University of North Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson is one of 50 players nationally to earn a spot on the preseason watch list for the 2025-26 Naismith Trophy, given to the national player of the year.
Wilson, a 6-10 forward from Atlanta, will play his first official collegiate game tonight when the 25th-ranked Tar Heels host Central Arkansas at 7 p.m. in the Smith Center on ACC Network.
The 50 candidates for the Naismith Trophy are listed below.
Last Name
First Name
Full Name
Class
Position
School
Conference
Acuff Jr.
Darius
Darius Acuff Jr.
Freshman
Guard
Arkansas
SEC
Ament
Nate
Nate Ament
Freshman
Forward
Tennessee
SEC
Avila
Robbie
Robbie Avila
Senior
Center
St. Louis
Atlantic 10
Ball
Solo
Solo Ball
Junior
Guard
UConn
BIG EAST
Bittle
Nate
Nate Bittle
Senior
Center
Oregon
Big Ten
Blackwell
John
John Blackwell
Junior
Guard
Wisconsin
Big Ten
Boozer
Cameron
Cameron Boozer
Freshman
Forward
Duke
ACC
Brown Jr.
Mikel
Mikel Brown Jr.
Freshman
Guard
Louisville
ACC
Burton
Markus
Markus Burton
Junior
Guard
Notre Dame
ACC
Condon
Alex
Alex Condon
Junior
Forward/Center
Florida
SEC
Conwell
Ryan
Ryan Conwell
Senior
Guard
Louisville
ACC
Dent
Donovan
Donovan Dent
Senior
Guard
UCLA
Big Ten
DeVries
Tucker
Tucker DeVries
Senior
Forward
Indiana
Big Ten
Dix
Josh
Josh Dix
Senior
Guard
Creighton
BIG EAST
Dybantsa
A.J.
A.J. Dybantsa
Freshman
Forward
BYU
Big 12
Ejiofor
Zuby
Zuby Ejiofor
Senior
Forward
St. John’s
BIG EAST
Evans
Isaiah
Isaiah Evans
Sophomore
Guard/Forward
Duke
ACC
Fland
Boogie
Boogie Fland
Sophomore
Guard
Florida
SEC
Gillespie
Ja’Kobi
Ja’Kobi Gillespie
Senior
Guard
Tennessee
SEC
Haggerty
P.J.
P.J. Haggerty
Junior
Guard
Kansas State
Big 12
Haugh
Thomas
Thomas Haugh
Junior
Forward
Florida
SEC
Hopkins
Bryce
Bryce Hopkins
Graduate Student
Forward/Guard
St. John’s
BIG EAST
Hubbard
Josh
Josh Hubbard
Junior
Guard
Mississippi State
SEC
Ike
Graham
Graham Ike
Graduate Student
Forward
Gonzaga
WCC
Ivišić
Tomislav
Tomislav Ivišić
Junior
Center
Illinois
Big Ten
Jackson
Ian
Ian Jackson
Sophomore
Guard
St. John’s
BIG EAST
Karaban
Alex
Alex Karaban
Senior
Forward
UConn
BIG EAST
Kaufman-Renn
Trey
Trey Kaufman-Renn
Senior
Forward
Purdue
Big Ten
Lee
Xaivian
Xaivian Lee
Senior
Guard
Florida
SEC
Lendeborg
Yaxel
Yaxel Lendeborg
Graduate Student
Forward
Michigan
Big Ten
Lipsey
Tamin
Tamin Lipsey
Senior
Guard
Iowa State
Big 12
Lowe
Jaland
Jaland Lowe
Junior
Guard
Kentucky
SEC
Martinelli
Nick
Nick Martinelli
Senior
Forward
Northwestern
Big Ten
Oweh
Otega
Otega Oweh
Senior
Guard
Kentucky
SEC
Peat
Koa
Koa Peat
Freshman
Forward
Arizona
Big 12
Peterson
Darryn
Darryn Peterson
Freshman
Guard
Kansas
Big 12
Pettiford
Tahaad
Tahaad Pettiford
Sophomore
Guard
Auburn
SEC
Philon Jr.
Labaron
Labaron Philon Jr.
Sophomore
Guard
Alabama
SEC
Saunders
Richie
Richie Saunders
Senior
Forward
BYU
Big 12
Sharpe
Emanuel
Emanuel Sharp
Senior
Guard
Houston
Big 12
Shelstad
Jackson
Jackson Shelstad
Junior
Guard
Oregon
Big Ten
Smith
Braden
Braden Smith
Senior
Guard
Purdue
Big Ten
Stirtz
Bennett
Bennett Stirtz
Senior
Guard
Iowa
Big Ten
Stojaković
Andrej
Andrej Stojaković
Junior
Guard
Illinois
Big Ten
Thornton
Bruce
Bruce Thornton
Senior
Guard
Ohio State
Big Ten
Toppin
JT
JT Toppin
Junior
Forward
Texas Tech
Big 12
Tugler
Joseph
Joseph Tugler
Junior
Forward
Houston
Big 12
Uzan
Milos
Milos Uzan
Senior
Guard
Houston
Big 12
Williams
Darrion
Darrion Williams
Senior
Forward
NC State
ACC
Wilson
Caleb
Caleb Wilson
Freshman
Forward
North Carolina
ACC
