.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
In this new and rapidly evolving era of college sports, it might be harder than ever to be a true Cinderella in the NCAA Tournament. Many of the players who would ordinarily be some of the best mid-major talents in the country instead play for high-major schools, throwing off college basketball's balance.
On the flip side, talent at smaller schools can still come from just about anywhere. Some of the top mid-major players in the country started out at more prominent schools, while others began their careers outside of Division I entirely and have been overlooked their entire careers.
While short on upsets, 2025 proved that talent can still be found anywhere. Drake knocked off 6-seed Missouri with a core that was just playing at the Division II level a year earlier. There are some tremendous players outside of the schools with the most resources, and some have the potential to become brand names this March.
Here are the biggest potential Cinderella stars who could bust your 2026 March Madness bracket.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | Full TV schedule | Printable bracket
6 potential Cinderella stars in 2026 March Madness bracket
Dominique Daniels Jr., Cal Baptist
Cal Baptist's Dominique Daniels Jr. checks all of the boxes to be a potential March Madness star. He's undersized at 5-10, puts up a ridiculous amount of shots and started his college career at the junior college level. All that's left to do is at least give Kansas a scare.
Is Daniels efficient? Well, that depends. He shoots 44.4 percent from the floor, a significant improvement from last season, but he's only 32.4 percent from 3-point range. Either way, he is going to shoot. Daniels has attempted at least 20 shots in 13 of his last 24 games, 11 of which were wins.
When he's hot, he's one of the most entertaining players in the country. A day before hitting the game-winner that sent Cal Baptist to the NCAA Tournament, Daniels scored 41 points on 15-of-23 from the field. A dud is also possible against a defense of Kansas' caliber, but Daniels will go down swinging even if that is the case.
MORE: Teams with the best chances to pull off upsets in Rounds 1-2
Wes Enis, South Florida
Bennett Stirtz led Drake to an NCAA Tournament win after jumping from the Division II level last season. Can Wes Enis do the same for South Florida?
Enis has a great deal of talent around him at USF, where Bryan Hodgson brought much of his talented core from Arkansas State, but the former Lincoln Memorial University star has transitioned seamlessly. Enis is averaging 16.7 points per game and enters the tournament coming off four consecutive 20-point performances for the Bulls.
69 percent of Enis' shot attempts are 3-pointers, which makes him a candidate to rain 3s on Louisville and send the Cardinals home early with the help of an impressive supporting cast.
MORE: How to pick Louisville vs. South Florida in first round
Tavari Johnson, Akron
Akron largely kept the band together from last season aside from losing star guard Nate Johnson, but Tavari Johnson stepped right into Johnson's shoes and emerged as one of the top mid-major players in the country.
Standing at just 5-11 and 155 pounds, Johnson's production far outweighs his size. The four-year Akron veteran is averaging 20.1 points per game along with five assists, shooting a career-high 51.2 percent from the field this year, plus 88.3 percent from the free-throw line over the last two seasons.
Johnson will have a tough assignment against a talented Texas Tech backcourt, but he has stayed loyal to Akron and would be a tremendous story if he led the Zips to a win.
Imagn Images
TJ Power, Penn
A top-25 recruit in 2023, TJ Power started out at Duke and Virginia but couldn't find his way into the rotation at either school. He chose to go the small-school route for his junior season, joining Fran McCaffery at Penn and leading the Quakers to an Ivy League Tournament title.
Penn doesn't have much size and will have its hands full with Illinois in the first round, but Power has the potential to keep the Quakers in it. A 43.2 percent 3-point shooter, Power is averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and is coming off a brilliant 44-point, 14-rebound performance against Yale in the Ivy League title game.
Power is more talented than most Ivy Leaguers and seems to have a knack for big moments. Penn faces long odds after needing overtime to take down Harvard and Yale, but Power could make it a fun battle with the Illini.
SN EXPERT BRACKETS: DeCourcy (Arizona) | Bender (Michigan) | Iyer (Arizona) | Gay (UCLA women)
Aleksandar Gavalyugov, Santa Clara
Santa Clara enters as an underdog against Kentucky in its first NCAA Tournament appearance in three decades, and Aleksander "Sash" Gavalyugov isn't necessarily the most important piece of the Broncos' offense as they try to pull off a mild upset. He could be the most fun.
The Bulgarian guard started out at Villanova last season but only played a total of 19 minutes. He's found his niche at Santa Clara, averaging 8.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in a sixth-man role. That doesn't tell the full story.
Gavalyugov has been prone to explosive performances, including a 37-point outburst against Loyola Marymount, 21 points against Seattle and 23 points in a WCC Tournament over St. Mary's that sealed an at-large bid for the Broncos. He primarily shoots 3-pointers and is 39.4 percent from beyond the arc since Jan. 24. Look for Gavalyugov to be a sneaky candidate to break Kentucky's heart.
MORE: How to pick Kentucky vs. Santa Clara in first round
Isaac Johnson, Hawaii
Hawaii's upset chances aren't nearly what they were before the win over California in this tournament 10 years ago, but if the Rainbow Warriors are going to give Arkansas a scare, Isaac Johnson will have to be the reason why.
The 7-footer started out at Oregon before emerging as a rotation piece at Utah State and sliding over to Hawaii for a more featured role this season. Johnson has delivered on that promise, averaging 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. While not as much of a rebounder as one might expect from a 7-footer, Johnson posted 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a terrific Big West title game performance and isn't afraid to shoot from beyond the arc, attempting 14 3s between Hawaii's two Big West Tournament wins.
Arkansas' backcourt is one of the best in the country, but with Johnson, Hawaii can attack the Razorbacks at the rim and try to use that potential advantage to pull off a stunner.
English (US)