The All-American first team looks like the next wave of NBA stars

The college basketball All-American team has always been an achievement that players aspire to. However, since the addition of the ‘one-and-done’ dynamic, over time the All-American team has become an even stronger staple of interest. Including many freshmen. 

A look at last year’s All-American team sheds some light on this concept. Purdue’s Braden Smith is poised to become the all-time NCAA assists leader, eclipsing Duke great and soon-to-be former Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley.

Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr was the 18^th overall pick to the Washington Wizards. Alabama’s Mark Sears finished the 2024-25 campaign with 18 points, five assists and three rebounds per game. Auburn’s Johni Broome was the 35^th overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Finally, last year’s NBA Draft prize and the 2024-25 National Player of the Year and freshman Cooper Flagg. Flagg would improve his season stat line in the NBA after his one season at Duke.

All-American team looks like an NBA mainstay

Every year there are All-Americans that are expected to make noise in the NBA. However, what pro teams are looking for and what college teams prioritize in order to win games, don’t always line up. This year they do.

The Sporting News 2025-26 College Basketball All-America Team

Three of the All-American team are expected to potentially all be top 10 picks. AJ Dybansta (freshman) is a favorite to go No. 1 overall. Cameron Boozer (freshman) should be a consensus top 5 pick and is expected to go in the top 3. Darius Acuff Jr (freshman) is one of 4-5 point guards who could all go in the top 10.

Outside those three, JT Toppin is an interesting case. Injured in February, his draft stock is all over the place. Some still predicting a first round player, while others have him out of the Draft completely. Prior to his injury Toppin was averaging almost 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg rounds out the first team group of five. The UAB transfer saw a slight production regression when he transferred to the Big Ten. Part of that  is due to a slight position change to SF after playing primarily power forward or center at UAB.

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If that is not enough to sell you, the comparison goes even deeper. There has been a shift in the NBA that reveals itself on this list. The days of each five positions on the floor representing five very different and specific roles and styles of play has faded away.

Throw out traditional point guards and traditional centers and what remains is basically the same archetype spread across three positions. Ask yourself, what separates the following players stylistically. Kevin Durant, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Duren, Lauri Markkanen, Bam Adebayo, Jalen Williams and any number of NBA players who are all 6’7-6’11.

The answer is they all play like wings. Some have a post-game, but all can shoot, all can run, all can dribble, all can pass. Even Bam Adebayo, who just scored 83 points in a game, was once described by a former NBA player as anything but a big.  “Y’all don’t know how good Bam is,” Michael Beasley said on the OGs podcast. “Bam is a point guard stuck in that big body.”

The common thread is Darius Acuff Jr is the only player on this list that is not 6’9. Yet not one of these players is a dedicated center. Acuff is a point guard who can play the shooting guard position. Dybantsa, Toppin, Boozer, and Lendeborg are all some form of big body wings that can score from everywhere and have a skill set that was once reserved for shorter players.

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With the exception of JT Toppin, ACL tear last month, the All-American first team should provide some interesting play during the NCAA Tournament. There are also names outside the first team of interest. Especially considering NBA Draft consideration.

Braden Smith could be the all-time leader in assists before the Draft. Caleb Wilson, who is also working through an injury. As well as Houston standout Kingston Flemings. All could hear their names early on Draft day. 

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