College basketball fantasy drafts are underway with the season fast approaching, so our crew of college hoops writers and other staff members recently got together to draft our staff league. The league features 12 managers and uses head-to-head points (DraftKings scoring). Each participant starts five guards, five forward/center flex spots and three G/F/C flex spots (plus five bench spots). It's a traditional snake draft for the 2025-26 season only (no keeper/dynasty aspect).
For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, roles and overall player performance, head to RotoWire's latest college basketball news page or follow @RotoWireCBB on X.
College Basketball Expert League Participants
1. Steve Peralta (@PeraltaSpeaks), CBB Gambling Columnist
2. Adam Zdroik (@RotoZdroik), CBB Bracketologist
3. Se Ho Park (@lionheartshp), CBB Breaking News Writer
4. Perry Missner (@HoopsByPerry), CBB Beat Writer, Columnist
5. Andrew Parr (@Parrmaster), Developer, CBB Pick'em Guru
6. Ryan Andrade (@Roto_Ryan), Assistant CBB Editor, Golf/Racing Editor
7. Vincent Janiszewski (@VincentJanisze1), CBB Breaking News Writer
8. Peter Schoenke (@PeterSchoenke), RotoWire Founder
9. Ryan Pohle (@RyanPohle), DFS Product Specialist, CBB Projections Guru.
10. Jake Letarski (@RotoJake), College Basketball Editor, Ops Manager
11. D.J. Trainor (@TrainorDJ), Director of Personnel/Media
12. Brian Williams (@FPcommish), CBB Beat Writer, Columnist
With that housekeeping aside, let's jump into the picks. Since freshman won't show up in draft room rankings due to a lack of 2024-25 stats, I'll denote them in Italics to hopefully help them stand out.
2025-26 College Basketball Fantasy Draft Results
Round 1
1. JT Toppin, F/C, Texas Tech 
2. Braden Smith, G, Purdue 
3. Yaxel Lendeborg, F/C, Michigan 
4. Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas 
5. Trey Kaufman-Renn, F/C, Purdue
6. PJ Haggerty, G, Kansas State 
7. Nate Bittle, F/C, Oregon 
8. Zuby Ejiofor, F/C, St. John's 
9. Cameron Boozer, F/C, Duke 
10. Darrion Williams, G, F/C, North Carolina State 
11. A.J. Dybantsa, F/C, BYU 
12. Bryce Hopkins, G, F/C, St. John's
The elite forward/center-eligible players tend to dry up quickly in fantasy college basketball, so it's no surprise to see only three guard-only eligible players in Round 1. That also explains why someone like JT Toppin goes first overall instead of Braden Smith, who tops RotoWire's 2025-26 college basketball rankings. Both will provide elite multi-category production in 2025-26 and are each a perfectly acceptable No. 1 overall selection.
We also saw three freshman taken in Round 1, topped by Darryn Peterson. He gets the keys to an entirely revamped Kansas roster and is second to only Braden Smith (+550) in terms of Wooden Award odds (+1100). Cameron Boozer (+1300) was next as Duke's projected top scorer, followed by A.J. Dybantsa (+1200). The latter is expected to be the first pick in next year's NBA Draft, but with BYU rostering other standouts like Richie Saunders and Robert Wright, will there be room for dominant counting stats in his one-and-done season?
Players like Lendeborg, Kaufman-Renn, Bittle and Ejofor are nightly double-double threats who will offer elite production from the F/C position. Perhaps Kaufman-Renn to a slightly lesser degree with transfer Oscar Cluff (12.3 rpg in 24-25) to grab boards, but TKR makes up for it with scoring after putting up 20.1 ppg a season ago. He was the top overall player picked for our Big Ten fantasy preview earlier this offseason.
I went with Darrion Williams, the preseason ACC Player of the Year and one of four transfer players to be taken off the board in Round 1. I like the dual-position eligibility, and the fact he'll be the front man for coach Will Wade's new-look Wolf Pack. A slight tempo boost, and no JT Toppin to share the scoring with, also work in Williams' favor.
We had a bit of a surprise at the 12-spot, with Bryce Hopkins being the second St. John's player off the board. He's looking at his first healthy season since 2022-23, when he put up 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds at Providence. He shares the frontcourt with No. 8 overall pick Zuby Ejiofor, who will devour rebounds, but Hopkins is poised to be the leading scorer if he can stay on the court, which would make him a potential league-winner. He's one of the biggest risk/reward options in all of fantasy college hoops.
Round 2
13. Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa 
14. Donovan Dent, G, UCLA 
15. Richie Saunders, G, F/C, BYU
16. Markus Burton, G, Notre Dame 
17. Joshua Jefferson, F/C, Iowa State 
18. Alex Karaban, F/C, Connecticut 
19. Josh Hubbard, G, Mississippi State 
20. Bruce Thornton, G, Ohio State 
21. Otega Oweh, G, Kentucky 
22. Nick Martinelli, F/C, Northwestern 
23. Baye Ndongo, F/C, Georgia Tech 
24. Tomislav Ivisic, F/C, Illinois 
A run of top guards started Round 2, with no real surprises. I personally think I got a steal with Saunders, who I had considered taking at No. 10 overall. I picked BYU to win the Big 12 in our recent college basketball betting futures picks column, largely because of his returning 16.5 ppg/4.5 rpg numbers that will complement the No. 1 overall recruit in Dybantsa (Saunders also has dual-eligibility).
Stirtz and Dent are both transfer players expected to generate the majority of offense at their new schools, while Burton is Notre Dame's only real option coming off a season in which he averaged 21.3 ppg. The Irish won't have a good year, but that doesn't matter at all for fantasy. Pohle made this pick almost instantly after mine -- you could tell he was antsy to balance out a freshman with some risk with some guaranteed production.
Pete followed with a savvy Jefferson pick, who was one of the headliners in my college basketball sleepers column. He may not get national attention, but he'll deliver the multi-category production you need for fantasy success.
Alex Karaban was a notable Round 1 omission after being a consensus first-round pick a season ago. He was supposed to be a breakout star in 2024-25, but his counting stats only increased marginally while his shooting percentages took a major dive (49.5 to 43.8 FG%, 37.9 to 34.7 3PT%). He may not have been ready to be the leading man yet, but with an improved UConn roster, along with the fact he added a bit of bulk in the offseason, he has a chance to be what everyone thought he might be last year.
Hubbard could lead the country in scoring. Thornton and Oweh are do-it-all guards that will see their entire teams run through them. Martinelli is a 20+ ppg scorer returning for his seneior season, while Ndongo is one of the few nightly double-double threats remaining.
Check out how injuries are affecting the status of other players & teams on RotoWire's college basketball injury report.
Round 3
25. Alex Condon, F/C, Florida 
26. Boogie Fland, G, Florida
27. Milos Uzan, G, Houston 
28. Nate Ament, F, Tennessee 
29. Labaron Philon, G, Alabama 
30. Tucker DeVries, F, Indiana 
31. John Blackwell, G, Wisconsin 
32. Ja'Kobi Gillespie, G, Tennessee
33. Rienk Mast, F/C, Nebraska 
34. Keyshawn Hall, G, F/C, Auburn 
35. Oscar Cluff, F/C, Purdue
36. Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
Two players from the reigning national champion Florida Gators are off the board first, with Condon returning to a loaded frontcourt and Fland transferring in from Arkansas to take over for Walter Clayton at point guard.
Next, the slide of Uzan ends. Did Houston's slow pace deter potential suitors, or was it a lack of confidence he'll be the one to pick up the slack of LJ Cryer?
This is also the time of the draft where knowing the draft room comes into play. There haven't been enough Fantrax drafts yet for Nate Ament to rise up in ADP, so you have to go looking for him. Caleb Wilson found himself in a similar boat later on in Round 4.
I had been hoping Tucker DeVries would fall, but it wasn't meant to be. Another Big Ten talent in sleeper All-American candidate John Blackwell was next -- the Badgers are far from the fantasy black hole they used to be, playing at a much faster tempo.
I went with Keyshawn Hall in a tough call between him and UNC freshman Caleb Wilson (who fell to me in Round 4). I ultimately went with the safer producer who just had a big exhibition game against Oklahoma State, and you guessed it, dual-position eligibility. In points leagues like this, especially during non-conference play, having as many games as possible in a week is often just as important than the players playing in them. I want lineup flexibility to manipulate this, and I'm off to a great start in that area.
Round 4
37. Tarris Reed, F/C, Connecticut
38. Tamin Lipsey, G, Iowa State
39. Caleb Wilson, F/C, North Carolina 
40. Boopie Miller, G, SMU
41. Jaden Bradley, G, Arizona
42. Flory Bidunga, F/C, Kansas
43. Michael Rataj, G, F/C, Baylor
44. Tahaad Pettiford, G, Auburn
45. LeJuan Watts, F/C, Texas Tech
46. Pop Isaacs, G, Texas A&M
47. Thomas Haugh, F/C, Florida
48. Chase Ross, G, Marquette
Round 4 starts with Reed and Lipsey, who have seen their stock plummet a bit due to hamstring and knee injuries, respectively. Both are uncertain for their teams' openers at time of publication. Say what you will about gambling on college sports, but you can't deny it has made injury reporting better. Teams have no incentive to be fully transparent in October, however, so I try to avoid the uncertainty when I can.
After playing it safe the first few picks, I took a risk with UNC freshman Caleb Wilson, who I did consider at 3.10 as well. He's No. 5 on the ESPN 100, and there's opportunity to establish himself as an alpha on a Tar Heels squad looking to get over the hump.
Six more guards round out the fourth round, with a few highlights. Jaden Bradley stands to take a big leap with Caleb Love no longer commanding all the shots for Arizona. LeJuan Watts heads to Texas Tech after averaging 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists for Washington State last year in the WCC. After Pop Isaacs saw last season limited to eight games due to hip surgery, he's now with his third school (four if you count the quick Houston decommit) and looking to return to old form.
The ultimate sleeper here is Flory Bidunga. He had insane per-minute marks last year as Hunter Dickinson's backup and could be a breakout star with all-conference potential if he can learn to limit his fouls a little better. I also love the Michael Rataj pick. I believe he'll end up as the leading scorer on a re-tooled Baylor roster after averaging 16.9 points and 7.2 rebounds with Oregon State out of the WCC last season. Both Bidunga and Rataj were in my queue and very much in consideration at 4.3.
Round 5
49. Solo Ball, G, Connecticut
50. Malik Reneau, F/C, Miami
51. Owen Freeman, F/C, Creighton
52. Mikel Brown, G, Louisville
53. Chad Baker-Mazara, G, F/C, USC
54. Emanuel Sharp, G, Houston
55. Jaxon Kohler, F/C, Michigan State
56. Tounde Yessoufou, G, Baylor
57. Nick Boyd, G, Wisconsin
58. Andrej Stojakovic, G, Illinois
59. Alvaro Folgueiras, F/C, Iowa
60. Henri Veesaar, F/C, North Carolina
The fifth round begins with two more players at the top of my queue in Ball and Renau. Ball could lead a resurgent Huskies program in scoring, while Reneau gets a fresh start as the possible go-to option for the Hurricanes.
This set of picks also is starting to showcase my earlier point about quality big men drying up. Owen Freeman fell here only because he's nursing a knee injury that may force him to miss time at the start of the season. Kohler is solid, but sometimes inconsistent. Veesaar looked great at times, but also disappeared for stretches at Arizona. He's now learning a new program/system at North Carolina.
Two more freshman went off the board here in Mikel Brown and Tounde Yessoufou. Brown was one of the toughest players for me to rank this year. Yeah, he's No. 8 on the ESPN 100, but Louisville's roster is so loaded that it was nearly impossible to distribute the minutes in our 2025-26 college basketball projected stats. Yessoufou, the No. 9 recruit, will need to establish himself on a new-look Baylor roster in need of an identity.
I broke my injury rule here to go with Andrej Stojakovic, son of NBA legend Peja. His skills were hidden playing out west with Cal last year, but his 37 points in the ACC Tournament exit to Stanford showcased his potential. Big Ten defenses could slow him down a bit, but he's also a third-year player who should continue to develop. He did miss the Illini's first exhibition game while working back from a knee injury, which is the only red flag here.
Nick Boyd is another player I wanted to highlight, as he gives the Badgers a traditional point guard after essentially operating without one last season. Wisconsin has a ton of options to distribute to, whether that be returnees John Blackwell or Nolan Winter, or WCC Freshman of the Year Austin Rapp, who comes in from Portland. The Badgers also aren't the fantasy black hole they once were, ranking No. 149 in KenPom's adjusted tempo rating in 2024-25 -- a far cry from their No. 304 ranking in the previous year. It's now a program that can be home to multiple fantasy assets. Both Rapp and Winter will likely be taken in the coming rounds.
In the interest of getting this article out to the readers, I'll stop here, but will attempt to update as additional rounds are completed.
Other College Basketball Resources:
Our Fantasy College Basketball Draft Kit is rolling out for 2025-26, so make sure you don't miss the following top features:
- Season-long College Basketball projections for nearly 800 players and counting.
- Complete college basketball depth charts for power conference teams and more.
- Comprehensive college basketball injury report with estimated return dates.
- The most complete collection of college basketball player news on the internet.
- Early fantasy college basketball rankings for the 2025-26 season.
- Plus, player/team stats, ability to import your team via MyLeagues, and complete access to polls and box scores in-season. Don't miss it!
