2026–27 OVC Top 10 Players: Bradshaw, Morris and the Race for the League's Best

2026-10-20

Tennessee State is going to supply many of the Ohio Valley's headlines this season, but there is good talent elsewhere, including the conference's only returning All-OVC selection, the best veteran creators and several newcomers with unfamiliar résumés. This is the MMH preseason Top 10, not a list of already-earned 2026–27 accomplishments or an output from the in-season game model. Players coming from a lower division, junior college or international league must still prove that their production translates.

Read our full 2026–27 OVC conference preview for the team-level context.

1. Aaron Bradshaw — Tennessee State

C/F · Sr. · 7-1. A former five-star high school recruit who has played at Kentucky, Ohio State and Memphis, Bradshaw averaged 8.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 2025–26. The path has not been perfectly linear, and we should not assume his senior season will look like his prep ranking. Still, the positional size, finishing and defensive ceiling stand out in an OVC without many players who can match him around the rim. MMH preseason Player of the Year. TSU official roster.

2. Arterio Morris — Tennessee State

G · Sr. · 6-4. Morris was once ranked among the country's top high-school prospects and arrives with a winding college résumé. He can generate offense without a perfect set, an important trait when OVC games slow down. The biggest question is how efficiently his possessions fit alongside Johnson and Bradshaw. If the backcourt avoids duplication, the Tigers can turn size and athleticism into a real structural advantage. Texas original 2022 signing announcement.

3. Tyler King — SIUE

G · Sr. · 6-4. King averaged 9.9 points last year and is the OVC's only returning 2025–26 All-OVC honoree, an important distinction in a transfer-heavy league. He may not post the most eye-catching raw scoring average, but his familiarity with Barone's offense and ability to make timely shots give SIUE a trusted starting point. A breakout into the league's top five scorers would push the Cougars into championship contention. Official OVC list.

4. Marqueas Bell — Southeast Missouri

G · Sr. · 6-3. Bell averaged 9.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 33 games last year. The value is the rebounding impact from the guard position and the fact that SEMO can build around someone with actual OVC repetitions. His efficiency and increased responsibility, rather than a dramatic change in individual athleticism, will determine whether he is a true all-conference-level leader. SEMO's roster announcement.

5. Chase Dawson — Morehead State

G · Jr. · 6-0. Dawson contributed 8.3 points and 2.7 assists a game to last season's co-regular-season champion. He will be asked to steer a rebuilt set of offensive weapons and to ensure that the Eagles do not lose their defensive identity while adjusting. A reliable point guard can be more valuable than a single volume scorer when the rest of the rotation is new. Morehead State bio.

6. Ty-Laur Johnson — Tennessee State

G · Sr. · 6-0. Johnson brings an estimated 14.6 points and 4.3 assists per game from his previous season, plus demonstrated high-major experience. He may prove to be Tennessee State's most important offensive initiator even if Bradshaw has the higher national profile. The issue is whether the Tigers can preserve his best playmaking traits while sharing the ball with Morris. TSU roster.

7. Landren Blocker — Southeast Missouri

G · Jr. · 6-5. The Redhawks' returning wing gives them the possibility of lineups with real size on the perimeter. He is one of two school-selected OVC preseason players to watch along with Bell. Our ranking rewards his potential two-way role, not a presumed scoring breakout.

8. Davi Remagen — UT Martin

G · So. · 6-3. Remagen comes from Georgia Tech, where he played limited minutes as a freshman, and has a significant international developmental background. He has an opportunity for much more responsibility at UT Martin. His early performance could swing an especially uncertain roster between a comfortable top-half finish and a rebuilding season. Official player biography.

9. Marsai Mason — Lindenwood

G/F · Jr. · 6-6. Mason averaged 16.7 points and 1.6 blocks per game at Arizona Western, earned NJCAA All-American recognition and now moves into a Division I setting with more defensive complexity. If his size and weak-side rim protection translate, he will allow the Lions to experiment with smaller lineups without becoming too easy to attack. Lindenwood roster announcement.

10. Xavier Spencer — Lindenwood

G · Sr. · 6-1. Spencer averaged 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds, started all 33 games for UMass Lowell last season and recorded 96 assists. That's the stable background a new collection of teammates needs. He may be the difference between Lindenwood becoming an early-season surprise and losing too many winnable games while learning to play together. Lindenwood exhibition preview.

Next five to watch

Darrion Baker (SIUE), Kaden Brown (Southern Indiana), Filip Petkovski (UT Martin), Justin Payne (Morehead State) and Jaden Miller (Eastern Illinois) could all find a route into the top ten. The last two in particular are shifting upward from lower divisions, a source of both excitement and projection error. For players with known prep ratings, our team-page recruiting field references the original high school evaluation, never the transfer portal or an invented ranking.

Research basis: official OVC preseason players to watch, official 2026–27 school rosters, 2025–26 individual bios, the supplied Blue Ribbon yearbook and independent MMH preseason assessment. The numerical prior-season statistics are historical, not 2026–27 projections.