Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. have been voted unanimous 2026 CBS Sports First Team All-Americans — with Illinois’ Keaton Wagler splitting votes with others before rounding out the First Team.
Ballots were submitted Monday.
That means all of the games that players appeared in from the start of the season through the Elite Eight were considered, which probably contributed to Wagler cracking the First Team. The 6-foot-6 freshman finished with 25 points, three assists and two rebounds in Saturday’s 71-59 win over Iowa that pushed the Illini into the Final Four for the first time since 2005. It was the latest impressive performance from the biggest surprise on the First Team (relative to preseason expectations). Wagler was only ranked 150th in the Class of 2025 but quickly developed into the Illini’s best player in what will now likely be his first and only season of college basketball.
Wagler is a projected top-10 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
In what has been regularly described as The Year of the Freshmen, it’s fitting that four of the five CBS Sports First Team All-Americans are first-year players who double as projected lottery picks. Dybantsa and Boozer are expected to go in the top five of June’s NBA Draft. Wagler and Acuff could too.
Lendeborg is the only non-freshman on the First Team. He’s also the favorite to win Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four.
2025-26 CBS Sports All-Transfer team: College basketball’s best and most talented players at new schools
Isaac Trotter
A transfer from UAB, Lendeborg is averaging 15.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists for a Michigan team that won the Big Ten’s regular-season title, secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Final Four, where the Wolverines will play Arizona on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
2025-26 CBS SPORTS ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
Darius Acuff | Arkansas | PG | 6-3 | Fr. (u)
In the strongest year for freshmen in the history of college basketball, Acuff’s play was among the best both in his class and in the sport overall. His lead-guard capability led to something that hadn’t been done in more than 70 years: Acuff led the SEC in scoring (23.5 ppg) and assists (6.1), joining Pete Maravich as the only players to do that in that conference. That kind of season will put you into the conversation to be a top-five NBA pick. With a sniper’s stroke and a stellar instinct for playmaking, Acuff was the catalyst on a talented Arkansas team that won 28 games and lost in the Sweet 16 to No. 1 seed Arizona in the West Regional semifinals. John Calipari has coached some of the best prospects of the past 20 years, and if you’d like to know how special this guy is, just know he’s easily somewhere in the top five best one-and-done guys Cal’s ever recruited. — Matt Norlander
Cameron Boozer | Duke | PF | 6-9 | Fr. (u)
One of the winningest basketball players of the past three generations is shockingly not in this year’s Final Four, but that’s no damper on one of the best one-and-done seasons ever. Boozer easily ranks alongside the likes of fellow Blue Devils Zion Williamson and Cooper Flagg, in addition to Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Carmelo Anthony, as the best freshman performers in the history of college basketball. He leaves Duke after 38 games played with averages of 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 39% shooting from 3-point range and 22 double-doubles. After Duke lost five starters to the NBA in 2025, Boozer came in and was the most dependable and unstoppable player in the sport this season. It ended sourly, with a bruised up, black eye and all, but he ranks among the most valuable players to ever wear that uniform. — MN
AJ Dybantsa | BYU | SF | 6-9 | Fr. (u)
Jason Conley at VMI in 2001-02. Trae Young at Oklahoma in 2017-18. AJ Dybantsa this season at BYU. They’re the only three freshmen to ever lead men’s college basketball in scoring. Dybantsa finished at 25.5 points per game, almost two full points ahead of everyone else. The Brockton, Mass., native was a cultural phenomenon with the Cougars this season, putting up eight games of at least 30 points, including the high mark of 43 at home vs. Utah on Jan. 24. Far from a ball hog, Dybantsa also averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while enhancing BYU’s national reputation. The Cougars have had some stellar talents over the years, but Dybantsa may prove to be a trendsetter for future five-star prospects. (2026 blue-chip recruit Bruce Branch III will be headed to Provo later this year.) — MN
Yaxel Lendeborg | Michigan | PF | 6-9 | Gr. (u)
The most impactful transfer in the country doubles as a unanimous First Team All-American after being the centerpiece on what should be regarded as the best Michigan team ever. (Apologies to the Fab Five, but this team is even more impressive.) Lendeborg is averaging 15.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and has a top-10 138.1 ORtg heading into the beastly FInal Four matchup against Arizona. The guy whose teammates call him “Dominican LeBron” could have left for the NBA last year but signed on with Dusty May’s program after graduating from UAB. What came next? Merely one of the greatest seasons he’ll ever experience. Not a bad college ending for a guy who began his journey at an Arizona junior college five years ago. — MN
Keaton Wagler | Illinois | PG | 6-6 | Fr.
Wagler is the prime example of why we pride ourselves at CBS Sports of not holding our voting for our awards until after the Elite Eight. Whereas the other four were unanimous selections, the competition for the fifth First Teamer was competitive, but Wagler wins out because he’s the best player on an Illinois team that surged to its first Final Four in 21 years. His game is almost as outstanding as his story. The former three-star prospect who was ranked 152nd in his high school class has become a one-of-a-kind tale in the sport’s long history of diamonds in the rough. Someone ranked that low has never turned themselves into a top-10 pick in less than a year’s time and been the focal point on a Final Four team. Wagler is averaging 17.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and shooting 40.7% from deep in advance of Saturday’s national semifinal against Connecticut. What a wonder. — MN
u — unanimous selection
2025-26 CBS SPORTS ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
Joshua Jefferson | Iowa State | PF | 6-9 | Sr.
Jefferson did everything for an Iowa State that earned a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament until his season ended prematurely due to an ankle injury suffered in a first round win over Tennessee State. The versatile forward finished second on the team in scoring (16.9 PPG), first in rebounding (7.4), second in assists (4.8), second in steals (1.6) and second in blocks (0.8).
His all-around excellence vaulted him into the NBA Draft conversation and helped carry Iowa State to a third-place finish in the rugged Big 12. — David Cobb
Zuby Ejiofor | St. John’s | C | 6-9 | Sr.
Ejiofor imposed his will on the Big East while leading St. John’s to back-to-back double championships in the league. He averaged career-bests in points (16.3), assists (3.5) and blocks (2.1) while thriving as one of college basketball’s top post-up threats.
He was particularly great down the stretch, averaging 18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.9 blocks over St. John’s final nine games, which included eight straight wins until a Sweet 16 loss to Duke. — DC
Braden Smith, Purdue | PG | 6-0 | Sr.
Smith capped his illustrious four-year career by leading Purdue to an Elite Eight and becoming the NCAA’s all-time assists leader in the process. His 8.8 dimes per contest marked a career best as he finished second nationally in assists per game.
Always the consummate floor general, Smith averaged a whopping 11.5 assists per game during Purdue’s four-game run to the Big Ten Tournament title, which vaulted the Boilermakers onto the No. 2 seed line for the NCAA Tournament. — DC
Kingston Flemings | Houston | PG | 6-4 | Fr.
Flemings stepped into a demanding Houston system and immediately thrived, as he led the Cougars in points per game (16.1), assists (5.2), steals (1.5) and 3-point percentage (38.7%). His 42-point outburst against Texas Tech on Jan. 24 was particularly memorable.
The remarkable freshman campaign vaulted Flemings into position to be a likely top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. — DC
JT Toppin | Texas Tech | PF | 6-9 | Jr.
Toppin’s National Player of the Year campaign ended when suffered a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 17 against Arizona State. In 25 games, he averaged career-highs with 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals. He totaled a remarkable 16 double-doubles in an abbreviated season.
Though marred by a torn ACL, it was nevertheless an All-American-worthy year for Toppin, who would have received even more accolades with a full body of work. — DC
2025-26 CBS SPORTS ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM
Jeremy Fears Jr. | Michigan State | PG | 6-2 | R-Soph.
Fears finished the season with the most assists per game (9.4) in college basketball. He doubled his scoring (15.2 points) from last season and improved in all areas. Fears’ breakout season helped Michigan State reach the Sweet 16. – Cameron Salerno
Bennett Stirtz | Iowa | PG | 6-4 | Sr.
Iowa went on one of the most surprising runs of any team in the NCAA Tournament this season. The Hawkeyes reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987. After stops at Northwest Missouri State and Drake under Ben McCollum, he followed his coach to the high-major level and proved he belonged and then some, averaging 19.8 points and 4.4 assists. – CS
Labaron Philon Jr. | Alabama | PG | 6-3 | Soph.
Philon bypassed the 2025 NBA Draft to return to Alabama, and it proved to be mutually beneficial for both parties. Philon became Alabama’s top-scoring option while improving his draft stock. Philon projects as an early-to-mid first-round pick this summer after averaging 22.0 points per game. — CS
Tyler Tanner | Vanderbilt | PG | 6-0 | So.
Tanner is pound-for-pound one of the best athletes in college basketball. Despite being undersized for the position, Tanner was a pest on the defensive end. He finished the season with 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.4 steals. If Tanner does return to college next season, he could be a preseason first-team All-American. – CS
Caleb Wilson | North Carolina | PF | 6-10 | Fr.
Wilson was on pace to potentially end up as a first-team All-American before two separate hand injuries cost him the final month of the season. When Wilson played, he was one of the most entertaining players in the sport to watch, with highlight dunks and blocks that could make you jump out of your seat. Wilson could be UNC’s first top-five pick in the NBA Draft since Marvin Williams in 2005. – CS
