2026–27 Big Ten: MMH Top 10 Players
2026-11-03
Jeremy Fears Jr. leads MMH's preseason Big Ten player rankings. The order weighs projected impact, responsibility, fit and likely availability rather than simply sorting last season's scoring averages. Team title picks and individual rankings answer different questions.
Availability note: Illinois' David Mirkovic has had foot surgery and an emergency appendectomy; no return date is assumed here. Michigan's Brandon McCoy Jr. is excluded from available-player projections after an ACL injury.
| Rank | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremy Fears Jr. | Michigan State |
| 2 | David Mirkovic | Illinois |
| 3 | Elliot Cadeau | Michigan |
| 4 | Pryce Sandfort | Nebraska |
| 5 | Trey McKenney | Michigan |
| 6 | Rodney Rice | USC |
| 7 | Andrej Stojakovic | Illinois |
| 8 | Nolan Winter | Wisconsin |
| 9 | John Mobley Jr. | Ohio State |
| 10 | Markus Burton | Indiana |
1. Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State
2025–26 background: 15.2 PPG; 2.4 RPG; 9.4 APG.
Fears is the first choice because his playmaking establishes the terms of Michigan State's offense. He can get teammates useful touches without requiring the Spartans to win every possession through difficult individual shots. His command of pace and passing also gives the developing frontcourt a clearer job. The question is how consistently his scoring makes defenders pay when they try to take away those passing lanes.
2. David Mirkovic, Illinois
2025–26 background: 13.3 PPG; 8.0 RPG; 2.6 APG.
Mirkovic's frontcourt skill gives Illinois a different offensive dimension: a big player who can connect possessions as well as finish them. His talent warrants this position, but his availability requires a prominent qualification. Foot surgery and an emergency appendectomy have interrupted his preparation. This ranking reflects his healthy impact; it is not a prediction of an immediate return or a promise that Illinois will receive a full season from him.
3. Elliot Cadeau, Michigan
2025–26 background: 10.5 PPG; 2.7 RPG; 5.9 APG.
Cadeau's ability to organize the half-court offense is central to Michigan's transition under Mike Boynton. He can create advantages through timing and delivery instead of asking every teammate to generate offense from a standstill. Michigan needs that skill to produce disciplined possessions against defenses that crowd the paint. His outside shooting and control of turnovers will determine how freely opponents can concentrate on the passing game.
4. Pryce Sandfort, Nebraska
2025–26 background: 18.1 PPG; 4.9 RPG; 2.0 APG.
Sandfort gives Nebraska a player whose shooting can shape the entire offense. Defenders must account for him before the ball arrives, which creates room for the next cut or drive. The additional challenge is maintaining that influence when opponents deny his preferred catches. Nebraska's best version needs him to punish that attention through movement and decisions as well as made jump shots.
5. Trey McKenney, Michigan
2025–26 background: 9.9 PPG; 2.8 RPG.
McKenney's strength and perimeter scoring provide a substantial source of upside for Michigan. He can offer a different solution from Cadeau when a possession requires an individual advantage. The next step is turning those tools into repeatable efficiency against prepared defenses. With Brandon McCoy Jr. unavailable after an ACL injury, Michigan has even more reason to need dependable production from its available perimeter group.
6. Rodney Rice, USC
2025–26 background: 20.3 PPG; 3.3 RPG; 6.0 APG.
Rice gives USC an experienced perimeter scorer around whom its younger talent can find more manageable roles. His importance extends beyond the number of shots he takes: defenses that commit extra attention to him create opportunities elsewhere. USC needs him to make the right decision when that help comes and to provide consistent production when its new combinations encounter difficult stretches.
7. Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois
2025–26 background: 13.5 PPG; 4.5 RPG; 1.0 APG.
Stojakovic can supply the perimeter scoring that keeps Illinois from depending too heavily on its frontcourt. His size creates useful opportunities against smaller defenders, and his ability to attack a closeout can turn a good first pass into a better shot. The ranking assumes an important offensive role while recognizing that the Illini's best possessions still require movement and shared creation.
8. Nolan Winter, Wisconsin
2025–26 background: 13.1 PPG; 8.5 RPG; 1.5 APG.
Winter gives Wisconsin a frontcourt player with the skill to keep the offense connected. His value grows when his scoring, spacing and rebounding occur within the same dependable role rather than as occasional contributions. A larger share of responsibility brings tougher defensive attention. Wisconsin needs him to remain useful when opponents force the ball out of his preferred spots.
9. John Mobley Jr., Ohio State
Mobley's perimeter scoring can change how opponents defend Ohio State's guards. His shooting demands attention away from the paint and gives the offense a credible answer when a possession becomes difficult. The larger responsibility is creating efficient offense without allowing tough attempts to become the default. His development as a decision-maker will help determine how often the Buckeyes can reach their preferred shots.
10. Markus Burton, Indiana
2025–26 background: 18.5 PPG; 2.8 RPG; 3.7 APG.
Burton's creation gives Indiana a concrete reason to expect a better offense. His Notre Dame experience matters because the Hoosiers are asking him to make decisions against a demanding conference schedule immediately. The new interior size can help turn his penetration into higher-quality team possessions. The strongest version of his season combines individual scoring with delivery to the new big men and shooters.
Method and sources
These are MMH editorial evaluations, not the official conference awards ballot. Stat lines describe 2025–26 production at the previous-season school, not projected 2026–27 averages; transfer figures are not attributed to the new team. Player background comes from the supplied Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook 2026–27 and the current-roster updates linked above. Freshman projections carry more uncertainty than established college roles. Injury-sensitive rankings describe expected healthy impact without promising a return date. See the full conference preview for team-by-team source pages and the standings comparison.