Devin Royal, Ohio State
Ohio State seems to have found their centerpiece, as Devin Royal has proven he can be the man in the middle despite being 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds. Now in his third season, that next step seems reachable. In 2024-25, he finished with averages of 13.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He was also the only Buckeyes player to pull down at least 200 rebounds last season. His next step will be to become a player who can average a double-double.
Kwame Evans Jr., Oregon
Oregon is ready for Year Two of the Big Ten. However, the early-season injury to junior point guard Jackson Shelstad is going to put some pressure on the rest of the Ducks’ roster. One player who can make up for it is junior forward Kwame Evans Jr., a five-star high school recruit in 2023. In 2024-25, his averages dropped a bit from the previous season. However, his 6-foot-9, 200-pound frame should give him the edge he needs to get back on track this season.
Melih Tunca, Penn State
Penn State needs difference-makers on the floor. Melih Tunca, a freshman guard from Turkey, arrives in University Park with the potential to provide a major boost for the Nittany Lions. His 3-point percentage (.475) and free-throw percentage (.964) with Turk Telekom in 2024-25 has to have some expecting an impressive season.
Oscar Cluff, Purdue
Having 7-foot-4 sophomore center Daniel Jacobsen healthy is great for Purdue. That won’t stop Oscar Cluff from having plenty to say this season. An elite post scorer and rebounder at 6-foot-11 and 255 pounds, Cluff averaged an eye-popping 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game in 2024-25. The only problem was that he was doing it for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. This might be one of the easiest choices for a breakout player.
Dylan Grant, Rutgers
Rutgers forward Dylan Grant is going to have a lot on his plate in Year Two. In 2024-25, he played in 21 games with 16 starts. One of the team’s handful of returning players, he has a good chance to lead the Scarlet Knights in several categories this season.
Donovan Dent, UCLA
Though they lost Mara, the Bruins got some real talent for the 2025-26 season themselves. Everyone saw what Donovan Dent did at New Mexico in 2024-25 on his way to being named the MWC Player of the Year. He can take it to a whole new level in Los Angeles. Big Ten teams beware, this guy has got the it factor.
Rodney Rice, USC
Goodbye East Coast, hello West Coast. Redshirt junior Rodney Rice went from Maryland to USC in the offseason. A massive floor leader for the Terps in 2024-25, he averaged 13.8 points per game and nailed 37.4% of his 3s. USC had to replace a lot this year and their roster will look much different than last season, but Rice is one of the guys who can help lead them into prosperity.
Hannes Steinbach, Washington
The Huskies have some goals that they want to reach but who’s going to be the big star? Hannes Steinbach might not be the top incoming freshman for Washington, but early returns have shown that he’s more than ready to contribute. The German big man will be a nice playmaker alongside 2023-24 Big East Most Improved Player, Desmond Claude.
Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
Now that he’s a junior, 6-foot-11 forward Nolan Winter looks ready to make a jump, becoming Wisconsin’s next legendary big man. A consistent offensive threat, he can help take pressure off of John Blackwell, their top returning scorer. Expect a jump up from the 9.4 points per game that he scored last season.
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